A violin recital that all spellbound

Neither bad acoustics nor an organisational faux pas could stop last year’s first-prize winner in western violin this time.

R. Anirudhan from Navamukunda HSS, Tirunavaya (Malappuram), stole the heart of a

refined crowd when he took the top honours in higher secondary western violin competition here on Tuesday.

Anirudhan’s win had an extra sheen as he was allowed to play again at the end of the competition after the microphone had failed during his original performance.

When he came on stage for the second time playing Robert Troy’s Melody, Niccolo Paganini’s Caprice No. 24, Victoria Monti’s Czardas and the fastest solo from Yanni’s concert, the audience was spellbound.

“Wow; high-quality performance,” said Philip Fernandez, a senior violinist from Kannur, who came running towards Anirudhan.

A few others too corralled him and his trainer Anoop Shankar with praise.

Winner of the Sixth Grade distinction from Trinity College, London, Anirudhan appeared for the fourth time in the State school arts festival.

Twelve of the 15 contestants in western violin secured A Grade. Judge Kunhimon Thomas said the students by and large displayed good talent.

Mr. Fernandez was all praise for the children. “They were exceptionally good,” he said. “Many of them displayed signs of talent,” he said.

There were complaints about the poor quality of the venue and its acoustics. The GUPS, Muzhathadam, Thana, on the busy Kannur-Kozhikode highway was apparently a poor choice for a fine instrument like violin. The absence of an expert hand in operating the sound system added another grouse.

Yet, the audience enjoyed the music as most students played Czardas and Vivaldi’s Allegro A minor on the violin.