Music academy - Shri Pattabhiram Pandit.

Very good performance. Kunthalavaraali and sankarabaranam are still roaming in my mind. Melody of the last sung behag also had the special effect of soothening the mind.

Narada Gana Sabha mini hall. - Mahadhi

Good performance. Shanmugapriya - Saravanabhava ennum thirumandhiram, bindhumaalini - entha mudhdho, and the karakarapriya elaborations were very good. Mahathi madam - one humble request: Raaga alaapana - what is pleasing to the ears are " T R N H EEE and also L (used by sri Madurai Mani Iyer) sounds " The letter to be avoided is "Y" - since pronouncing Y in the alaapana will be heard as "ayya ayya or ayyo ayyo" by the audience. Yourself and Srimathi Visaaka Hari do Y sound in alaapana - sometimes. If this can be corrected, then your concert will be like gold flower with fragrance

Gurucharan @ Vaani Mahal

The man with the golden voice. Kamaas raaga memorable one. Gurucharan presented an enjoyable Mukaari - yes - Mkaari! Thyagaraja's 'kaarupaaruseyuvaaru' . All the songs were good, as usual.

Kadri Gopalnath and Kanyakumari @ Vaani Mahaal

If you close your eyes - you will not be able to find the difference whether the sound was from kadri's sax or kanyakumari's bow. Kalyaani, Sriranjani, Brindavanasaaranga, Abheri were good. Then followed the usual pieces like theraadha vilayaattup pillai, baaro krishnayya, lakshmi baaramma etc etc - i have a strong feeling that the tail enders need to be changed by Kadriji - and new songs are to be brought in. However, the concert had the kadri + kanyakumaari standard and there was never a dull moment

K G Goutham
Dec 22^nd 2008

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