Nisha Rajagopal at Krishna Gana Sabha on 20 Aug 10

[CRama]

As a part of the Gokulashtami Celebrations, the concert of Nisha Rajagopal was held n Krishna Gana Sabha. She was accompanied on the violin by Shri.Balu Rghuraman, Trivandrum Balaji on the Mridangam and N.Rajaraman on the Ghatam.


The list of songs is:
1. Era napai varnam- Thodi
2. Bale balendu - Reethigowla-Adi-Thyagaraja
3. Chootamu rare- Arabhi-Adi-Thyagaraja (R,S)
4. Ranjani niranjani- Ranjani- Adi- GNB (R,S)
5. Kumaran taal - Yadukulakambodi-P.Sivan
6. Slokam - Prakruthim Vikruthim Vidya- Lalitha
followed by Hiranmayeem Lakshmim-Lalitha-Roopakam
7. Upacharamulanu-Bhairavi-Adi-Thyagaraja (R,N,S)
Thani

The varnam in Thodi was a pointer to the serious concert which was to follow. The pallavi of the varnam was rendered in the customary two kalams. The reethigowla song was rendered neatly sans ragam or swaram. The alapana of Arabhi was very detailed. The eduppu itself was unusual - from the upper dha. I have never heard any one taking from that swaram. It was neatly executed and the swarams which followed were also exquisite. The second alapana - Ranjini was rendered in all detail and the evergreen kriti of GNB was rendered. It was also decorated with swaras at Kanjadala lochani. The response of the violin to the alapanas and swaras were very appropriate. Kumaran taal came as a fresh breeze as it is rarely heard in concerts. Being the day of Varalakshmi pooja, Nisha rendered the shlokam from Lakshmi Sthothram and followed with Hiranmayeem which was the right choice for the day. The main raga of the evening Bhairavi was rendered in all its splendour in a wide canvas covering the entire gamut of the raga. The Kriti Upacharamulanu was rendered with aplomb and neraval and elaborate swaras at Kapata nataka was rendered. This was followed by Thani. Thani was crisp and enjoyable.

Nisha has got a powerful voice having a good reach. Her patantharam is good. Her music is not hurried. When power went off for 2 minutes while singing Baale, her voice was quite audible till the middle of the auditorium without mike and I longed for a mikeless concert.

I left after the thani

[rajeshnat]

I was there for this concert from reetigowlai.She sang the following tukkadas post tani
8. gAna mazhai - behag + bowli + maniraNgu - Ambujam Krishna
9. mAnasa sanchararE - shyamA - SB
10. bhagyAda lakshmi - madhyamavati - PD

[CRama]

Thanks Rajesh for the supplementary information.

[rajeshnat]

Nisha Rajagopal@ Krishna Gana Sabha on Aug 20th 2010
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3. Chootamu rare- Arabhi-Adi-Thyagaraja (R,S)
6 mins alApanai and 5 mins violin return
swaras for 6 mins

4. Ranjani niranjani- Ranjani- Adi- GNB (R,S)
8 mins alApanai and 6 mins violin
6 mins swaras
....

6. Slokam - Prakruthim Vikruthim Vidya- Lalitha
followed by Hiranmayeem Lakshmim-Lalitha-Roopakam
7. Upacharamulanu-Bhairavi-Adi-Thyagaraja (R,N,S)
11 mins alApanai and 8 mins violin return
10 mins each for neraval , swaras and tani
...

Few Positives of the concert:
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1. Nisha has a very emotive voice and her choice of krithis was really good. I particularly liked her Arabi and ranjani alApanai, the neraval in bhairavi was well done too

2. I think I am hearing the violinist balu raghuraman for the first time .He has good sowkhyam and plays bit slower than most of the violinists

3. Tvm balAji's percussion support was really top class .He gives a lot of thoppi sowkhyam and has an excellent anticipation and rotation with the ghatam artist.

4. In the tukkadas the ambujam krishna rAgamAliga was really well done.

Few Negatives of the concert:
-----------------------------------
1. Perhaps it was incidental in only this concert, I felt nisha can have more stamina . To an extent when she reaches few mEl kAla saNgathis in bhairavi I could notice she falling bit short of azhuttam.

2. Her lalitA had the right emotive dose especially when she started with the slOkham , but bit fizzled out in the second half of the krithi

3. Balu raghuraman has to watch out little more in proportion sense , they were bit longish .

4. I have not heard her yet singing a RTP, perhaps being a prime evening slot in a big sabhA she could have gone for pallavi.

Overall a very good concert, close to 2 hours and 20 + minutes.

[carnaticbreeze]

Hello !

I was present at the concert of Nisha Rajagopalan alongside Balu Raguraman and Balaji. A great concert demonstrating maturity in the performance from all the artistes. I am a frequent visitor to India and have been been following several artistes over the last few years. Nisha and Balu are on the list. Balu Raguraman originally from Bangalore, now lives in London and does a great job out there as a teacher and a performer. I was a witness to his solo concert in London in the accompaniment of mridangam maestro Prof. Trichy Sankaran. It was a grand concert the went far beyond expectations of any concert goer. His 70 minute shanmukhapriya RTP took the stage by storm and will be remembered by many for long. A very seasoned violinist he is also married to Subathra an excellent vainika. He is a very pleasing violinist and always gives his best. As timed and mentioned I am sure he didn't overplay his individual roles in the concert. His music always been sould soothing and he is one artistes who doesn't consider speed to be an element touching the heart but believes more in Melodic approach and more bhava based music. His recent accompaniment to the legendary vocalist Dr. M.Balamuralikrishna also proved the same.

I hope any particular mention that also has been otherwise proved and mentioned will be removed from the negatives of the concert.