Flute maestro Mala Chandrasekhar enthralled her audience at a concert (organised by Rasikas NZ and Sangeetha Bharathi School of Music) held at the Selwyn College Auditorium in Auckland on May 7.
‘Sami Ninne’ (a Varnam in Shankarabharanam Ragam and Adi Talam) was an authentic start to the programme, followed by Thyagaraja’s ‘Vinayakuni Valenu’ (Madhyamavathi and Adi), to set the mood for the evening.
‘Dayarani’ (Mohanam and Khanda Chapu), a rare piece performed by very few artistes today, was superb, bringing to the fore the flutist’s high level of competence.
This item, another composition of Thyagaraja, was representative of the diversity of Talas in South Indian classical music.
Ms Chandraskehar chose the ensuing two numbers composed respectively by Muthuswami Dikshitar and Shyama Sastri to complete the ‘Trinity of Carnatic Music.’ ‘Kanja Dalaya Thakshi’ (Kamala Manohari and Adi) and ‘Devi Brova’ (Chintamani and Adi) were a delight to the ear.
She chose ‘Rama Rama Guna Seema,’ an outstanding composition of Swathi Thirunal as the main piece of the concert. Set to Simhendramadhyamam Ragam and Adi Talam, the number highlighted the ‘Swara Kalpana’ (improvisation) of the main and supporting artistes.
The intricacies of Indian classical music were present as Ms Chandrasekhar lifted the mood of piety and melody.
The four-hour concert comprised a Pallavi, set to ‘Tisra Jathi Triputa’ Talam, exemplifying the ingenuity of the flutist. The Ragamalika of the Pallavi was exuberant with ‘Amritha Varshini,’ ‘Kanada,’ and ‘Brindavani.’
‘Paluku Tenela Talli,’ ‘Bhavayami Gopala Balam’ (by Annamacharya) and ‘Katrinile Varum Geetham (by Kalki for the film ‘Meera’ sung by M S Subbulakshmi) were among the other highlights of the programme.
Ms Chandrasekhar concluded the Concert with ‘Maithreem Bhajatha,’ composed by the late Kanchi Paramacharya Chandrasekharendra Saraswati for World Peace.
Accompanying artistes Hirisave Narasimhamurthy Bhaskar (Violin) and Palladam Ravi on Mridangam were at their best.
The former won our hearts with his creativity on a par with the main artiste. Students can learn to improvise through innumerable compositions in Carnatic Music. Ravi brought out the laya (rhythm) in his solo segments (Thaniyavartanam).
They accompanied Ms Chandrasekhar at the second concert in New Zealand at Wellington on May 8 under the New Zealand Indian Fine Arts Society banner at the Adam Concert Hall of the Victoria University Kelburn Campus.
