Suguna Varadachari @ IFAA San Diego, April 1st

[Sindhuja]

Violin: Ranjani Ramakrishnan
Mridangam: Raamkumar Balamurthy
Khanjira: Cleveland Balu
Vocal support: K Gayathri

Song list:

1. Karunimpa - Varnam - Sahana, Adi - Thiruvettiyoor Thyagayya
2. Vandenishamaham - Hamsadhwani, Adi - Mysore Vasudevachar
3. Sugunamule - Chakravagam, Rupakam - Thyagaraja
4. O Jagadamba - Anandabhairavi, Adi - Shyama Shastri
5. Nivadanegana - Saranga, Khanda Chapu - Thyagaraja
6. O Rangasayee - Kambodhi, Adi - Thyagaraja
7. Shrivenugopala - Kurinji, Khanda Ekam- double (?) - Dikshitar
8. Thillana - Gambhiravani, Adi - T. K. Govindarao

My, what a concert. From start to end it was like a sumptuous meal. As the varnam kicked off with Sahana oozing from every word and syllable, I knew I was in for a treat (I had never heard her live before). The next one, Vandenishamaham was followed by a short and quick round of kalpana swaram. The Chakravagam will remain in my memory for a long time to come. What a wholesome and gratifying alapanai! The neraval and swaram in 2 speeds at Snanadi were so measured, yet so complete. The next one, Amba Jagadamba was exquisite. The very restrained but pronounced use of antara gandharam in one sangathi each in anupallavi and charanam added to the beauty of the composition and the ragam (I'm generally a fan of using anya swaras). The Saranga was a nice filler before the main and was rendered at a fairly fast pace.

Then came the grand Kambodhi. I have no words for the alapanai. It was like a textbook lesson on Kambodhi. So rich, so "to the point", and so replete with bhavam. What distinctly stood out for me was her voice modulation. The way she carasses each swaram and softens and opens up her voice at the appropriate points was a lesson to all vocalists IMHO. I realized that I had unconsciously assumed that voice modulation was given more importance by younger singers (I think Ranjani-Gayathri are brilliant in this aspect) and was a sign of some sort of "modernity" for lack of a better word - but Suguna mami proved I was so wrong. Here was this very senior, veteran singer teaching an invaluable lesson on voice modulation. Her voice was just rolling with ease in the fast phrases and was the perfect blend of "ganam" and flexibility (in parts it reminded me of Mani Krishnaswami). K Gayathri sang a little in the tara sthaayi and did a great job as well- very nice voice and I really enjoyed her fast brigas. The stage had been set for O Rangasayee and the krithi entered in all glory. What a rendition! Neraval and swaram were sung in 2 speeds at Bhooloka. Although the kizh kalam swarams were brief, the mel kalam ones had some interesting patterns and she concluded with a kuraippu at dha and then the customary grand flourish.

The Kurunji krithi was new to me - someone pl correct me if I got the thalam wrong. Needless to say it was beautiful. The thillana was a very unique and classy one. I was breaking my head over what raga it was - the avarohanam was like kedaram but the shatshruthi dha made it a puzzle. Thankfully Suguna mami announced the raga and composer in the end.

Smt Ranjani Ramakrishnan has a newfound fan in me. Her accompaniment went hand-in-glove with the vocal and her alapanais were brilliant. Her Chakravagam and Kambodhi were simply fantastic. With a sweet smile all the time she is a pleasure to watch and hear. The mridangam and khanjira were brilliant too, needless to say - their thani was extremely enjoyable.

Overall a wonderful concert worth all the effort of waking up early in the morning (it was at 8:30 am).

[srikant1987]

Are you sure it was Smt Suguna Varadachari and not Smt Suguna Purushottaman? Because Kum K Gayathri is a student of the latter ...

Besides I also have a feeling you will relish Suguna P mami's music more (as your review implies). =) Especially those comments you make on voice modulation and all that.

[mohan]

Srikant - according to the schedule at http://www.indianfinearts.org/festivals/ it was SV only.

Interesting to see that the website also lists the day's canteen menu !

[Sindhuja]

Yes it was SV. And yes, it was announced at first that KG was SP's student (but in the end I think someone mistakenly said she was SV's student). And I also had the good fortune of hearing SP at SD last year (made extensive notes, wrote out an elaborate review, then something went wrong and I couldn't post and couldn't type it all out again - well that's another story). I thoroughly enjoyed that one as well.

[rajeshnat]

And I also had the good fortune of hearing SP at SD last year (made extensive notes, wrote out an elaborate review, then something went wrong and I couldn't post and couldn't type it all out again - well that's another story).

Sindhuja
Write in notepad save it and then copy and paste in the forum. Sad that we could not see your review of Smt purushottaman . Usually SV and SP pair up and sing too.

[vasanthakokilam]

As the varnam kicked off with Sahana oozing from every word and syllable

I relate to what you are saying there. I feel the same way about Sahana. It has that inherent quality and on top of that, veterans like SV can make her dance to their tune!

[MaamiAtHeart]

I have listened to some lessons taught by SV mami (from the Cleveland aradhana web page). I cannot find the right words to describe the depth of her knowledge or the ease with which her voice traverses complex sangathis and gamakas. Even my little 2 year old now knows bits and pieces of the Dhanashri thillana just by listening to her lessons during our daily commute. What a wonderful teacher!