Carnatica brothers at London, Sunday 18 March 07, 7-9pm

jayaram · Post by **jayaram** » 20 Mar 2007, 16:48

Venue: Lewisham Sivan temple, London
Date: Sunday 18 March 2007, 7-9pm

Carnatica brothers (Sri P. Ganesh and Sri K.N. Shashikiran) - vocal
Durai Balasubramaniam (violin)
Bhavani Shankar (mridangam)
R.N. Pratap (ghatam)

1. Sri vighna rajam - Gambhira natai - Khanda chapu - Uthukadu Venkatasubbaiyer
2. Manasa etulo - Malayamarutam - Rupakam - Tyagaraja
3. Arul vendum tAye - Saramati - Rupakam - Danadapani Desikar
4. Nan oru vilayatu - Navarasa kannada - Adi - Papanasam Sivan
5. Mana mohana - Kuntalavarali - Rupakam - Brasil Subramaniam
6. Samaja vara - Hindolam - Adi - Tyagaraja
- Tani avartanam -
7. Muruganin maru peyar - Behag - Khanda chapu - Guru Surajananda
8. Kurai onrum - Ragamalika - Adi - Rajaji
9. Tillana - Mishra sivaranjani - Adi - Maharajapuram Santhanam
10. Maitreem bhajata - Ragamalika - Adi - Kanchi periyaval

followed by Pancharatna rendition

This was the finale to the 2-day Tyagarajotsavam at Lewisham temple, London.
Shri Ganesh and Shri Shashikiran gave a top quality kutcheri - even though it was a bit too short for ardent rasikas.

The highlights for me were the Kuntalavarali (rarely heard composition of Brasil Subramaniam, meetu by Sri Shashikaran) and the main Hindolam piece. Their pedigree showed in their rendition of Kuntalavarali and the brilliant swaraksharas in the Hindolam (I feel this kriti has so much scope for swarakshara). The Dandapani Desikar kriti in Saramati was another lovely rendition.
The authority with which they handled the various items and the sampradaya singing was so satisfying.

The accompanists equally matched the vocalists.

Btw, I got volunteered to 'say a few words' towards the end of the concert. I used the opportunity to plug rasikas.org and also request the organizers to have longer concerts whenever such top-class artistes are invited. Hope we get to hear them for much longer next year.

I spoke to Sri Ganesh and Sri Shashikiran after the concert, and they mentioned they follow our forum quite closely. Perhaps we can get them to perform at our rasikas sabha some day.

Sri Ganesh and Sri Shashikiran must have left for the US by now. They are scheduled to perform at Cleveland aradhana. Don't miss them, they are excellent!

nivedita · Post by **nivedita** » 20 Mar 2007, 17:34

mana mOhana is in rUpakam. It was tuned by Shri Shashikiran.

jayaram · Post by **jayaram** » 20 Mar 2007, 18:11

Thanks Nivedita. I have updated accordingly.
Sri Shashikaran did mention that he had set to tune the Kuntalavarali kriti, when I spoke to him after the concert. Forgot to mention this in my report - have corrected this also.