Seasonal sentiments 2016

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 17 Dec 2016, 14:31

Anahita & Apoorva at BVB mini

Nice attempt at alapana of Saranga tharangini by Apoorva & a brand new kriti "namamyaham narayanam" of their guru Chitraveena Ravikiran.

Although distinctly presented sounded closer to hamsanadam than the version of Vasudha Ravi from last season. May be tailored more to this particular kriti.

On to Surutti alap.
.

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 17 Dec 2016, 14:50

Extra slow "Paarvai onre podhumey" demonstrating their preparation. Love it when an artiste springs a surprise by taking a not so uncommon song & tweaks the kalapramanam just enough to make it sound totally new. Srinidhi murali did it the other day at Arkay with Sri mathrubhutham to telling effect.

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 17 Dec 2016, 15:16

Shared todi alapana with a powerful throw in the voice from both sisters making it harder to tell who is singing without looking up (used to be easier). Kamalambike is the choice of kriti with neraval at kamalalaya theera vaibhave.

You will forgive me for flashbacks of Seetha Narayanan mami's todi from yesterday.

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 17 Dec 2016, 15:28

Swaras appearing to be a bit rushed. Either the concert is ending sooner than I thought or they have an elaborate post thani planned.

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 17 Dec 2016, 16:35

Was the latter. Included a padam? In Atana (apologize for missing the words), viruttam in khamas & hamsanandi followed by srinivasa.

Concluded with maalasai kopa in maand. Heard it only recently in jonpuri from Prasanna where the charanam comes in waves. This was different. May need getting used to.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 17 Dec 2016, 16:46

Suresh's seasonal sentiments are very agreeable to read.

Neraval at kamalAlaya 'tIrtha' vaibhavE SivE...

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 17 Dec 2016, 17:23

Thank you arasi

Now moving on to Trichy Pradeep Kumar at Arkay. They have had some superlative talent all week. Pradeep, a youngster with great spontaneity. Two quick sivan kritis in sahana & sriranjani, the latter with some swaras & now an elaborate Malayamarutham.

Kriti chosen is Hanumaney swamikki indha adayalam.Great flair in delivery of the lyrics. Trivandrum Balaji's play accenting the vocal stresses like " ganamAna".

Marivere gathi in anandabhairavi.

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 17 Dec 2016, 17:51

Flair for presenting lyrics not limited to tamil kritis as made clear now. Few take the time to present SS kritis with this level of involvement. Amrutha Venkatesh figures significantly in this list. Was among the artistes from earlier this week.

Nenarunchinanu in malavi with some unheard laya variations & nadai changes & jet speed swaras that would have made any FM radio jockey envious.

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 17 Dec 2016, 18:03

An out of the world Lathangi built up steadily & leisurely but with no ambiguity or confusion showing so many hues of the raga making people wonder if he is executing multiple sruthi bedhams

or wondering if it is a tribute to MBMK

Sriranjani sang Vachaspathi like this last year at Margazhi Maha Utsavam confounding many who even caught a portion of it on TV. Sriranjani even did some forays into Western classical while Pradeep's adventures were strictly Desi.

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 17 Dec 2016, 18:10

Did I mention this unlikely carnatic rasika contingent that trooped in sometime half way thru the concert & wildly waving at each other from across the auditorium? May be part of the "fusion" crowd

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 17 Dec 2016, 18:29

Ma madura puri vaazh maharaniye in baghesree. Dont remember hearing this before.

LGJ tillana in brindavani.

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 17 Dec 2016, 19:02

What a brilliant artiste! Both in terms of improvisation & repertoire. Only 1 concert for the season. What a shame!!

pperumal · Post by **pperumal** » 17 Dec 2016, 20:10

Didn't quite enjoy Trichy Pradeep's Lathangi though it was super exhaustive.
My problem is that I come to listen to Carnatic concerts expecting to listen to the rakthi ragas sung with the Carnatic flavour.
If I would like to listen to scalar ragas elaborated in detail exploring permutations and combinations, I lean in favour of Hindustani.

Hope that doesn't sound too caustic.

PP.

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 17 Dec 2016, 20:36

sureshvv wrote:What a brilliant artiste! Both in terms of improvisation & repertoire. Only 1 concert for the season. What a shame!!

Indeed shame , this vidwan from trichy has no connections.

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 19 Dec 2016, 14:07

Ended the evening with Kalangadhe manamey in Ragavardhani, an intense keeravani followed by Amba vani nannu & Karhikeya gangeya for main. This was the 3rd concert of the day & Mahathi, Mysore Srikant & Delhi Sairam had great energy as a team to make it a great experience. Ended with the kuntalavarali MBMK thillana. Would have been nicer if she had picked one of his heavier compositions.

