Concert Reviews

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Bhavan's cultural festival sets the tone for music season

Balamuralikrishna and Nityashree Mahadevan

Carnatic musicians Balamuralikrishna and Nityashree Mahadevan receiving the Obul Reddy and P. Gnananba Memorial Awards in Chennai on Sunday. G. Srinivasan, Chairman and Managing Director, United India Insurance Company ( left), T.S. Krishnamurthy, chairman, Bhavan's Chennai Kendra, Sucharitha Reddy, wife of Pratap C.Reddy , chairman, Appolo Hospitals, and K.N. Ramaswamy, director, Bhavan's Chennai Kendra are in the picture. Photo: R.Shivaji Rao
The Hindu Carnatic musicians Balamuralikrishna and Nityashree Mahadevan receiving the Obul Reddy and P. Gnananba Memorial Awards in Chennai on Sunday. G. Srinivasan, Chairman and Managing Director, United India Insurance Company ( left), T.S. Krishnamurthy, chairman, Bhavan's Chennai Kendra, Sucharitha Reddy, wife of Pratap C.Reddy , chairman, Appolo Hospitals, and K.N. Ramaswamy, director, Bhavan's Chennai Kendra are in the picture. Photo: R.Shivaji Rao

Several eminent artists, old and young, felicitated

Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan's Cultural Festival 2011 kick-starts the popular ‘Madras music season' here on Sunday.

The Bhavan took this opportunity to felicitate several eminent artists, old and young.

Eminent Carnatic musician and composer Balamuralikrishna, who was presented the P. Obul Reddy Award, described Bhavan as the “home of arts and artistes.” Himself a patron of the London branch of the Bhavan, he said this institution had been rendering yeoman service to arts and culture and expressed hope that it would continue to remain so.

G.Srinivasan, chairman and managing director, United India Insurance Company, the chief guest, said Chennai turns into a different city altogether during the music season. And the cultural festival of Bhavan was not only free but was also of high quality. Thanks to its rasikas of high calibre, it provided an opportunity for an interface of high quality artistes and rasikas. Such festivals took the public to a different plane altogether, to the level of “communion with God.”

Describing Bhavan as an institution that had been in the forefront of “intellectual and cultural movement” of the country, he quoted its founder K.M. Munshi as saying it was an institution which had its “faith in the past, the present and the future.”

The movement and the contribution of Bhavan were quite relevant today because of the challenges facing the world which was suffering from “moral deficit,” he added.

T.S. Krishnamurthy, former Chief Election Commissioner and the chairman of the Bhavan's Chennai Kendra, observed that it was honouring the old artists in a bid to express its concern for the old and honouring the young to say that the future was safe in their hands. The Bhavan proposed to extend its activities to T. Nagar and Tiruporur also, he added.

Carnatic musician Nithyasree Mahadevan was presented the P. Gnanambal Memorial Award by Sucharita Reddy, wife of Pratap C. Reddy, chairman, Apollo Hospitals group. Parur M.S. Anantharaman, Sembanarkovil S.R.G. Rajanna, Suguna Varadachari, Prapancham Sitaram and G. Abhilash received Bhavan's Chennai Kendra cultural awards.

Keywords: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Madras music season

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Sudha Ragunathan

Brilliant presentation: Sudha Ragunathan. Photo: K. Ananthan


Sudha Ragunathan enthralled her rasikas by delivering a wide variety of songs.

Sudha Ragunathan's distinctive flair for giving a fresh touch in her presentation skills was evident in her vocal recital under the aegis of Arsha Kalaa Arangam, held at the Sarojini Auditorium, Coimbatore. Her well-developed vocal faculty came in handy to her while picturing the ragas with twists and turns.

Her modest start of ‘Siddhivinayakam Anisam' in Mohanakalyani with a brilliant chittaswaram made the listeners sit up for more in the following numbers.

Glitzy stimulation underlined the succeeding ‘ Sobillu' (Jaganmohini) and ‘Mokshamu Galada' (Saramathi).

Spate of kalpanaswaras

A delightful raga vinyasam of Kalyani with richly worked out sancharas integrated with vocal articulation for the kriti, ‘Ulagellam Eendra Annai' unravelled the sensitivity of the raga. The niraval and the spate of kalpanaswaras were rooted in the emotion of rakti.

