bharathi Ramasubban @Raga Sudha Hall Sept 16

[Ramasubramanian M.K]

Heard a nice pleasing recital of the young lady whom I have known for years and has been reviewed by my late father(Full Disclosure imperatives!!!). I went in late just for the Madhyamavathi(Vinayakuni) krithi--the raga alapana was succinct,good pitch perfection in the upper octaves(voice being an asset --has been judiciously yoked to good basic gnanam,chaste patanthram(SSI school),crisp neraval and swarams.I have always believed in the combination of: Basic Gnanam,reasonably good voice,good patantharam(that leaves nothing to be unlearned) and most important asura sadakam.Bharathi fills the "bill" adequately and apparently shows lot of passion which is a good augury!!
I may be excused if I do not list all the pieces--I did not carry any notes. So if this "recall"( i would be presumptuous in calling it a review !!--so folks bear with me!!
The concert was sponsored by CHARSUR(God bless the co-owners duo for underwriting a thoughtful series on Sarveshwari--their commitment to popularising Carnatic Music here and abroad over the last 10/15 years I have been following them,has been commendable!!)
The songs were on Devi in Her various forms--the Gowlipantu padam-like piece was notable for its sensitivity(resembled Kuvalaya Ksheero of Brinda-muktha) and deliberate-leisurely pace slightly marred by an overenthusiastic Ganapathyraman(mridangam) playing the anupallavi in the Mel kalam--the execution was good but not in the spirit of the piece.THIS IS MY HUMBLE OPINION and does relect a PMI-influenced bias towards gearing the tempo to the sensitivity of the piece.

The Thodi piece(Subbaraya sastry) was the highlight of the concert--the alapana was rich in Bhavam,the krithi (Subbaraya sastry I had not heard this krithi since DKP/DKJ days.
I could not stay till the end because I had to rush to watch the MSS 98th Birthday celebrations@ the Shanmukhansnda Sabha on Sankara TV only to be disappointed to find that Aishwarya's concert ws not televised instead a host of speeches--all harping on the divine melodic qualities of MSAmma'smusic--made me regret not only missing the tailend of Bharathy's concert but also the concert by Gayatri to follow-- I had heard her in Cleveland(in the dance dramas of Ravi Kiran and Chandrasekhar)
but I had not heard a fullconcert by her. I am sure the loss is mine !!!!

The violin by Rajiv was very good--good tone,subdued playing,sound technique(is he a disciple of Kanyakumari I wonder!!!
Ganapthyraman on the Mridangam was good on the whole--perhaps being a seasoned player himself wanted to encourage an younger artist--in this context the "exuberance" was understandable!!!.I am afraid I did not note the Ghatam artiste name but stayed "on course" and able support to the Mridangam.
Sorry for the incomplete "recap".
Now for a slight bit of ill-informed,unsolicited,needlessly gratuitous piece of advice to Bharathi.
Use your nice -voice-range to touch the lower octaves with more clarity(mike was not the problem!!)--especially in the Gowlipanthu piece--the higher octaves were pitch-perfect and sweet-- listen to MSAmma's Tera Dee Yagarada rendering.
I am sure there must have been other forumites who attended and I look forward to their comments.

[rshankar]

Mama - thank you for your 'recall'!!

The concert was sponsored by CHARSUR (God bless the co-owners duo for underwriting a thoughtful series on Sarveshwari--their commitment to popularising Carnatic Music here and abroad over the last 10/15 years I have been following them,has been commendable!!)

Charubala (the Char of CHARSUR) is a senior of mine from KVIITM, and a niece of the late Smt. Seetha Subramaniam, and very good dancer with very well developed esthetic sensitivities, so I am not at all surprised!

[rajeshnat]

The Thodi piece(Subbaraya sastry) was the highlight of the concert--the alapana was rich in Bhavam,the krithi (Subbaraya sastry I had not heard this krithi since DKP/DKJ days.
...
The violin by Rajiv was very good--good tone,subdued playing,sound technique(is he a disciple of Kanyakumari I wonder!!!

nannu brOchutaku - todi - subbarAya sastri
M Rajeev is indeed a student of vidushi A kanyakumari
Tx for the review MKR

[CRama]

The Gowlipantu piece must be Tarunam Idamma of Syama Sastri. Thanks for your review

[Ramasubramanian M.K]

CRama--It was not Tarunam Idamma Ennai Rakshika--I know that song--I will find out--if any other forumites attended the concert please feel free to pitch in!!

[Lakshman]

Could it be another Kshetragna padam E rIti vEgintunE?

[sureshvv]

No.. It was "Puraharajaye", another Syama Sastry kriti. Don't remember having heard it before.

[kssr]

I heard Bharathi in Bangalore a few months back. Full of confidence. Mature presentation. It was very satisfactory. Hope we get more opportunities to listen to her.