For 200 connoisseurs, it was a musical sunrise at Kadri Park on Thursday morning. The sun rose as well-known Hindustani vocalist from Karnataka, Pandit M. Venkatesh Kumar, presented an early morning raga.
Udayaraga, the early morning concert, organised as part of the on-going Karavali Utsava, announced the Christmas Day’s day-break as he presented the evocative Raga Ahir-Bhairv with the composition "Rasia Ma Ayori". After a brief alaap, the artiste gradually structured his recital adding improvisations step by step.
The unhurried and calm vilambit (first phase) saw the Kirana-Gwalior Gharana exponent experiment with the lower octave, which was soothing. It was only after about 20 minutes into the Raga that he began to explore his full prowess, a great variety of aakar taans , a series of saragams etc.
The dhrut (second phase with the changed tempo) with the composition “Alabela Sajana Ayo Re” was totally captivating.
He also presented Bilaskhani Thodi with composition “Neeke Gungaria” and “Sajari Abhimana” which was slow and meditative and followed it up with the vachanas “Swami Neenu Shaswathanenu”, “Thoredu Jeevisabahude” and finally “Chakorange Chadramana Belakina Chinthe.”