The concluding pieces of Swami Dayananda Saraswathi's compositions—‘Bo Shambho' and ‘ Mahalinga Vibho' were marked by lyricism, mellowness and devotional fervour.

Embar Kannan's violin accompaniment was classy in the solo segment of raga delineations and swara sallies.

Sai Giridhar (mridangam) played strokes adding meaning to the percussive support in company with Ramani's morsing. Both painted a picture of laya in a lilting thani.

Keywords: Sudha Ragunathan, carnatic music

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Chennai, November 20, 2011
Ringing in the Yule spirit
At the outset of Canticle of Joy — a package of classical, semi-classical and contemporary music at Museum Theatre designed to welcome the Yule spirit and, at the same time, to enthral classical mu... »
Members of Anubhuti at The Music Academy Photo: S.R. Raghunathan

November 18, 2011
High on curiosity, confidence
Only brave hearts or confident artistes can take up such a challenge, the challenge of performing at a moment's notice. Talented Carnatic vocalists, Trichur Brothers, who filled in for the postpone... »
COIMBATORE, November 18, 2011
When music spoke through slide guitar and violin
A musician living on the banks of the Ganges and another living in Singara Chennai came together on one stage to create music so divine that it struck a chord in every listener. ‘Adrishta', the op... »
Tarun Bhattacharya

November 17, 2011
Strings of a melody
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Prema Ramamurthy

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Melodious repertoire
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Madurai Mani

November 17, 2011
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Brilliant presentation: Sudha Ragunathan. Photo: K. Ananthan

November 17, 2011
With devotional fervour
Sudha Ragunathan's distinctive flair for giving a fresh touch in her presentation skills was evident in her vocal recital under the aegis of Arsha Kalaa Arangam, held at the Sarojini Auditorium, C... »
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November 17, 2011
Short and sweet
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Deserving accolades
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Vocalist Sikkil Gurucharan and pianist Anil Srinivasan at the opening concert to launch ‘The Hindu Friday Review November Fest 2011’ in the city on Wednesday. Photo: K. Ananthan

COIMBATORE, November 17, 2011
The Hindu Friday Review November Fest launched
The second edition ofThe Hindu Friday Review November Fest was launched in the city on Wednesday night at the Grand Kovai Ballroom, Le Meridien. Dignitaries from various sections of society... »

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November 19, 2011
Touching the right chord
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KOCHI, November 18, 2011
November Fest to begin in city today
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BEST OF BOTH WORLDS Dulsori Photo: S.R. Raghunathan

November 17, 2011
The delicate sound of thunder
The distant rumble of drums heralded lilting rain on lush fields. Strident gongs signalled the clash of battle swords in faraway lands. And a lissome flautist's trills painted a peaceful pasture. H... »
Singing strings Sarfaras Khan. Photo: K.K. Najeeb

November 17, 2011
Sweet strains of the sarangi
For the first time in Thrissur, music buffs had the privilege of revelling in the enthralling notes bowed out of the sarangi by Sarfaras Khan. The 16-year-old musician, son of Ustad Faiyaz Khan, e... »
Srinivasa Iyengar and son giving violin concert

November 17, 2011
Father-son duo impress
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Kalamandalam Sankara Warrier. Photo: Thulasi Kakkat

November 17, 2011
Percussionist par excellence
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aesthetic: Hemmige Prashanth. Photo: K. Ananthan

November 17, 2011
Appealing patterns
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Violin duet by Naveen Kumar and Poorna Pragnya at the concert organised by Association for Carnatic Music (ACM) in Tirupati last week.

November 17, 2011
Enthralling duet
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Chennai, November 17, 2011
‘Lahori Blues’ concert cancelled
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SOUND SENSE: The Minguet Quartet. Photo: S.R. Raghunathan
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Mood, musicality and Minguet
The road to a mature string ensemble is a long and arduous one. Since much of the charm of chamber music is to return the compliment of the other, four musicians who love to play string instrument... »

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Concert conjures up magic of abhangs

Aruna Sairam performing Wisdom of Vithala at The Hindu Friday Review November Fest 2011, Fine Arts Hall, Kochi. Photo: Tulasi Kakkat


Friday Review November Fest
music classical music
arts, culture and entertainment

The city has a history of abhang singing that is more than 100 years old. The Sree Vithoba Devasthan in Mattancherry has regular abhang renderings and most of the compositions of this traditional form are quite familiar to those who participate and listen to them here. For them, Aruna Sairam's abhang performance was another chance to revisit their musical roots, for the others, an initiation into a powerful world of devotional music.

