Neyveli Santhanagopalan - Chowdiah Hall 28th Oct 08

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 29 Oct 2008, 14:58

CN Chandrasekhar (Violin)
Bangalore Arjun Kumar (Mrudangam)
Sukanya Ramgopal (GHatam)

Sami Ninne - Sree Raga Varnam
Vatapi Ganapathim - Hamsadhwani - Deekshitar - Adi (S)
Telisi Rama Chandra - Purnachandrika - Thyagaraja - Adi
Meenakshi - Purvikalyani - Deekshitar - Adi (RNS)
Nijamarmamulanu - Umabharanam - Thyagaraja - Adi
Nannu Palimpa - Mohanam - Thyagaraja - Adi (RNST)

A muted Diwali was more than compesated for, by this cracker of a concert. The tempo never sagged from the time the 2nd speed varnam scorched the hall. Swaras for Vatapi were just class - not for Vidyaarthiji, endless repetitions of GRRGRRG....Perhaps a more sedate neraval at Madurapuri Nilaye would have better suited the context of the song but the rendition was otherwise quite brilliant. Neraval for the Mohana krithi at Karamunashara Kodandakanthi was more sublime and for me, the high point of the concert. Swaras mixing up tisram and chatusram were rendered for both the main items.

Chandrasekhar on the violin occasionally had trouble with the dizzy pace but did a fine alaapana for Mohanam followed by excellent 2nd speed swaras. Arjun Kumar has been a staple fixture in senior concerts I've attended in Bangalore this year - and with good reason. As the organizer remarked, he was faithful to the main artiste's tisram theme in his tani leading upto a koraippu with Sukanya Ramgopal in the same nadai and, finally, a one avartha korvai.

Amplification was a shade too loud for comfort but sound clarity was good. A/Cs were working fine and the car park adequate even if the hall wasn't exactly bursting at the seams (there were no papers that day - the concert was advertised in the previous day's edition of DH).

Sathej · Post by **Sathej** » 29 Oct 2008, 20:14

vijay wrote: Telisi Rama Chandra - Purnachandrika - Thyagaraja - Adi

I guess it must be Telisi Rama Chinthanatho....

Sathej

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 29 Oct 2008, 21:17

Sorry that's right...

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 29 Oct 2008, 22:26

Vijay,
Glad to hear you spent dIpAvali evening at vidyaarthi's cracker of a concert. While I savor the sukham in his concerts, his getting into his 'cascades of svarAs' mode is equally pleasing.
As for attendance, yes, having no newspapers on the festive day was one reason. I hope bengaLUru papers are getting better in giving accurate information. Organizers too--in providing addresses. Also phone numbers, by calling which one can get information about the correct time, directions to the venue and so on...

braindrain · Post by **braindrain** » 30 Oct 2008, 09:58

arasi wrote: I hope bengaLUru papers are getting better in giving accurate information. Organizers too--in providing addresses. Also phone numbers, by calling which one can get information about the correct time, directions to the venue and so on...

This information was available and announced in all the newspapers ( Hindu, Times and Deccan Herald) on Monday. To reach the venue on a working day was the challenge, for me.