ANY performance by a vocal duo will have an impact on the audience only if one voice is stentorian and the other soft and mellifluous to impart depth. Otherwise the intonation and incantation may not be quite
explicit and this may result in the concert appearing pedantic and not very
interesting.
Though the grace of the music of the vocalists, Hyderabad sisters (Lalitha and Haripriya) was evident when they presented their concert for Rama Baktha Jana Sabha with impeccable discipline, I felt the
imagery of the broken voice, did not result in the expected appreciation.
If their rendition of Chakkani Raja of Thyagaraja in raga Karaharapriya, and the elaborate neraval at Kantuki Sundara, transforming the sanchara combination into melodic contours with emphasis on madhyama swaras was truly enchanting, their articulated alapana of raga Lathangi (Mariverathick) of Pattnam Subramaniya Iyer in Tripudal, by Laliltha was treated excellent ly while traversing through the octaves.
The khamas raga (Brochevarevarua) of Mysore Vasudeva Chariar rendered by them earlier reminded us of the veteran of yesteryears vocalist, Sattur AG Subramaniam, who held a sway on rasikas, with his impeccable diction.
Usha Rajagopal on the violin was as usual, playing with grace and elegance. Sherthalai Ananthakrishnan on the mirdangam and K Sivaramakrishnan on the Ghatam left the audience with a feeling of satisfaction.
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