News - Views - Reviews

    

MADRAS MUSIC MELA 2001

    

ABHISHEK RAGHURAM - SCHOLARSHIP CONVEYED WITH FLAIR

     

Abhishek Raghuram’s morning concert at the Narada Gana Sabha on 23rd December was thinly attended. A pity, as this youngster sings with great flair and is one of the most talented musicians around today. Besides, one could see a marked improvement in his performance and delivery in comparison to last year. It was a cloudy day, but one did see better attendance at other concerts by less-deserving singers, so one wonders why!

The central pieces featured in his concert were such weighty compositions as Inda Paramukham (Poorvikalyani), Senthil Andavan (Kharaharapriya) and Koniyadina napai (Kambhoji). Abhishek has inherited a strong grounding in laya, both by birth and training, and this was amply evident in his neraval and kalpanaswara-s. He also showed original and creative ability of a high order in melodic manodharma, except for the shades of Harikambhoji that crept into his Kambhoji alapana. His voice is showing signs of settling into one with rich timbre and good range, but he needs to pay better attention to Sruti, especially as he is going through that stage in life where the voice breaks.

V V Ravi’s violin accompaniment was better than is usual with him nowadays. One however wishes that he would improve his bowing technique, which remains as scratchy as ever. The double Mridangam accompaniment by Palghat Raghu and Anand was a veritable treat for the laya-oriented. In any generation, only a few artistes attain the status of being venerable masters, and Palghat Raghu showed how richly he deserves this acclaim. It is immensely pleasing to see Abhishek and Anand, his grandsons, being groomed so well. The mikes for the Mridangams were kept at slightly too loud a degree, but this was compensated for by the excellent sound quality of the Mridangams, and the passion and involvement that Palghat Raghu brought to his artistry. Raghu’s bearing on stage, with his attention riveted on the vocalist, notwithstanding the fact that it was his own grandson, revealed his stature as a superior accompanist. One did feel that Anand would do well to emulate his grandfather in this regard.

      

General remarks:

Voice: Smooth and easy, but still settling down
Range: Two octaves comfortably

Ratings:

Sruti - 70%
Kalapramanam - 90%
Rendering of Compositions - 80%
Sahitya - 60%
Raga alapana - 75%
Kalpanaswara - 85%
Sowkhyam - 75%

Overall effect:

Vocal - 75%
Violin - 70%
Mridangam (Raghu) - 85%
Mridangam (Anand) - 75% 

Concert - 80%

Estimated audience ratings:

Audience in hall - About 70 to 80 people, mostly musicians and connoisseurs
Response - Very good

- Nisshanka

      

Posted on December 26, 2001

   
   

More Concert Reviews

   
      
Reports     

Mirch Masala

Lec-dem Schedule

Programme Schedule

List of Awardees

Interviews with Awardees

      

Interviews with Organisers

      
    

Entire MMM 2001 coverage

    
    

     

themehome.jpg (1315 bytes)