A vocal concert of Tirupati-based Kottapalli Vandana evoked musical ecstasy in the hearts of rasikas at Kalabharati Visakhapatnam. Endowed with a pliable voice and flair for expression, she honed her skills under the tutelage of noted vocalist Manda Sudharani and made her mark as an artiste of substance. With an eye for detail, she dished out the chosen kritis in its technical excellence, which evidenced her sound grounding in syntax of Carnatic classical idiom. raga bhava It etched a lasting memory in the hearts of rasikas leaving an impression on mind.
Her mainstay for the session was Dwiragamalika Pallavi in Sankarabharanam and Kalyani. In its detailed treatment at leisurely pace her raga essays and taanam testified her manodharma in its entire vigour and freshness. Laden with subtle sangathees in soft cadence, it gently sailed through enchanting stream of musical phrases that enraptured the ear. She commenced the session with Natakuranji varnam and next came Gam Ganapathim in raga Hamsadhwani. Her presentation of Tulasi Jagajanani of Thyagaraja in raga Saveri exuded devotional fervour.
Particularly her exposition of expression Tulasi Jagajjanani Duritapaharini …. nee sarivelpulu lerata (Tulasi the mother of the worlds, you purge us of sins, O goddess nonpareil grace us) was an elevating experience. Embroidered with appealing aalapana and dexterous swarakalpana , her rendition of raga Kapi for Inta soukhyamani truly ladled out sangeetha soukhyam to rasikas in ample measure.
While Sriramya chitta of Thyagaraja in raga Jayamanohari and Pibare ramarasam in raga Ahirbhairavi sparkled in devotional aura that cast its spell over audience. The other notables were Srihanuman in Desh and Sakalam hey sakhi in raga Sindhubhiravi. She rounded off the session with a bouncy Tillana in Rageswari.
KV Krishna's violin particularly for raga Kapi was appealing, while K Chaitanya Ramesh on mridangam and BS Purushottam on kanjira lent admirable support. Visakha Music Academy featured it as Yerramilli Suryakantham memorial concert.
