Amrutha Venkatesh at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan - Mylapore

[Rasikapriya2013]

A short sweet concert by Amrutha Venkatesh with her favourite Team Sri M. Rajeev on the Violin and Sri Arjun Ganesh on the Mridhangam. It was a short duration concert lasting all of fifty minutes.

If Carnatic music has been a form of penance, a path of spiritual elevation, a divine form of worship, and a way of life....Amrutha's music stands by this principle and with each performance she excels herself, making it very enjoyable for the rasikas.


Song list

Natanam Adinar - Vasantha - Atta thalam- Gopalakrishna Bharathiyar
Starting with this Padham, she rendered beautifully and briskly bringing in the divine dance of Lord shiva in front of us.

Sadachaleswaram - Bhupalam- Adi- Muthuswami Dikshitar
Plunging straighht into the beauty of the song this was rendered so slowly - Soul stirring and meditative bringing in not only the raga bhava but also the meaning of the song with her music.

"The poet-composer, Muthuswami Dikshithar (1775-1835) sings the praises of Lord Shiva in the form of Sadachaleshwara, the deity of Tiruvarur. ‘Like a Kalpa tree, He is always a refuge for everyone including the celestials who seek sanctuary’ the poet-composer says. He goes on to say that ‘Like a bee which hovers over a lotus, He hovers over the hearts of good people who are tranquil and self-controlled…’. What use a Kalpataru for those who are neither tranquil, nor self-controlled? They will only harm themselves, will they not? So the good Lord Shiva is a Kalpataru only for those who have learnt to control their senses."
(courtesy: sujamusic.wordpress.com)

MAIN Song : Shankaranin Karunai - Behag - Adi - Neelakanta Sivan
The Alapana was relatively short pertaining to the duration of the concert, but was absolutely melodious and elegant. When she started with the song, I wished this was a submain, but she compensated it with the way she crafted her kalpanaswaras with velvety, playful swaras. The audience marvelled at her brilliance with their "Sabhasah, Bale, and Aha" response.
Rajeev is not only a fantastic violinist but also a very sensitive player. Keeping in mind the time constraint due to the delay in the concert, he replied back with such crispness and intellect.
Arjun's thani was short and sweet too.

Yeppovaruvaaro - Jonpuri - Adi- Gopalakrishna Bharathiyar
A very Beautiful composition yearning for the Lord of Chidambaram, the Raga too emulates the Bhava of the song making this one of my all time favourites. I have heard this song by Sri Madurai Mani Iyer and since then have not heard anyone sing as well. But Amrutha not only did justice to the song but also to the great legend who made this song so popular. Being Shivarathri and lots of rasikas and Bhakthas gathered to celebrate music and the Lord, this recieved the maximum applause.

Shankara vara Pankaja Kara - Dikshitar Nottuswaram
When you least expect, after a song like Yeppo varuvaro, she took us to a head swaying, toe tapping, melodious and short Dikshithar Nottuswaram.

Sankara Srigiri - Hamsanandhi - Adi - Swathi Thirunal Kriti

She ended the concert again with a brisk song bringing an energetic end to a short and sweet concert.

[Rsachi]

You didn't mention it was for Shivaratri!

[rajeshnat]

MAIN Song : Shankaranin Karunai - Behag - Adi - Neelakanta Sivan

Rasikapriya2013,
I am hearing this number thru your post for the first time . I was educated with a brand new dikshitar padavarnam todi in another sivarathri concert and thru forum I am seeing this for the first time . Incidentally today I attended another crt at ragasudha just today where i saw the song list of some one who attended 4 or 5 concerts in sivarathri night , musicians have indeed put a lot of effort .

[Rasikapriya2013]

You didn't mention it was for Shivaratri!

Yes, slipped somehow.
Was organized by Layapriyan Papanasam R. Kumar.

[kssr]

A short sweet concert by Amrutha Venkatesh - ---a form of penance, a path of spiritual elevation, a divine form of worship, and a way of life --- rendered beautifully and briskly --- Soul stirring and meditative --- absolutely melodious and elegant --- velvety, playful swaras --- brilliance with their "Sabhasah, Bale, and Aha" --- head swaying, toe tapping, melodious --- energetic end to a short and sweet concert

Devoted rasika to a dedicated musician . Very happy to note.