Ripples on the brain

This continues from the previous post.

• The stage decorations were beautiful and created an instant impression in the minds of the audience. Traditional Carnatic concerts can take a cue from this. I know that this festival had a host of sponsors and the tickets were priced unlike in the traditional concerts. Even then I believe traditional concerts should also have some visual appeal.
• The percussionist should have planned for a much better fusion between themselves. Shri Sivaraman played the traditional tani avartanam for a long time. Instead they could have evolved something that they could play together. The session where one of the percussionists vocally recited and the other played was good.
• Shri Ravikiran accompanied Pandit Bhat whenever he took the lead or when he sung the Rajastani folk song “Kesariya…” in his chitravina. In fact, Shri Sivaraman also played along with the tabla when the Pandit was singing. The Pandit and the tabla player chose to listen when Ravikiran played the last piece “Krishna nee” inspite of Ravikiran’s gestures requesting the Pandit to play. It probably points out the difference in the concert format between Carnatic and Hindustani music.
• When he sang, Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhat paused to even explain the meaning of the stanzas he was singing (as the accompanists were playing in the background). I personally felt it was an excellent gesture to connect with the audience and engage them. Carnatic musicians should take a cue from Pandit Bhat, leave their practice of not communicating with the audience during the concert. Vijay Siva’s contention that musicians need to move between silence and music and hence cannot talk to the audience during a concert is all humbug, in my opinion. If you cannot engage the audience, you are not an artiste. No wonder the Pandit had such a loyal fan following in the crowd the just wanted him to play continuously prompting Ravikiran to ask, “Tomorrow is Monday. Don’t you need to go to something called work?”.
• Both the string instrument players are also excellent vocalists. Their voice can compete with that of any mainstream vocalist. I learnt that Ravikiran used to sing in concerts before he started playing the chitravina. But Pandit Bhat’s song was a pleasant surprise.

Overall an excellent experience on a Sunday evening. The review on the concert that appeared in The Hindu today is here.