Reviews

Season Reviews - Gayathri Venkataraghavan

Date : 26.12.23

Venue : The Music Academy, Madras

Artist : Gayathri Venkataraghavan

Violin : Mysore V Srikanth

Mridangam : Neyveli S Skandasubramaniyam

Ghatam : Udupi Sreedhar

By Sivapriya Krishnan

Gayathri Venkataraghavan started her concert with a bright Sakalagraha Bala Neene in Athana, followed by Sree Jalandhara in Gambeeranata, a Jayachamaraja Wodeyar composition. Next in line was Marubalga, Sreeranjani in a neat madhyamakala. The main song was Nijadasavarada in Kalyani, one of the masterpieces of Patnam Subramania Iyer. The raga exposition for Kalyani was elaborate, though one felt that a few Yamuna Kalyani traces touched the Kalyani notes. With an elaborate niraval and swara prasthara, she moved onto a ragam-tanam-pallavi in Vagadeeswari in misra Jhampa chatusra nadai. The pallavi in srotovaha yati from arudi to arudi - Vagdevi Sree Sarade Vagadeeswari in the purvanga and Kala rasike namaste in the uttaranga. The ragam-tanam-pallavi was handled well with all the requisite embellishments, though while commencing the alapana, there was a slight meandering, with the raga not firmly taking shape initially. It wasn't until the first few minutes had passed that the distinct flavour of Vagadeeswari began to emerge.

He Govind He Gopala, a Surdas bhajan, followed this. The concert concluded with a brisk Arabhimanam Vaithu Adhari, a ragamalika which she fitted in about the last seven minutes of the concert before the finish line. Leveraging her significant vocal range, Gayathri demonstrates adept control and skill in her performance.

Mysore Srikanth (violin) exhibited a graceful bowing technique and showcased intelligence in his musical expressions. He adeptly shadows the main artist and enriches the concert with well-timed flashes and elaborate performances. Neyveli Skandasubramaniyam (mridangam) and Udupi Sreedhar (ghatam), skillfully managed the percussion, seamlessly complementing the overall concert experience.

The author is a Carnatic vocalist, writer and management professional

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