Astrology  Chat  Cityscape  Classifieds  Entertainment  Health  Matrimonial 
Music  News  Panorama  Search  Shopping  Services  Tours & Travel  Home

Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana - Friday April 25th 2003

After a whole week has gone by the Cleveland Festival continues to surprise. It keeps flashing like a kaleidoscope in front of our eyes.

You walk into the auditorium late morning and see a full-fledged, live, Nadaswaram concert in progress. Bangalore Kodandaraman and his accompanists give us the traditional music of a temple program.

A couple of youngsters are sitting on the low parapet wall at the back of the hall. They are a bit nervous about having their picture taken but get permission from their mother.

Young Nisha Rajagopal’s afternoon concert at the Siva-Vishnu temple was a real treat. With the Kanada varnam she immediately establishes herself as a talent. She has a controlled voice with sufficient depth and subtlety of expression to execute complex sangathis while still communicating the sahithya bhavam. Her sruthi alignment is near perfect. Vinod Seetharaman, Detroit based mridangam player, accompanies her. Kartic Venkataraman of Toronto is on the Kanjeera and the violinist is none other than Mullaivasal G. Chandramouli.

As the short program progresses we hear Gajananayutham (Chakravakam) with kalpanaswarams. Chandramouli matches the voice of the violin to Nisha’s soft, well-rounded voice. Evaranee (Karaharapriya) , Durmargachara (Ranjani) and Endraikku Siva Kripai Varumo (Mukhari) follow, showing Nisha’s maturity in making up her program. Her firm voice control and crystal clear enunciation are in evidence as she sings each piece despite having some trouble in the lower registers especially in the Ranjani. alapana. Yet, her style, pace and gait all come together to produce the kind of music that delivers a measured emotional impact without the sentimental rendering that comes with over emphasis.

What a contrast with her performance later that day as she works as a volunteer serving lunch and clearing up. Eventually she is spotted eating a well-deserved lunch all by herself.

Energy, excitement and verve are the words that come to mind when listening to Ranjani and Gayathri’s concert on Friday evening. The temple hall is filled with listeners. Enthusiastic Ranjani-Gayathri fans are everywhere in the audience. A fast paced Panthuvarali varnam, executed to perfection, sets the stage for the brisk music to follow. Their concert sets the pace for the final weekend to come.

Committee secretary Sundaram speaks to the audience before the evening concert about the financial issues facing the organizers. The donations and contributions, he says, fall well short of the $100,000 annual budget for the festival. Bringing together 55 artistes from India and 45 from North America, the Cleveland festival is the biggest Carnatic Music event outside India. With the exception of the single Dance program, there is no admission charge for anything else. Volunteers make and serve food for attendees on many of the days. The Cleveland Festival has become the premiere event for Carnatic music aficionados in North America. Children from all over come to participate in the competition. However, without more support from the community and from attendees “we cannot go on like this” said Sundaram. “If each family attending the festival gives just $50 - we can meet our budget”, he says.

(If you were at the festival this year and if your children came to participate; if you are enjoying these write-ups on www.Chennaionline.com and would like to support the Cleveland event - please click www.aradhana.org and send them a tax-deductible donation. Let us keep this event going.)

Committee member Mr. Balu gave me his perspective very simply when I was speaking with him the previous day. “This year we had 180 children from all over the country come and participate in the competition. The standard was very high. Our work is done. We have succeeded.”

Shankar Ramachandran

P.S. If you enjoy reading these reports and viewing the pictures, please do post your comments. It is difficult to judge the level of interest, among readers, without some feedback.