R.K. Srikanthan and S. Ramakanth @ IFAA, San Diego

[Sindhuja]

Shri R.K.Srikanthan and Shri S. Ramakanth performed tonight at Indian Fine Arts Assn, SD. As expected it was a fulfilling concert rich in raga and sahithya bhava with no frills or fancies. It's amazing and humbling to see utmost shruti shuddham at this age. The theme was "The brilliance of Mysore composers" and they strictly confined themselves to that.

Accompanists:
Violin: Shri Nagai Muralidharan
Mridangam: Shri Mannargudi Eswaran
Khanjira: Shri Cleveland Balu

Song list:

(I didn't take copious notes and don't intend this to be an elaborate report)

1. Maathe malayadhwaja - Dharu Varnam - Khamas, Adi - HMB
I was thrilled with the start since Khamas is very dear to me. It was rendered beautifully at an unhurried pace. While the purvangam was sung in 2 speeds the uttarangam was only sung in kizh kaalam.
2. Shakti Ganapatim - Nattai, Rupakam - HMB - with kalpana swarams at pallavi
3. Sharade - Yedukula Kambodhi, Adi - MV
4. Neekepudu daya - Abhogi, Adi - Mysore Sadashivarao (MSR): submain
Shri RK Srikanthan started the alapanai and Shri Ramakanth followed on from tara sthayi. It was very enjoyable, especially the latter's fast phrases in tara and madara. His sharp and steady voice is a pleasure to hear. Neraval and swaram were sung at vimala hrudaya.
5. Jalandhara - Valaji, Rupakam - HMB
6. Srikamakotipitha - Saveri, Adi - MSR: main
Once again ragam was started by RKS and concluded by SR and was very beautifully done with none of the prototypical prayogas of the ragam left out. A very short neraval was followed by swaram at kadambavana nilaye. The final swara was sung entirely by SR. The "kaNakku" (if there was one) wasn't very obvious to me but there were some interesting patterns throughout. He concluded with a kuraippu ending at tara Sa.
Thani was the highlight for me. As cliched as it may sound the mridangam was literally "speaking" to the audience. Simply brilliant.
7. Devadideva - Sunadavinodini, Adi - MV
8. Brahmanda Valaye - Mand, Adi - Jayachamaraja Wodeyar
I didn't pay close attention to the swara sancharas but it somehow sounded more like Gowdamalhar to me.
9. Thillana - Kannada, Adi - Veene Sheshanna
10. Mangalam koshalendra (shloka) followed by pavamana

Shri Nagai Muralidharan also shone throughout and aptly supported the main artists. His saveri was particularly very enjoyable.
As always since the concert followed a felicitation ceremony it was reduced to less than 2 hours or we could have heard more rare compositions.

[rajeshnat]

gadolinium and sindhuja
Tx for the review. I have heard all these songs in live excepting perhaps the Maand. Mysore Sadashiva rao is one of the most underrated composers from mysore belt.Abhogi of MSR is a great number.

[gardabha_gana]

Recording? I really like MSR's Saketha Nagaranatha... very nice song.

[padavarnam]

Heard through friends that this was a fabulous concert. Feel envious of the rasikas in San Diego who are getting all these great musical treats!

[@ana]

Thanks for the excellent review, Sindhuja - short and sweet. You should have been asked to give the vote of thanks
It seemed like a well-designed concert - especially the choice of ragas to suit the age and pitch of the singers!
However, having been featured heard them twice in a row, it would be nice to listen to other veterans as well as rising stars!

[kssr]

There is another string on the same concert. Can be coupled. Sri.Srikantan can easily be a guiness record winner as the busist performing artist at age 92. Always good performances too. Never an apaswaram from him. But guiness may not understand this aspect!

[Sindhuja]

Thanks all.

@ana: I agree it would be nice to have a variety of artists each year.
@gandharbha gana: No recording yet but I believe IFAA releases audio recordings in a few weeks (not too sure).