chitravina ganesh @ chennai fine arts dec 12th 2010

[uday_shankar]

Chitravina Ganesh - chitravina
Mysore Srikanth - violin
Thanjavur Murugabhoopathy - Mrdangam
Dr. Karthick - Ghatam

Venue: Chennai Fine Arts, Gokhale Shastri Hall
Date/Time: Sunday Dec. 12th 2010 6:30 PM

1. vanajAkshiro - adi - kalyani varnam
2. vallabha nayaka - begada - rupaka - MD
3. nadatanumasisham - chittaranjani - adi - T
4. muruga muruga - saveri - adi - PS
5. ambaparadevate - rudrapripya - khanda chappu - T
6. evarimaata - kamboji - adi - T
7. "agaramu..." - tiruppugazh - shuddha saveri
8. Chelinenetlu - javali - paras
9. Neenamarupa (mangalam) - saurashtra - adi - T

Chitravina Ganesh is an intense and prodigious artist who comes from the distinguished family of chitravina artists, including Shri Narasimhan and his illustrious son Shri Ravikiran. He is also one half of the well-known singing duo Carnatica Brothers, the other being Shri Shashikiran.

This is as much of a lament as it is a review/celebration of an exquisite concert by an exquisitely sensitive artist on an exquisite instrument. The lament is that there aren't more concerts around by this artist on the chitravina - while his skills at vocal music are well-known, his chitravina artistry is something to be treasured, celebrated and propagated.

Ganesh represents an authentic and refreshing variation of the chitravina and manodharma standards set by his great gurus Shri Narasimhan and Ravikiran. He is no carbon copy of either of his teachers and has developed a unique approach to the instrument as well as the music.

The concert was well attended by a galaxy of Carnatic greats, which included, apart from his gurus Shri Narasimhan and Shri Ravikiran, Sangeetha Kalanidhi M Balamuralikrishna, Shri BM Sundaram and a host of others. And they were all glued to their seats by the almost surreal music that came out of the shy but unperturbed artist on the stage.

It's hard to say which I liked more...the simply exquisite (I know this word is getting repetitive but I cannot find a more appropriate one) alapana of Saveri, the competingly exquisite alapana and neraval (bhaktapara...) in Kamboji or the breathtaking speed of the chittaswaram (I still cannot believe that the chitravina can be played that fast!) in ambaparadevate...God bless!

Mysore Srikanth was also suitably inspired by it all and made very good contributions. Thanjavoor Murugaboopathy did well and the presence of the redoubtable Dr. Karthick on the ghatam added tremendous lustre to the superb concert.

At the end of the concert, I took back a surreal experience of perfection in shruti, kalapramanam and raga bhava and that sAveri still rings in my ears.
Kudos to Chennai Fine Arts Society, run by my fellow Chitravina aficionado Shri Murali for featuring this artist. May he have a million more of these.

[Sivaramakrishnan]

Thanks Uday shankar for the excellent review / remarks.

I too am surprised why we dont get Ganesh's chitraveena in Sabhas often.

Perhaps there are more takers for his vocal combo with Sashikiran which of course enjoys wide popularity.

To me, his Chitraveena vidwat honed by Ravikiran is of great caliber and music lovers should prevail upon sabha-s to have his Vadyam music also.

I also suggest that Ganesh can also accompany Ravikiran in concerts. That would be marvelous.

By the by, the not often heard and a bit tough Amba paradevathey which Ganesh played at Chennai fine Arts on 12 Dec was upon my request and an extempore offering by him! Really Great!

[Anusha]

Many thanks to Uday for the review. I was very keen to attend this, but couldn't make it (staying at Ambattur, need to travel a huge distance!). I am a big fan of all the Kirans. I find their concerts educative and wish that they are attended in bigger numbers.

Ganesh's music is serene, sensitive and very graceful. I enjoy his alapanais. In a few minutes, he provides a clean picture of the ragam.

At a time when rasikas lament that unlike olden times they don't get to hear "pure" classical music, such artistes make us feel very happy and contented.

[uday_shankar]

Ganesh's music is serene, sensitive and very graceful.......At a time when rasikas lament that unlike olden times they don't get to hear "pure" classical music, such artistes make us feel very happy and contented.

Precisely Anusha. This is what I wished to convey.

[sramaswamy]

I also admire the entire "kiran" family for being energetic beyond just giving concerts in the music field. They analyze some untouched stuff from past - like Ravikiran analyzing Oothukadu songs, write blogs - I have read some interesting blogs from Kiranavali, organize new and interesting events - Shasihikiran is most prominent in this, while being active in the concert circuit. Not to forget the Shri. Narasimhan and their mother-kiran who have sprouted and nurtured this talent in their unique way.

And I like 'Chitravina' ganesh music in both forms. I also wish he performs more on Chitravina.