Concert and classes in Singapore

[sweetsong]

Prince Rama Varma will be conducting a three day workshop from 29th to 31st August and giving a concert on 2nd September in Singapore.
Here is the link with further information
http://www.bhaskarsartsacademy.com/

[puremusic]

I attended the three day workshop and the concert by Prince Rama Varma, organized by the Nrithyalaya Foundation this week. He apparently gave a separate workshop for the teachers of the institution too, which was not open to the public.
During the three days, he taught the students Dr.Balamuralikrishna's Kunthalavarali Thillana.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9WVMrZ9KI0


It is delightful to attend Varma ji's classes, where the atmosphere is always joyful and harmonious, even when really difficult things are being taught. The students did a commendable job of picking things up quickly and singing together beautifully in unison.
We all felt that the workshop should have been longer. At the end Varmaji taught Bharathiyar's song Ninnaye Rathi too.

For the concert, Varmaji was accompanied by the teachers of Nrithyalaya. Mr.Sajith on the violin, Mr.Harikrishnan on the mridangam and his student on the Kanjira. Varma ji started with Ninnu Kori in Mohanam. Though it is such a popular varnam, I didn't
know that the composer was Ramanathapuram Srinivasa Iyengar till now. Varmaji explained that because of the super fast phrases Srinivasa Iyengar sang, which resembled the flight of an insect, he was called "Poochi" Srinivasa Iyengar. Then he quipped
that the Carnatic music scene had even heavyweight animals like his hero M.D.Ramanathan's guru "Tiger" Varadachariar.

Though Varma ji was singing together with these accompanists for the first time, it was incredible how quickly he established his unique brand of camaraderie with all of them just as he does with his top favourites. The second song was Mayatheetha
Swaroopini by Thanjavur Ponnaiah. This was followed by some brilliant rounds of swarams, during which the appreciative audience spontaneously burst out into enthusiastic applause, even while the singing was going on.

A stately rendition of Naadathanum Anisham followed. Then Varmaji briefly explained the story of Andal and sang a melting version of Ambarame in Kalyani. This was one of the highlights of the concert for me. M.D.Ramanathan's Hariyum Haranum followed.
By this time the accompanists and Varmaji looked like old friends and we in the audience felt so much peace and contentment and a sense of belonging. It is difficult to describe exactly what it is and how Varmaji brings this about, both during his classes
as well as during his concerts.

The main song was Maharaja Swathi Thirunal's Jaya Jaya Padmanabha in raga Sarasangi which Varmaji described as "The less famous younger sister of Charukesi." After a few playful, yet brilliant rounds of swarams, the percussionists played thani.
The way Varmaji listens to and appreciates his accompanists has to be seen to be believed. His entire team gave their absolute best all through the concert.

After the thani Varmaji sang his mega super hit Bala Tripura Sundari, composed by Prayaga Rangadasa, the grandfather of Dr.Balamuralikrishna.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUy__kzrwio

Then came one of the unforgettable points of the concert. He asked the students who had studied the Kunthalavarali Thillana, to sing along with him from the audience! The ambience it created was nothing short of Magical! After coming home I found that
he had done this in the past too, as can be seen in this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzoHeh4RJ14


The organizer and director of Nrithyalaya, Mr.Bhaskar was so choked up with emotion that he could hardly speak. He aptly described Varma ji as someone who was "Not just an entertainer, but was an Inner Attainer."

[shyamkalyan74]

1.The concert hall was good ,seating and also sound system.
2.Regarding the conecrt i had a mixed feeling.It was more like watching an Aseanet music programme than a concert.
3.Ramavarmaji song list was very good,mix of various composers including one of the trinity(Saint Thyagaraja).
4. Brisk "Mohana varna",Sedate "Mayamalava Gowla",Surprise "Chitaranjani" .
5.Varmaji should be also appreceiated for taking Saint "Andal's " "Thirupavai" as sub main.This was really the highlight of the concert and the one which attracted me the most.The way Varmaji presented this song with a very clear Tamil pronunciation with out swallowing any word and giving lots of Bhavam was appreciated by one and all.
6.He also presented MDR 's popular tukkada "Hariyum Haranum" as filler.
7.But i was not so moved by main Swati tirunal keertanai , folk song followed and the final chorus Tillana.
8.The way the students(they were part of audience) joined him in tillana gave ample proof of his sincere work(coaching them last week).
9.I could spot rasika's member Vidhwan V.Shankarnarayanan(Dikshitar),among the audience.