R Vedavalli at IIT Bombay

[arunsri]

As part of the SPIC MACAY series last week, Smt. R. Vedavalli sang on the evening of 28th Sept, 2012

Smt. R. Vedavalli - Vocal
Smt. Sumithra Vasudev - Vocal Support
Shri. R.K. Shriramkumar - Violin
Shri. K. Arun Prakash - Mridangam
Smt. S. Sushruti - Tambura

Venue: Convocation Hall, IIT Bombay - Duration 1 hr 40 mins

shlOkam - agajAnana padmArkam in hamsadhwani
1. vAtApi - hamsaddhwani - Adi - muthuswAmy dIkshitar (N, S at praNava swarUpa)
2. mAnasa guruguha - Anandabhairavi - tishra Eka - muthuswAmy dIkshitar
3. chalamElarA - mArgahindOLam - Adi - thyAgarAja
4. shambhO mahAdEva - kAmavardhini - rUpaka - thyAgarAja (R, N, S at shambhO mahAdEva sharaNagatha janarakshaka)
5. chEtashrI - dwijAvanti - tishra Eka (2) - muthuswAmy dIkshitar (R)
6. RTP kIravANi - mandahAsa vadanA harE shrI krishna - Adi (2) + swaras in aTANa, sAvEri, bEhAg and suraTi
7. tani Avartanam
8. sarvam brahmamayam - madhuvanti - Adi - sadAshiva bramhEndra
9. mangaLam

A short yet memorable concert, a delayed start led to the programme being curtailed to accommodate the next one. highlight was every item, particularly the soulful chEtashri at the request of the violinist. classic rendition, one of the most emotive ones. As usual, the neravals had the stamp of originality, coupled with complete rAga and sAhitya bhAva. mAnasa guruguha set the tone for a meditative concert after a power packed vAtApi. Just as she began the kiravANi alapana, a chit came to her to wind up by 8:00 PM or 8:10 PM.... so she quickly turned the main to a simple RTP - with an elaborate raga covering all sthAyis, a short tAnam and a crisp pallavi. Tani was ultra short so that they could finish by the time allotted. All in all a memorable concert

[Nick H]

What a long way to travel to sing for not much more than an hour and a half. It seems a very poor way to treat a senior artist.

[arunsri]

Nick

Smt. Sumithra had a 3 day workshop at IIT Bombay (2.5 hrs daily) and a four day workshop at a school in Navi Mumbai. Smt. Vedavalli had a concert previous evening at that school again about 90 mins

But honestly, Nick - we did not feel the 'time' factor at all. Time stood still during chEtashrI... i had tears in my eyes.... I think that sums the whole evening's concert. Personally, we would have liked to have a longer concert, but SPIC MACAY had apparently told the artists that it is a 90 mins concert.

[Nick H]

Oh, fair enough, then: I spoke in haste, thinking that a full-length concert must have been anticipated.

It would have been bliss, I'm sure.

One thing I have noticed on a few occasions with very experienced artists: they do not truncate the concert experience, but they know how to give us the whole in a condensed time, leaving us musically satisfied.

[srikant1987]

Thanks for the report, arunsri. Beautiful list, would have really shined in the hands of this great team!