Aruna Sairam was singing on the opening day ofThe Hindu Friday Review November Fest at the Kerala Fine Arts Hall on Friday. The programme was aptly titled ‘Wisdom of Vithala,' as most of the songs penned by poet saints are addressed to Lord Vithala.

Classical as well as non-classical singers have explored this form. Earlier, abhangs were sung by classical singers only as part of a general concert, usually at the end of it. Masters like Pandit Bhimsen Joshi crossed the barrier between classical music and popular music; became a sort of icon through the medium of this form.

As a Carnatic vocalist, Aruna Sairam is known for her full-throated and personalised style of singing. She always enjoyed singing one or two abhangs in her concerts. It was at the same festival in 2006 in Chennai that she first presented an exclusive recital of abhangs. Her strong voice, resonant timbre and exposure to a range of styles are much suited to this form. And today, Aruna Sairam is much-sought after for her abhang singing.

“She was both professional and very devotional. We have seen so many abhang singers but most of them simply sing. There is very little ‘bhava.' In Aruna Sairam's case, it was so different. She interspersed her rendering with the history of the music form, of the compositions, about Pandharpur, stories about the saints.

And her singing was exuberant, soaked in ‘bhakti,' ” says Mahesh N. Joshi, trustee, Sree Vithoba Devasthan.

Aruna Sairam opened the concert with Jog raga and followed it up with the extremely popular Sant Namdev abhang. 'Teertha Vitthala kshetra Vitthala…' (Ahir Bhairav). Originally, abhangs were not meant for the stage or put into a classical framework. It was simply singing the praise of the lord in simple terms, conveying the rich philosophy and teachings of the saint composers.

By the time Aruna Sairam had finished Sant Eknath's ‘Majhe mahir Pandhari…' and Sant Tukaram's classic in Sivaranjini, ‘Rajasa sukumara madancha…' the audience had got into the mood. They were swaying and clapping to the pulsating rhythms and Aruna's soulful rendering.

From the Bhakti Movement of the North she travelled down South with Sampradaya Bhajans, a tradition of singing bhajans with a collection of kirtanas and namavalis. Aruna chose five ragas – Nattai, Abheri, Madhyamavathi, Saveri and Panthuvarali – set in five definite talas.

A short, crisp taniavartanam involving the mridangam (J. Vaidynathan), ghatam (S. V. Ramani), tabla (Manoj Bhati), pakhawaj (Prakash Shejwal) and Pratap Rath (additional percussion) followed.

Blending genres like part of a Tamil kriti and an abhang, an innovative mix of vibrant abhang singing with the buoyant Gondhali was beautifully executed. Every second of the concert was filled in beautifully by the sitar (Kishore Kumar), harmonium (Atmaram Bicholkar) and violin (H.N. Bhaskar).

The surprise was the Malayalam devotional, ‘Anjanashilayil adi parasakthi…', written by Vasudevan Potti and set to tune by Jaya-Vijaya. Her pronunciation might have been a bit flawed but the soul was certainly there. Aruna Sairam wound up the two-hour performance with ‘Omkara saroopa…' in Revathi, Narayanaeeyam sloka tagged on with apadam from Natya Sangeetham.

Keywords: Kochi November Fest

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Swaras in Slovenia
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http://www.thehindu.com/arts/music/article2656323.ece

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November 24, 2011
Captivating concert
The Heritage Hall of the renowned Ravenshaw University in the millennium city of Cuttack — the former cultural capital of Odisha — reverberated with the memorable sarod recital by Sura Ranjan Mukh... »
Jayaprada Rammurthy's show was engaging. Photo: Special Arrangement

http://www.thehindu.com/arts/music/article2655773.ece

November 24, 2011
Style of play
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http://www.thehindu.com/arts/music/article2655763.ece

