Dr. Vijayalakshmi Subramaniam, SCSES, Hyd

[sivakami]

12th Annual Festival of Sri Chandrasekharendra Edu. Society & Sadguru Thyagaraja Aradhana

15th feb 2012
Dr. Vijayalakshmi Subramaniam
H. N. Bhaskar - violin
Ananthakrishnan - mridangam
Trichy Murali –ghatam
Song List:
1. Jaya janaki kantha - Nattai
2. Sogasuga mridanga talamu – sriranjani (R, S)
3. Parimala Ranganatham Bhajeham – Hamir Kalyani ( R)
4. Thelisi Rama chintanatho –Poornachandrika
5. Upacharamulanu – bhairavi (R:11 min. Vio; 7 min; N&S @ kapata nataka)
6. Tani – 12 min.; speeches…
7. Arul seyya vendumayya – Rasikaspriya
8. Slokam “ Kasturi tilakam..”.. Each para was rendered in a different ragam as follows: Nalinakanthi, Hindolam, Kalyana Vasantham?, Brindavana saranga/valaji?,
9. followed by “Re Re manasa” of Narayana theertha in Dwijavanthi…
10. Ramagovinda hari bhajore bhaiya – Mishra Mand (she announced)- kabir das
11. Mangala Slokam in Madhyamavati.

I had been waiting to see if the details about Smt. VS’s Hyd-kucheri might be posted by those particular forumites, as usual.. As it did not happen so far, I have tried to summarise here. But this may sound very bland, due to my limited shallow knowledge about music as well as my English language skills, w.r.t the normal posts.

This was the inaugural concert of this 5-day series. As I have not heard her live, as soon as I came to know about the schedule in December last year itself, I had decided to attend her concert at any cost, as I always loved her voice and the special effects that it could produce. When I entered she was finishing the Nattai piece. After the Sriranjani raga delineation for 5min or so, the kriti was rendered, where she tried to bring out the navarasas with her brigas (I felt) in that charanam line. Overall the song was delivered at a slower pace than we normally hear it felt . Also it appeared she was having difficulties to touch lower sthayi. Somehow it was sounding very abrupt, perhaps due to some voice problems. IMHO, this trend persisted almost till the end, I felt. Although the hamirkalyani piece was sung with lot of brigas, with her special tinge of Hindustani style, the magic that I expected both from her and the ragam was missing.. I was a bit disappointed.. The lines ‘sura nara muni jana muditaṃ pura hara guru guha viditam’ was enjoyable though, were I was able to experience a bit of Smt. VS’s touch. In some places, her gasps for breath was audible, people were saying, maybe due to some problems with health/voice. Even the accompaniments that day such as HN Bhaskar, Ananthakrishnan or Murali did not play in their usual way. We were thinking whether it was due to poor mike settings, that day being the start. (The same percussion team was found to accompany Smt. Mala’s flute kucheri 2 days later, when they had a gala time on the stage, to the delight of the rasikas. They were found to compete with Mysore Srikanth’s superb violin performance.) The main became somewhat monotonous, as bhairavi was repeated in every sabha within that 8-9 days, almost every day. I think atleast the organizers should keep the artistes informed so that such repetitions can be avoided. After the tani & the inaugural day speeches, the soothing thukkadas were ‘melodious & soul-stirring’, like somebody was commenting rightly. Maybe during the intermission they had set-right the mikes. Overall it was a good kucheri, although it was not her best many felt, possibly due to lack of the required ambience for the artistes!

[rshankar]

Sivakami, I had to laugh out loud when I read:

But this may sound very bland, due to my limited shallow knowledge about music as well as my English language skills, w.r.t the normal posts.

. I appreciate the 'tongue-in-cheek'ness of it...Just wanted to warn you (all in jest) that too much of it may result in an incurable illness called 'harimau-itis'!

[arasi]

Ah, Ravi!
How we seem to have a soft spot for the humor in lion(hari)mav(erick)!

Sivakami,
Thanks for the review. Yes, it's a welcome change from the hyperbolic reviews of her concerts from another forumite. Wonder how he/she will sound if he/she wrote a review about another musician!

Wonder if it was teething trouble on the first day for the sound system.

Incidentally, I do like listening to VS!

[rajeshnat]

5. Upacharamulanu – bhairavi (R:11 min. Vio; 7 min; N&S @ kapata nataka)
6. Tani – 12 min.; speeches…
7. Arul seyya vendumayya – Rasikaspriya
.....
...
After the tani & the inaugural day speeches

Sivakami
Tx for your review. Having inaugural speech right after the main and tani, is new to me. Is this hyderabadi pattern or a strictly SCSES pattern. This is some what ok model to follow, in chennai we give the speakers lot of room in the beginning :tmi: .

They begin saying Nan Onnu Mattum solla virumbigirEn (I would like to just say one thing).....
.....
.....
.....
they just go on and on forgetting finally that one thing that they wanted to say

[HR]

@ Rajeshnat

The Inauguration and the Inaugural speeches happened before the concert , like in all other functions / sabhas . The concert started late by half hour or so . The speech after the Tani was about that day's concert, as well as the schedule/details of the rest of the concerts in the series.

[sivakami]

Yeah, I was going to correct my post about that mistake on my part, of writing (typing while half asleep!) inaugural speeches happening after the tani. Sorry about that.
HR has already explained.....Thanks HR for that!
@ rajeshnat, during this intermission, normally organisers thank the artistes & sponsors of the day, and make other general announcements.. sometimes if the chief guest arrives late, then the artiste-honouring etc., is done during this time..The chief guests anyway seeing the artistes seated on the stage with the accompanying aritstes and all, normally do not prolong their speeches very much..