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 19 Dec 2016, 14:14

Amruta Venkatesh for NGS. Nice to see M.Rajeev accompanying here. With Arjun Ganesh, this is spirited combo. Nothing like an extended begada kalpana swara session to bring out the best in each of them. This was for Karunakara, swathi tirunal composition.

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 19 Dec 2016, 14:32

A quick pantuvarali overview & head first into sundaratara deham at a nice clip. Neraval at aagama sancharam akhila lokadhatam. Reminded of Abhishek taking Sarasaksha at Partha a few years back which started as a quick filler & grew into a massive edifice after being infused with a monster neraval.Similar thing happening here. Arjun egging Rajeev on to go toe on toe on the swara prasthara which he does to a nice applause.

You know Pantuvarali & Poorvikalyani are close cousins but it appears that the former is more suited to this kind of intense fast clip neraval. Tha latter while more popular is always approached with cautious rigor.

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 19 Dec 2016, 14:57

A sedate start to Madhyamavathi & she takes a moment to make an announcement, "this is the calm after the storm", which has the chennai audience chuckling. A nice relief from the travails of Vardha whose trail of destruction is still all around the city. Rasika seated in the 1st row shouts out his appreciation & recalls Ramnad Krishnan.

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 19 Dec 2016, 15:21

pperumal wrote: If I would like to listen to scalar ragas elaborated in detail exploring permutations and combinations, I lean in favour of Hindustani.

Hope that doesn't sound too caustic..

Why go anywhere else when u can have it all right here!!

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 19 Dec 2016, 15:34

Saravanabhava guhaney is the kriti chosen. Sanjay sang this at BGS a couple years ago. Paases the "Charana kamalam sharanam" with full marks for pronunciation. Pantula Rama did an excellent job with Muruganin maru peyar azhagu at Arkay yesterday. Not easy for a non-native speaker.

A languid slow speed neraval at Annayodu thanthai with well timed callouts to Saravana bhavaney & guhaney conveying the poet's sense of saranagathi done most movingly. Straight into swaras.

pperumal · Post by **pperumal** » 19 Dec 2016, 17:19

sureshvv wrote:
pperumal wrote: If I would like to listen to scalar ragas elaborated in detail exploring permutations and combinations, I lean in favour of Hindustani.

Hope that doesn't sound too caustic..
Why go anywhere else when u can have it all right here!!

True that.
But in the process somewhere, I feel that the true Carnatic "sound" takes a beating

- PP.

Rsachi · Post by **Rsachi** » 20 Dec 2016, 08:44

Keep it up, Suresh and others! How I wish we had sortable tags and twitter like handles...
#Amrutha #Abhishek #RKM and such....

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 21 Dec 2016, 11:55

Yesterday: 12.5 hours from start of fist to end of fifth concert. Some may say that the old, these days, have no stamina

and I wouldn't disagree: I'm taking it easy today.

And what a fifth concert it was. Had other plans, but, thankfully got a message that Suguna Varadachari was singing at RK at 6. She made that fifth concert feel like the first with her wonderful energy. Wonderful experience.

Next at Ragasudha on 26th. I think only two concerts this season?

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 21 Dec 2016, 12:01

One of my first season experiences this year was having a row with the Music Academy about taking a small camera in. Not allowed. Absurd, when every phone is a camera these days, but, the only reason given... it's the rule; it's just not allowed.

How many other sabhas check our bags and frisk us with electric wands on the way in? None, right?

I'm prepared to believe that this all started at some point in history when public buildings of all sorts felt that they faced a specific threat. But now? It's just an exercise in ego. Just a way of helping them think that they are that important. Bolster the value of Sangita Kalanidi: frisk the visitors. Waste money on all this show.

On the plus side... the gee pongal is delicious

By the way, I was not polite to the "manager." but made it clear to the blue-uniform people that I understand they are only doing their jobs. Now they smile at me. Funny way to get friends!

grsastrigal · Post by **grsastrigal** » 21 Dec 2016, 12:22

Music Academy, the minimum price is fixed as Rs.150 for balcony that to 4-5 rows on the top. You need to have binocular to see the artist. This is the highly priced minimum rate among the sabhas.

Mountbatten Mani Iyer is caterers in Parthasarathy sarathy sabha. Interesting name and delicious eatables too.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 21 Dec 2016, 12:39

grsastrigal wrote:Music Academy, the minimum price is fixed as Rs.150 for balcony that to 4-5 rows on the top. ...

I'm almost never there after 4pm, and, if I really have to be, I shell out big amounts for a decent seat downstairs. It has to be important, though, to shell out thousands!

sankark · Post by **sankark** » 21 Dec 2016, 13:26

Nick H wrote:One of my first season experiences this year was having a row with the Music Academy about taking a small camera in. Not allowed. Absurd, when every phone is a camera these days, but, the only reason given... it's the rule; it's just not allowed.