November 24, 2011
Classical to the core
Simple,down-to-earth, they make you feel at ease at the very outset. The maestros that they are, Bombay Sisters belong to the golden era of MS, MLV and Pattammal, Radha and Jayalakshmi-this makes... »
T.K. Ramamurthy

http://www.thehindu.com/arts/music/article2655764.ece

November 24, 2011
Felicitating TKR
M.S. Viswanathan will honour his counterpart, T.K. Ramamurthi, at a function organised by Rasikaas, in the presence of Rama. S. Vairam Chettiar, on November 27, 4.25 p.m. onwards, at the Cine Music... »
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November 24, 2011
Manodharma in evidence
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FETED: Vani Jairam receiving Sangam Academy's Lifetime Achievement Award from Mr. K. Rosaiah, Governor of Tamil Nadu. Photo: Special Arrangement

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November 24, 2011
Melodic sojourns
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Marti Bharath: With his band Sapta. Photo: Special Arrangement.

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November 23, 2011
Riding on 7
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Coimbatore 18/11/2011. 'Adrishta' by Ganesh Rajagopalan (violin) and Debashish Bhattacharya (slide guitar) at 'The Hindu Friday Review November Fest 2011' at Corporation Kalai Arangam in Coimbatore on November 17, 2011. Photo:K.Ananthan.

http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-sty...cle2652773.ece

Hyderabad, November 23, 2011
A perfect blend
Date: November 26Venue: Ravindra Bharathi, Lakdi Ka PulTime: 7.30 p.m.Ganesh Rajagopalan is a violinist from the folds of Carnatic music. Debashish Bhattacharya is a Grammy-nom... »

http://www.thehindu.com/arts/music/article2653282.ece

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The Academy of Music conducted its annual music festival last week, at its own Chowdaiah Memorial Hall. Senior musicians T N Seshagopalan and Rudrapattana Brothers (R N Thyagarajan and R N Tharanathan) received the “K K Murthy Memorial Chowdiah Award” for this year.

Popular vocalist Nityashree Mahadevan, who gave the inaugural concert, was accompanied by M A Krishnaswamy (violin), Shivakumar (mridanga) and S Srishylan (ghata). Nityashree, who was in her elements, started with a familiar varna in the raga Durbar. This was followed by a lesser-known composition of Tyagaraja, ‘Okasari Chudagarada’ in the raga Kalawathi. The Nalinakanthi ragalapana was brief but with lively phrases. It was followed by a Kannada devaranama ‘Nindakarirabeku’ and the all time favourite, ‘Akhilandeswari’, in a grand ‘vilamba kaala’. With her voice traversing with ease, and abundant birkas Kalyani was sparkling. ‘Nidhichala sukhama’ with Nerval (Mamatha Bandhanayutha) was wholesome and stood out for its emotional sensitivity.
Another devaranama ‘Thamburi meetidava’, Sai bhajan and a thillana (Maharajapuram Santhanam) – that followed were also pleasing. In total it was a bright beginning for this year’s music festival.

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/...e-reviews.html

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Ganesh Rajagopalan and Debashish Bhattacharya's ‘Adrishta' concert held at Ravindra Bharathi was a stupendous success right from the start

Wedded by music, the violin and slide guitar seemed the most compatible couple on earth. Ganesh Rajagopalan on the violin seemed the masculine strain of Carnatic music: strong and steady with the velocity of the wind; Debashish Bhattacharya on the slide guitar was the feminine form: rich in melody, paced with poise like the earth.
On a roller coaster

The fortunate (Adrishta) duo took us on a roller-coaster at the Ravindra Bharathi auditorium on the second day of The Hindu Friday Review November Fest 2011. The concert was ordained for nothing short of stupendous success right from the start. The ragas presented were chosen that they had a thread of commonality running between them or an equivalent in both the Carnatic and Hindustani musical parlance.

We were initiated into the Madhyamavathi (Megh) with the composition of Sadaarang (18th century Niyamat Khan) set to Jhampa tala (Jhup taal). The opening notes of this stirring raga were an elaborate exposition of its finer aspects as Ganesh deftly wielded his bow-string on the violin.

The high concordance as the raga takes the first three notes of the cycle of fifth and fourth was so evident in his handling.

The concurrent Megh on the guitar, invoked the clouds to pour in its sweet, stringing melodic tones.

The rather rigid instrument seemed to melt in the hands of Debashish and it almost spoke in human voice like the veena.

In fact, the cadence was similar to that of veena. As Ganesh led in improvising this popular raga, Debashish's guitar followed suit. No, it was not repetitive. Far from it, each artiste gave his version of the raga in almost similar lines that it appeared to a follow-up but it had its innate identity.

