VEENAVAADHINI Chamber Concert

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

We invited Shri Poorna Pragna Rao to present a chamber concert on May 14, 2007 with emphasis on Syama Sastri Compositions. His accompanying artists were, Shri Madurai Balasubramanian (Violin), Shri Manikantan (Mridangam), and Shri Papanasam Sethuraman (Ganjira).
The Song List:

1. Sree Ganapathini – Sourashtram – Thyagarajaswamy
2. Shankari Neeve – Begada – Subbaraya Sastri
3. Shankari Shankuru – Saveri – Syama Sastri
4. Marivere – Anandabhairavi – Syama Sastri
5. Kamakshi – Yadukulakambhoji – Syama Sastri
6. MeenaLochana – Dhanyasi – Syama Sastri
7. Sarojadala Netri – Shankarabharanam – Syama Sastri
8. Kanakasaila – Punnagavarali – Syama Sastri
9. Mayamma – Ahiri – Syama Sastri

What made the concert very special was that each and every song,save the opening piece, was prefixed with expansive and pristineraga alapanas (including those of Punnagavarali and Ahiri),demonstrating the artist’s vidhwath in ample measure. The violinistwas equally sophisticated in his replies. Shri Manikantan, standing infor his guru Kumbakonam Saravanan, who could not participate as he wasnot well, acquitted himself very creditably. He accompaniedbeautifully for all the songs and played a commendable thani for themain piece Sarojadala netri, with competent support from Shri Sethuraman.