Pt. Kushal Das (Sitar) & Shashank Subramnyan (Flute)

Attended concert titled "Unision of strings and winds". This was the concert of Pt. Kushal Das (Sitar) & Shashank Subramnyan (Flute) accompanied by Parimal Chakrabarty (Tabla) and Sai Giridhar (Mridangam). The concert was organized by Manirang, ISC & Embassy of India at ISC, Any Dhabi on 19th Mar 2015. I attended with Aditi, Sucheeta and Jayant.

Concert started with famous Raag Hamsadhwani. This raag is one of the common raag in Hindustani and Carnatic music. Shashank played one piece in aalap very well.

Then they presented Ragam Panthuvarali or Raag Puriya Dhanashree, the main presentation of the concert. This section was a classical Ragam - Thanam - Pallavi or Aalap - Jod - Jhala. Alapana was followed by composition and improvization.

Unfortunately, I had to leave early and could not wait till the end. But rather than brooding over what I missed, I was happy with what I got.

It was a Strings-Winds jugalbandi, Sitar-Flute jugalbandi, Tabla-Mridangam jugalbandi and Hindustani-Carnatic jugalbandi.

Needless to say Pt. Das enthralled the audience by his fine Sitar playing. It was the first time I watched Carnatic Flute live. Previously I had only listened recorded albums. Shashank was advertised as Prodigy, and that he was. His air intake, though, were frequently audible. He displayed some super fast flute playing.

Sitar, Flute, Tabla and Mridangam was an unusual and innovative combination. Although there were four instruments, Tabla mostly played Hindustani music with Sitar and Mridangam played Carnatic music with Flute. The combination sounded very nice and pleasing.

It was a knowledgeable audience and both artists were applauded multiple times. It appeared that the Carnatic audience was in majority. Temperature in the auditorium was cold and some of the audience had to take comfort break.

Entertainment rating - not allotted.

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Kum. B. Lakshmi Surya Teja (Vocal)

Attended Carnatic Vocal concert of Kum. B. Lakshmi Surya Teja (Vocal) accompanied by Smt. Sita Raghu (Violin) and Shree. Skanda Kumar (Mridangam) organized by India social and cultural center at ISC Auditorium, Abu Dhabi on 20th Sep 2014 with Jayant, Sameer and Raju.

This was my first time to attend Carnatic vocal concert. The vocalist is pursuing her masters degree in music and has won many awards. She hails from Vishakhapattanam and this is her first international tour.

The concert started with a varnam in Ragam Saweri. This was followed by famous composition 'Maha Ganapati manasa smarami'.

She then presented a composition by Nallacharavartulu Krishnammacharulu in Raga Basant followed by another composition '...mahishasur...' In Raga Kanada.

Next was Raga alapana in Amritvarshini. Here she asked the audience to observe their breath in and breath out. Then the violinist played a solo piece. This was followed by a composition 'Sudhamayi'. Skanda did well in this composition. 'Shri Rama pada...' was next.

Kailas Radhenam by Mutthuswami Dikshitar in Raga Kambhoji in Tisrajathi Triputa talam, the main item of the concert. Here she showed a lot of variations and her range. This was undoubtedly the best of the concert. However in this phase of the concert her good voice decided to abandon her. When it threatened to become a spoil sport, she recovered. All three of them were at their best in this section.

Then there was a section of short compositions. It started with 'Tamburi mitti...' of Purandardas in Sind Bhairavi followed by 'Kamal mukha Rama bhajan...' followed by Kabir's  'khaya piya sukhse soya...' followed by 'Govind Hari Govind...' then one more and finally 'Shubha mangalam....'

Peculiar thing was that the artist did not use tanpura, conventional or electronic. Her voice did not appear to be at its best, had some difficulty in higher octaves. Coughing was evident.

The hall chosen for the concert was too big with seating capacity of more than 500 but the attendance was about 50. Smaller hall is more suitable for such concerts.

Entertainment rating 6.5/10.

Ustad Shujat Khan (Sitar) and R.Prasanna (Guitar)

Attended Hindustani- Carnatic fusion concert of Ustad Shujat Khan (Sitar) and R.Prasanna (Guitar) accompanied by Ojas Adhiya (Tabla), B. Amrit (Kanjira) and P. Ravindran (Mridangam)  as part of Emirates Classics III, at DUCTAC, Dubai on 17th April 2014 with Raju and Jayant. This was my second time to watch Shujatji live.

