Veena - Nirmala RajasekarViolin - R RaghulMridangam - Yella Venkateswara RaoGhatam - N Guruprasad The Veena concert of Vidushi Nirmala Rajasekar was elevating and inspiring. Not only were her kritis well-chosen, she accomodated listeners' requests (received online prior to the concert), especially the Tanamalika and requested ragas. Her training under senior Veena stalwart, Kalpagam Swaminathan…
Four Videos of the Raga Reverb Series of the Samskriti Foundation
A Review of four videos on YouTube, of the Raga Reverb series of the Samskriti Foundation, Chicago (Founder and Artistic Director - Shoba Natarajan).Ragas - Nasikabhushani, Kalyani, Anandabhairavi, Karnaranjani What stands out in these videos is the involvement and commitment of all the artistes. This is commendable, given the severe constraints many artistes are facing…
Hamsadhwani Raga (Raga Reverb Series of the Samskriti Foundation)
A Review of the Raga Reverb series of the Samskriti Foundation, Chicago (Founder & Artistic Director - Shoba Natarajan). Raga - Hamsadhwani. Having watched Abby.V's curtain-raiser to this series some time back, one's curiosity was piqued as to how each raga was going to be handled. The auspicious raga of Hamsadhwani is the first in…
Samskriti Foundation’s 25th Anniversary Inaugural Concert – 25 Songs with Abby V on YouTube
Samskriti Foundation founded by Shoba Natarajan in Chicago celebrates its 25th year with Raga Reverb - an online global festival of music and dance. Shoba Natarajan is an accomplished Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi dancer. She has been training several students in the classical performing arts of India like music and dance, over the years, in the…
Review of a Tamil Drama – Bharathi Yaar?
Review of a Tamil Drama - "Bharathi Yaar?" Streamed on 20 December 2020 as part of Federation of City Sabhas and Kalakendra's Yours Truly Margazhi. Stunningly directed and with superb acting, scoring high on aesthetics and above all, so evocative of the life and times of Bharathiyar, SBS Creations' Bharathi Yaar? took me on a…
ShoRe 4: A Tale of Two Violin Duos
A Short Review (ShoRe) of two online violin concerts – December 2020 – Federation of City Sabhas and Kalakendra (Yours Truly Margazhi) Violin - Ganesh & KumareshViolin - A Kanyakumari & Embar S KannanMridangam - Anantha R KrishnanMridangam - Mannargudi A EaswaranGhatam - Trichy KrishnaswamyKanjira - B S Purushotham List of Songs: Ganesh - KumareshKanyakumari…
ShoRe 3: Chinmaya Sisters – 16 December 2020
A Short Review (ShoRe) of an online vocal concert of the Chinmaya Sisters - 16 December 2020 - Federation of City Sabhas and Kalakendra (Yours Truly Margazhi) Vocal - Chinmaya SistersViolin - B V Raghavendra RaoMridangam - B Ganapathiraman List of Songs: Guruvayurappane Appan- Reetigowlai - Adi- Ambujam KrishnaVenkataramana - Lathangi - Rupakam - Papanasam…
ShoRe 2: Sandeep Narayan – 15 December 2020
A Short Review (ShoRe) of an online vocal concert by Sandeep Narayan - 15 December 2020 – Federation of City Sabhas – Kalakendra Vocal - Sandeep NarayanViolin - Mysore SrikanthMridangam -Umayalpuram Shivaraman List of songs: Brova baramma - Bahudari – Thyagaraja (Speedy Swaras spell at the pallavi)Venugana Ramana - Thodi - Oothukkadu Venkatasubbier (Elaborate Alapana;…
ShoRe 1: Sanjay Subrahmanyan – 12 December 2020
A Short Review (ShoRe) of an online vocal concert by Sanjay Subrahmanyan on December 12, 2020 - Tamizhum Naanum Vocal - Sanjay SubrahmanyanViolin - S VaradarajanMridangam - Neyveli B Venkatesh List of songs - Gayakapriya - Naada nilai kandu uruga naan - Koteeswara IyerBahudari - Ramasami thoodhan naanada - Arunachala KavirayarRTP - Patdeep - Subramania…
Round-up of Margazhi Music Season 2019 in Chennai
Round-up of Margazhi Music Season 2019 in Chennai - Highlights of select programs attended in December 2019 till January 1, 2020. The Crowd-pullers (at Narada Gana Sabha): Sanjay Subrahmanyan, Bombay Jayashri, Abhishek Raghuram and Vishaka Hari These artistes attracted crowds young and old, from kids wearing braces and bespectacled teenagers to the mama-mamis of Mylapore,…