The improvisations were markedly intricate as Ganesh and Debashish scaled the altitude in stunning speed as they whirled past the higher octave. The formal spin down was not just a fall, it was methodically calculated set of declining syllables totally rhythmic that came to a natural end. The tabla by Subhashish Bhattacharya and mridangam by Ananthakrishna literally were on a sport drive – trying to outdo each other while Trichi Krishna on the ghatam maintained a low tempo except towards the end of a true, blue taniavartham (solo percussion). The passionate Charukeshi (recently adapted to Hindustani) opened to a brilliant alapana by the violinist.

The nuances spoke eloquently on the instrument which were further enhanced by the guitar.

We never knew we would be shortly taken on a breath-taking trip of the heavens as both the artistes alternately set the pace which peaked and landed us on what seemed the heights of a beautiful snow-clad mount.

The stylish spill out of syllabic utterances in quick succession, without a breather was Ganesh's forte while Debashish took the cue and took wings flying into a boundless space on a rapid action mode. It was like a clap of thunder and lightning with the percussionists on an Abacus.

The triangular contest of tabla, mridangam and ghatam was worth a watch though Ananthakrishna emerged a clean victor. The sweet Sindhubhairavi gave a fitting finale to the marvellous ensemble.

[R.Latha]

Chennaiites have a lot to look forward to in terms of song and dance this Margazhi

The much-awaited Margazhi music season is just around the corner. Rasikas can look forward to another enjoyable season of concerts and lectures. Here's a look at some of the treats in store this year.

Normally, it is vocalists who get the lion's share attention as well as the best slots. But this year, The Music Academy has 20 instrumental concerts lined up. The nagasvaram concerts, which have become a rarity, will see a return, as the academy has included a nagasvaram concert by Sheikh Mehboon Subhani and Khalsha Bi-Mehboob in the schedule.

Some of the other highlights include the concert of veteran Parassala Ponnammal, who comes with seven decades of experience and has the distinction of being the first woman to sing at the Navarathri Mandapam. Also performing at the same Kalakshetra Festival are Aruna Sairam and Paduka Pattabishekam. The ancient form of musical story-telling, Villupattu, by Kavingar Subbu Arumugam will be part of the highlights at the festival at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan this year. As for the purists, there's a great treat in store. One can look forward to the renditions of rare and popular ragas like Charukesi, Vagadeeswari, Rishabhapriya and Priyadarshini in the concerts of K J Yesudas. He will be singing at many venues to commemorate his 50 years in the field of music.

This year also sees the launch of Sadhguru Santhananda Kalaa Kendra, an organization promoting classical music in Tambaram and other suburbs close by. Other big sabhas, including the Chennai Fine Arts, Kartik Fine Arts, Prabhata Sangeetham (the early morning concerts) and Bharat Kalachar, will see some great concerts lined up. Some of the most popular singers like Bombay Jayasri, Sudha Ragunathan, P Unnikrishnan and Kunnakudi M Balamuralikrishna will be performing at these venues. Lovers of Hindustani music too have some big names set to enthrall them.

Featured in the itinerary this year are world famous names like Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, Shubha Mudgal, Debashish Bhattacharya, Tarun Bhattacharya and Abhijeet Banerjee.

And what's a season without young talent? Some of the brightest names from the Indian classical music scene are expected to perform here as well. There will be many lecture-demonstrations (lec-dems) for the discerning audiophiles, who want to keep a track of the changing trends. Topics vary from the changing role of the nagaswaram, the mridangam as leader and follower and the handling of minor and major ragas.

The dance festivals too offer some great treats for the culturati. The theme for the Natya Kala Conference at Sri Krishna Gana Sabha is Abhyaasa Sampradaya with performances of different forms like Yakshagana, Manipuri, Mohiniattam, Kutiyattam, Chhau and Odissi apart from Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi recitals.

This year some NRI sabhas are organizing interesting concerts like the 12-day festival organized by Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society. And what's the month of Margazhi without talking about the food and pattu saris? The city's best caterers are all set to dish out their delectable treats at the various canteens run by the sabhas.

Get your best pattu saris out, mark your calendars and just sit back and enjoy, for Margazhi this year has something for everyone!