Manasi Prasad at Cleveland Aradhana 17 April 2009

mahavishnu · Post by **mahavishnu** » 18 Apr 2009, 07:58

I decided to de-lurk and post a few concert reviews. I hope Ramanathan will post more picture to give you a visual feel.

One hour afternoon concert.

Manasi Prasad - Vocal
Ranjani Arun - Violin
Vinodh Seetharaman - mridangam

1. Karuna Ela Gante - Varali - Tyagaraja
2. Tolijenma - Bilahari -Tyagaraja
3. Rama Katha Sudha - Madhyamavati - Tyagaraja (Neraval at Bhama mani, swarams and tani)
4. Kashtapadu - Hamsanandi - Kanakadasa

This is the first time I am hearing Manasi Prasad. I have seen her name in the context of her turning down employment at Goldman-Sachs etc. (back when the company was solvent and they weren't bailing themselves out). There has even been some discussion surrounding that on this site.

Manasi Prasad has a wonderful voice and a seamless ability to touch high notes without sounding shrill. She delivered a very promising performance today. There are still some elements of refinement needed before she is prime-time material. All the signs of competence are there.

I liked how she sang the raga sketches to hint at the composition that was to follow. This was especially the case for her well-handled madhyamavati.

Ranjani Arun handled the Bilahari alapanai and kalpanaswarams exceptionally well. Her bowing was uniformly sweet and the instrument sounded very pleasing in the lower octave. The mridangam sounded a little flat, perhaps the high shruti had something to do with it. His lovely arai-chappus did not have the usual ring and the thoppi was a bit on the high-pitched side, but both settled towards the middle of the concert.

Overall, this was a good concert and I look forward to hearing more from this very talented artist. An hour is just not enough!

Sreeni Rajarao · Post by **Sreeni Rajarao** » 18 Apr 2009, 16:37

I do not recognize the kanakadAsa song listed as the last item.

Can we have more info. please? a few more words following the first word kashtapadu ....... ........?

mahavishnu · Post by **mahavishnu** » 18 Apr 2009, 17:29

Sreeni, Being a non-Kannada speaker that was all I could pick up. Although, the artiste did take the extra effort to explain the meaning of the song.

Perhaps, Lakshman-ji might be able to help?

Lakshman · Post by **Lakshman** » 18 Apr 2009, 17:34

The song is perhaps Kashta pattaru illa kalavalasidarilla.

mahavishnu · Post by **mahavishnu** » 18 Apr 2009, 17:37

thanks, L-ji. That's the one.
Its funny how recognition memory works!

Sreeni Rajarao · Post by **Sreeni Rajarao** » 18 Apr 2009, 19:08

Aha! once again Lakshmanji to the rescue!
I have not heard that in hamsAnandi. Interesting.