Dr.Shankar Srinivas@Cleveland Aradhana 14th April 2012

[raghu_r4694]

Dr. Shankar Srinivas - Vocal
Akkarai Swarnalatha- Violin
Toronto B Gowrishankar - Mridangam

1. Chalamela( Varnam)- Nattaikurinji- Adi
2. Kanugonu Sowkhyamu- Nayaki - rupakam ( S)
3. Paripalaya- Panthuvarali- Adi( NS)
4. Balakrishnam Bhavayami- Gopikavasantham- Adi
5. Iti nyayama- Malavi-Adi
6. Gajavadana- Todi- Adi( RNS)
7. Viruttam -bilahari followed by Srinivasa- Hamsanandi- Adi

I was able to hear the concert live through online streaming. The quality of the visuals and audio was satisfactory.
Shankar srinivas is one of the senior most disciples of P.S.Narayanaswamy who is now in the US. I have heard him back when he was in Chennai in 90's when he was a teenager. Hearing today's concert, i could sense that he has matured as an artiste of wonderful calibre- fit to be in top rung. Renditions were chaste and highly classical.
Brisk start with nattaikurinji varnam followed by rarely heard kanugonu in Nayaki. Nayaki swaras brought out the essence of the raga without mixing darbar.
Neraval for Sri padmanabha in paripalaya was riveting.Balakrishnam - another rare piece was remniscent of Semmangudi. This was followed by Iti nyayama with brisk chittaswarams.Todi alapana was fluid and laced with gamakas. Gajavadana set mostly in the middle octave was rendered impeccable. Not much time for swaras.
Soulful viruttam in bilahari and hamasandi ( Taazh sadaiyum - MSS used to sing) followed by Srinivasa was sung at the end.
Swarnalatha's accompaniment was a great asset- Lot of azhuttam and good tonality in her alapana.

On the whole this was a very satisfying concert although the duration was not enough to do justice.

[rajeshnat]

Tx I did not even know about this musician . Nice to know that he was also an early disciple of PSN

[priyaravi1998]

Nice to see someone writing about Dr. Shankar Srinivas. He was my classmate at school. It is very heartening to know that he has matured as an artiste of high calibre. He was very promising even as a teenager .