Sunday, August 15, 2010

Sri T N Seshagopalan @ Fine Arts Society, Chembur, Mumbai on 15th August 2010

T. N.Seshagopalan - vocal
Nagai Sriram - Violin
R Ramesh - Mridangam
K.V.Gopalakrishnan - Kanjira

Sri TNS gave an amazing concert on 15th August. At the end of three hours, the list was as follows:

1.) mEru samAna - mAyA mALava gowLai - Adi - T (R, N,S @ gaLamuna)
2.) endarO mahanubhAvulu - sri - Adi - T (R,N,S @ rAmabhaktu)
3.) ADa mODi - chArukEsi - Adi -T (R,S @ mATalADa )
4.) nagumOmu - AbhEri - Adi - T (R,N,S,T)

Had to leave after tani so not sure what he sang after this.

The concert started on time. Nagai Sriram gave excellent support. Shri R. Ramesh and KVG were brilliant, they could follow all the mathematical patterns that TNS sang. The best part of the kutcheri was the swarams at mATalAda mODi, due its rare eDuppu (27 aksharams talli). Although the patterns were vintage TNS ones, they sounded very fresh and interesting. Only a vidvan like TNS can handle ragas like Abheri without making them sound light. nagumOmu was brilliantly rendered followed by a very detailed round of neraval and swarams, which were again vintage TNS patterns! It felt as if I was listening to the TNS that I have heard on tapes! The tani was good, with many intelligent patterns in mishram and sankeerna naDai.

A special mention about the endarO mahAnubhAvulu. It was outstanding. The AlApana was the best I have heard for this rAga. The kalpana swarams and neraval were also very beautifully done. I got at least five messages from known people attending the concert that this was the most beautiful srI they had heard.

TNS sir is truly a legend. Had a nice evening. No shruti problems (my third TNS kutcheri in a row without such). Excellent acoustics and a sensitive audience. All in all, a kutcheri that made my weekend!