First section of concert was played by Prasanna with Mridangam & Kanjira.

The concert started with Prasanna playing a composition of Muthuswamy Dixitar. Then he played a composition in raaga Suddha Saweri & another composition demonstrating his command on guitar.

The percussionists played jugalbandi after that.  Audience loved it & was applauded a lot. Prasanna ended this section with a composition called 'Bowling for peace', a composition from his album, a fusion.

Second section was played by Ustad Shujat Khan. Solo initially and then with tabla & mridangam. This section consisted of only one composition.

He played Jhinjhoti (aalap jod) followed by a composition. He termed the style of playing as 'informal'. Shujatji played sitar nimbly and applauded  the percussionists encouraging them .

This section took the concert to a different height. The trio played exceptionally well and took audience to the edge of ecstasy. They deservedly received standing ovation.

Final section was a jugalbandi of Prasanna and Shujatji with the three percussionists.

First Shujatji sang a gazal while playing sitar in this section. The lyrics were very good but the singing slowed down the tempo.

Then they all played together. This was my first time to watch Hindustani - Carnatic jugalbandi. The artists regained the lost tempo in this section. Prasanna garnished this section with some western style guitar play.

Concert ended on a high with all the musicians playing crescendo.

Volume of sitar was little loud & sometimes smothered sound of guitar. Program started almost half an hour late. Attendance was not very encouraging with only half of the auditorium full, probably because it was a working day.

Shujatji has lightning  fast fingures and played with ease. It is a delight to watch him playing. He also sings very well. I would, however, prefer sitar over vocal. Tabalji Ojas was a thin young man. But he played like a hurricane. He matched Shujatji stroke by stroke. Too good. This was my first time to watch carnatic classical music played on electric guitar. Another novelty was that Mridangam was placed on a custom made low stand.

Enjoyed the concert. Entertainment rating 9/10.

Mysore brothers (Violin duet)

Attended grand violin concert in Indian Embassy, Abu Dhabi by Mysore brothers. Mysore Sri Nagraj & Mysore Sri Manjunath on violin. Accompanied by Padma Vibhushan Umayalpuram Sri K. Sivaraman on Mridangam and Sri Giridhar Udupa on Ghatam.

It was first time I watched synchronized violin. Fabulous. Who says violin is not an Indian instrument?

K.Sivaraman and Giridhar Udupa played excellant solo mudangam and Ghatam pieces.Mridangam and Ghatam jugalbandi stole the show.

2.5 huors flew by.However the concert did not end with a creshendo.

All in all a very good one.

Dr. L. Subramaniam (Violin)

Attended Indian classical music concert of Dr. L. Subramaniam (VIOLIN- He needs no introduction) and his son Ambi (violin-like father like son) accompanied by TSR Murthy on mridangam, Radhakrishnan on ghatam &  Satyasai on morsing, in Dubai on 3rd May 2013 with Jayant, Amit & Kumar.

Mehfil started with Krithi of Tyagraja. Never heard such a sweet violin. Father & son had very good understanding.

As per tradition each purcussionist played solo and jugalbandi before intermission. Ghatam stole this section.

Suresh Wadkar attended 2nd half where they played ragam tanam pallavi, chandrapriya and ragamalika.

Mehfil ended with a bang.       
Overall it was an enchanting evening.

Rajhesh Vaidhya (Veena)

Attended Carnatic Veena Concert by Rajhesh Vaidhya (veena) accompanied by Mohanaraman & Sriganesh (mridangam), Paramasivan (kanjira) and Subramanian (ghatam) as part of Swara Raga Sudha in Abu Dhabi on 2nd May 2013 with Jayant.

This was the first time to see/hear live veena. Rajeshji uses electric and amplified strings, plays with  lightning speed and enjoys playing. He changed horizontal angle of veena to get different sound.

All purcussionists played excellent solo pieces. I felt one mridangam was bit too loud.

The ensamble played a number of western/fusion/light music compositions in 2nd half followed by medley and ended with a fantastic creshendo. 

A very satisfying mehfil.