Dr. Pantula Rama @SAFE, srinivasa sastri hall, 9 A.M, Dec 11

Review the latest concerts you have listened to.
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kedharam
Posts: 419
Joined: 28 Sep 2008, 23:07

Dr. Pantula Rama @SAFE, srinivasa sastri hall, 9 A.M, Dec 11

Post by kedharam »

Dr. Pantula Rama
Sri. MSN. Murthy – violin
Sri. Murugaboopathy – mridangam
Sri. Krishna – morsing

srI – sAmi ninnE kOri, varnam
natta – mahA ganapathim, S@ mahA kAvya nATakAdi priyam, MD
bindu malini – enta muddo enta sogaso, R, S, T
Chenchu Kaambhoji – vara raga laya, S, T
hindolam – samajavara gamana, R, N @ ‘yAdavakula muraLi vAdana vinOda mOhanAkara, S, T
sara sara samarai - kunthalavarali, T
poorvi kalyani – mInAkshi mEmudam, R, N @ madurA puri nilayE maNi valayE, S
thani
kamas – thillana

sinivasa sastri hall is one of the period places for me in Chennai in the sense that it has not changed one bit other than the air conditioner and chairs. It is the place I have listened to the masters of yesteryears at close quarters sitting on the floor. So with much aching reverie of happier times dancing in my mind I went for the concert. a few days back I went for Dr. Rama’s concert at brahma gana sabha and her voice did not let her do justice to vagadeeswari RTP she had taken up that day. Here it was a diff story…
hindolam –
stripped the rAga bare with all the subtleties and complexities through exhaustive mining until its essentials emerged with clarity. Such fine interpretation…Then came, ‘samajavara gamana’, animating the music with a captivating lift with her uninhibited vocalisation of the lyrics adding to the feel of the composition. Neraval was the soulful interpretation of the text at ‘yAdavakula muraLi vAdana vinOda mOhanAkara‘, with her dream-like progression of the sangathis, illuminating the emotional depths of the text with her clear diction anchored by a firm rhythmic spine followed by swarams that grew fuller as she moved between the registers unfolding them with an unabashed expressive ardor…an accomplished musician sitting by me remarked, “thyagarajar must have envisioned hindolam for this composition only this way.” What a way to put it!
poorvi kalyani-
In the melodic flight of poorvi kalyani alapana, stripped away the multifarious aspects by hitting every note precisely, followed by the stately meditative piece, ‘mInAkshi mE mudam‘ that came through with phrases swooping and then curving anew, with grace to match their power that simmered down into a meditative reverie in neraval at, ‘madurA puri nilayE maNi valayE‘ with phrases touching on different aspects of the raga’s range, never a show of idle virtuosity; with each flourish in the neraval magnifiing the text all vividly illuminated by sri. MSN Murthi, sri. murugaboopathy and sri krishna, who performed with commitment throughout.. meditative yet expressive and totally austere in delivery …
at this point to my relief I noticed Charsur recording the concert. can’t wait :)

mahavishnu
Posts: 3341
Joined: 02 Feb 2010, 21:56

Re: Dr. Pantula Rama @SAFE, srinivasa sastri hall, 9 A.M, De

Post by mahavishnu »

Kedharam: Thanks. Nice to see your review of Pantula Rama.

When I heard her earlier in the season at BVB, she was nursing a very sore throat. But she seemed to have recovered by her academy concert (which was a week after this one).

Glad to hear that Charsur recorded this also; Suresh and Charu were recording the BVB concert as well. Sometimes I think they record two of each artiste and use the better one (maybe?).

I find Smt. Rama's vocals refreshing and her approach to music very scholarly. She (and her husband) have a very graceful presence on the stage.

I love the ambience of Sastri Hall too. Very little pretence and just genuine music. THe only problem is at the stroke of 9, they switch all the lights off. Perhaps they are scared that all the rasikas will turn into pumpkins?

cienu
Posts: 2392
Joined: 04 Feb 2010, 11:40

Re: Dr. Pantula Rama @SAFE, srinivasa sastri hall, 9 A.M, De

Post by cienu »

Thank you Kedharam for the review.
Waiting to hear the Charsur release.

Babu
Posts: 51
Joined: 08 Dec 2006, 18:09

Re: Dr. Pantula Rama @SAFE, srinivasa sastri hall, 9 A.M, De

Post by Babu »

I have attended quite a few concerts in this hall including stalwarts and budding artists. This hall has good acoustics not by design. May be the shape of the hall is contributing to the ambience. The technician and the Secretary take care of the hall sound system and they strive hard for optimum settings. Hats off to them.

kedharam
Posts: 419
Joined: 28 Sep 2008, 23:07

Re: Dr. Pantula Rama @SAFE, srinivasa sastri hall, 9 A.M, De

Post by kedharam »

"THe only problem is at the stroke of 9, they switch all the lights off. Perhaps they are scared that all the rasikas will turn into pumpkins?"
this has not changed and adds to the ambience :)

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