Dr. Vijayalakshmy Subramaniam - concert in Mountain View, CA

[DarbarFineArts]

The grand finale concert of Dr. Vijalayakshmy Subramaniam’s Fall concert tour, organized by Darbar Fine Arts , was at the Center for Performing Artists, Mountain View, California. The concert was held on the 12th of October 2014, under the aegis of Darbar Fine Arts. She was accompanied by Sri VVS Murari on the violin and Poovalur Sri. Sriji on the Mridangam. She kept the audience enthralled with her music , and as one of the rasikas quoted about the concert – “Dr. Vijalakshmy’s perfection gained with discipline, unswerving commitment to the values and steadfastness in adhering to the intensity left an impression in the minds of the listeners”. Song list -

1. Varnam – Todi – Eranapai – Adi
2. A brisk outline of Vasantha followed by Seethamma Mayamma – Rupakam – Thyagaraja. Rivetting exchange of Niraval and Swarams in the Charanam - “Dharanija Bhagavatha” – The swarams were laden with sargam patterns and other interesting variations, calling for a lot of control over speed, , which both the vocalist and violinist demonstrated beautifully
3. Detailed alapana of Brindavana Saranga – a raga we do not get to hear often , was sung in all grandeur . Swaminathena Samrakshithoham – MD – Adi. A beautiful cascade of Swarams at “Manikya Makuta Kundala Shobitha”
4. Brovamma Tamasamele - Syama Sastri - Manji - Misra Chapu
5. A fast paced rendition of Papanasam Sivan’s immortal kriti - Ka Va Va - Varali – with swarams in Chatusram and Tisram
6. Main Raga - Bilahari alapana , rendered in all majesty and brightness, bringing out the inherent nature of this raga . Thyagaraja’s evegreen “Dorakuna Ituvanti” with Niraval and Swarams in “Ramabrahma Tanayudau”. Sri. Sriji played a brisk and energetic Taniavartanam in this piece
7. RTP in Shanmukhapriya . Pallavi starting with the words – “Sa Ri Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni Sa Paaduvom…” composed by Dr. Vijayalakshmy Subramaniam’s guru Prof. Sri. T. R. Subramaniam. . The variations in the Pallavi, ending with swaraksharams were rendered very imaginatively, and there was a beautiful dialogue between the vocalist and violinist during this exchange. A melakarta ragamalika in the RTP was sung with a good combination of popular and rare ragas!
8. Chinnanchiru Kiliye - Subramania Bharathi
9. Sloka followed by Jagadhodharana – Pilu
10. Meera Bhajan set to tune by Dr. Vijayalakshmy Subramaniam in Raga Boopal Todi – starting with the words “Sakhi ri shyam .,,,”
11. A grand finish to the concert with Dr. Balamuralikrishna’s Dwijavanthi Thillana, a composition laden with intricate sangatis and brigas
12. Mangala Sloka in Revathi
The concert came to a finish with a standing ovation to the team of artists that enthralled the audience and kept them in rapt attention, “with mellifluous singing, melody and finesse”, as in the words of one of the rasikas who attended the concert.

[rshankar]

Thank you for the review! Seems to have been a very nice concert!
Are we again getting into the CM - HM samvAda with pIlu replacing the familiar kApi as the rAga for jagadOdhAraNa, or did Smt. VS indeed sing it differently?

[mahavishnu]

Thanks for the review.
I meant to go to this concert, but was traveling on work that weekend.

[harimau]

Are we again getting into the CM - HM samvAda with pIlu replacing the familiar kApi as the rAga for jagadOdhAraNa, or did Smt. VS indeed sing it differently?

In the old LPs by Smt M S Subbulakshmi, the raga for Jagadoddharana was always identified as Hindusthani Kapi, meaning Peelu.

So I don't think anyone is starting a CM-HM samvada except those who don't know history. [-x