How many other sabhas check our bags and frisk us with electric wands on the way in? None, right?

I'm prepared to believe that this all started at some point in history when public buildings of all sorts felt that they faced a specific threat. But now? It's just an exercise in ego. Just a way of helping them think that they are that important. Bolster the value of Sangita Kalanidi: frisk the visitors. Waste money on all this show.

On the plus side... the gee pongal is delicious

By the way, I was not polite to the "manager." but made it clear to the blue-uniform people that I understand they are only doing their jobs. Now they smile at me. Funny way to get friends!

I got asked the same - do you carry a camera? I even asked the gal with the wand whats the points as every smartphone worth its money has a decent camera and can even record video/audio. A smile was her only reply.

On the ticket front, the bottom rows of the upstairs area are far closer to the stage than the back rows of the ground floor. So, money vs nearness to the stage, the bottom rows upstairs are better off.

Another peeve, you can't climb up from 1st floo for the Rs 150 seats. You have to go all the way to 2nd floor and climb down for the Rs 150 seats!

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 21 Dec 2016, 16:28

Vidya Kalyanaraman at Ragasudha hall. Voice in excellent form. Presentation full of gusto. Started with vasantha varnam. A nice Budham Asrayami & now an energetic Paridanameechithe. Great percussion accompaniment matching the energy level of the vocalist from K.H.Vineeth & Sunilkumar.

On to Lathangi alap.

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 21 Dec 2016, 18:56

Aparadhamula was the kriti chosen. Followed by a brief overview of Chandrajyoti & Sasivadana.

The main for the afternoon was Marivere gati in Anandhabhairavi. Excellent presentation. Kudos for the choice & great execution.

Post main was charukesi viruttam (maalon maruganai) and a tiruppugazh in Charukesi followed by Maand tillana of LGJ.

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 21 Dec 2016, 19:33

Hyderabad Bros. putting up a Harikamboji clinic. They ordered for 1 lessu & 1 plussu sometime after the initial Abhogi varnam & looks like they got an extra spoonful each. Seshachary (the quiet one?) Is taking charge of sizeable part of the alapana & frequent exchanges during alapana that would make the Trichur bros. give them a high ten.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 21 Dec 2016, 20:03

sureshvv wrote:Vidya Kalyanaraman at Ragasudha hall. Voice in excellent form. Presentation full of gusto. Started with vasantha varnam.

Had planned to be there but got sick today.

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 21 Dec 2016, 20:44

sureshvv wrote:give them a high ten.

Two "high fives" make a "high ten"?

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 21 Dec 2016, 21:43

Yep. 1 high five for each brother

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 21 Dec 2016, 23:05

Gee! G(h)ee pongal at MA (muzhangai vazhivAra--as per ANDAL, ghee dripping down the elbow, no),
Mountbatten Mani's cuisine--and the aroma wafts around us rasikAs.

Canteens and CM--that's tradition every year, folks! Gnanambika next?

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 22 Dec 2016, 16:22

Today... no pongal

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 24 Dec 2016, 17:33

Trichur Bros. embarking on a Revathy RTP after a brilliant Sri Krishnam Bhaja Manasa main.

Tanam included some fast rudram chanting like phrases. Wonder what it would be like to atually chant a couple of slokas or if it there is precedent.

Rudraprayaga sutheertha swaroopaney |
paramaney gana gana galitha ||

Khanda triputa

Ragamaluka swaras including maand, valachi, bilahari (mullaivasal).

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 29 Dec 2016, 13:36

Vani Ramanurthy belting out a spirited neraval at pannagendra sayana, pannagaari vahana. Great in-the-moment accompaniment from Shiva & Kripakaran.

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 29 Dec 2016, 15:17

With an RTP in Surya, Vasudha Ravi' s concert at Partha picking up steam.

Surya sudhakara lochana |
sundara rama ||

In tisra triputa

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 29 Dec 2016, 17:36

Little tiny young boy sitting on stage & keeping exact tala at the academy

SabashBale · Post by **SabashBale** » 30 Dec 2016, 07:40

Shanmukhapriya of the Priya Sisters duo exhorting listeners to attend concerts of upcoming artists and encourage them. Not many would say that. Respect!

badari · Post by **badari** » 30 Dec 2016, 07:44

Nick H wrote:One of my first season experiences this year was having a row with the Music Academy about taking a small camera in. Not allowed. Absurd, when every phone is a camera these days, but, the only reason given... it's the rule; it's just not allowed.

@Nick,
Though I carried my SLR each time i went in, I made it clear to them, that I had photography assignments elsewhere and I would easily deposit the camera in a cloak room, if they can provide one. No arguments, I was allowed to carry it in !

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 30 Dec 2016, 11:51

I gave up and left mine in the car. But, that first time, when I had the argument, I had to leave it with a "guard," who gave me a token.