Winsome Twosomes
Whether by sheer coincidence or design, the prime slot during the pre-Christmas weekend at Narada Gana Sabha went to three duos – the Malladi Brothers, Trichur Brothers and Ranjani Gayathri. Accompanied by a combination of upcoming and experienced artistes, these three sibling stars proceeded to regale the eager audiences with interesting kritis in select ragas,…
Unnikrishnan – 15 December 2019
Review of a Vocal concert by P Unnikrishnan at Narada Gana Sabha on December 15, 2019 at 4 pm Accompanying artistes: R K Sriramkumar - Violin Trichy S Sankaran - Mridangam N Guruprasad - Ghatam Varaalandu (Mayamalavagowlai, Thyagaraja) with swaras at the pallavi was a good warm-up for Unnikrishnan. Evergreen favorite Siddhivinayakam (Shanmugapriya, Dikshitar) with…
Dr S Sowmya – 14 December 2019
Review of a Vocal concert held at Narada Gana Sabha on December 14, 2019. Accompanying artistes: Embar S Kannan – Violin Neyveli Narayanan – Mridangam K V Gopalakrishnan – Kanjira Sowmya launched her concert with Raa Rama intidhaga (Asaveri, Thyagaraja) with swaras at the pallavi. A Gowrimanohari alapana with good violin response preceded Thyagaraja's Guruleka.…
Bombay Jayashri & Jayanthi Kumaresh – 2 November 2019
Review of 'Ritu Soundaryam' - a joint performance by vocalist Bombay Jayashri and veena vidushi Jayanthi Kumaresh. Accompanying artistes - Anantha R Krishnan - Mridangam Ojas Adhiya - Tabla Vivek - V S - Keyboard A program conducted by the students of Lalaji Memorial Omega International School as 'Kalanjali' - an Annual Festival of Performing…
Jigyasa Giri In Conversation With Aarabi Veeraraghavan
Meet the Artist - Kathak dancer, choreographer and teacher Jigyasa Giri in conversation with Aarabi Veeraraghavan at Sarangi - The Kanjivaram Saree Store located at Luz Church Road, Mylapore, Chennai on Sunday, October 13, 2019 at 8.30 am. Jigyasa Giri is a prominent name in the field of Kathak. Her dance school 'Devaniya', now in…
‘Sujatha’ – 27 September 2019
Review of Komal Theatre's Tamil play – 'Sujatha' – held at Narada Gana Sabha on September 27, 2019 at 6.45 pm under the auspices of Kartik Fine Arts, Brahma Gana Sabha and Sri Parthasarathy Swami Sabha. The program began with a ten minute audio–visual presentation on the late celebrated Tamil writer Sujatha, his notable achievements…
Kuyil Paattu – 7 September 2019
Kuyil Paattu – Bharathi Anjali – A Dance Exploration under the auspices of Natyarangam, Narada Gana Sabha, choreographed by Saroja Vaidyanathan, New Delhi. Dancers: Vijay Madhavan Ashwini Viswanathan Shivakumar V. Kali Shruthipriya R Sanath Kumar Music: Parur M S Ananthasree Resource & Introduction: Isaikkavi Ramanan Smt Sujatha Vijayaraghavan graciously took us through the evolution of…
Shobana – 24 August 2019
Janmashtami Special Dance Program held at Narada Gana Sabha; “Krishna” – Celebrating the Supreme by Shobana on August 24, 2019, Saturday, 6.45 pm. Vocal - Bombay Jayshree Vocal - Abhishek Raghuram Percussion - Anantha R Krishnan Asst Choreographer - Srividya Sailesh Flute – JA Jayanth Keyboard & Harmonium –Praveen D Rao Lighting Director - Murugan…
Sanjay Subrahmanyan – 28 December 2018
Review of a Vocal Concert of Sanjay Subrahmanyan at Narada Gana Sabha on Friday, 28 December 2018 at 4 pm. Nagai Muralidharan – Violin Nanjil Arul – Mridangam K V Gopalakrishnan – Kanjira Beginning with a leisurely rendition of the Navaragamalika Varnam (Valachi), Sanjay moved on to 'Rama Ika nannu brova radha daya ledha, (Patnam…
Ranjani – Gayathri: 23 December 2018
Review of a vocal concert of Ranjani – Gayathri at Narada Gana Sabha on 23 December 2018 at 4 pm Rajeev Mukundan – Violin Delhi Sairam – Mridangam K V Gopalakrishnan – Kanjira Ranjani – Gayathri, who have emerged as top-notch artistes in the last decade, proceeded to regale the sell-out audience with their special…
Meera's Carnatic Contemplations & Beyond 