Leading artistes to limit concerts

So what is generating the buzz on the eve of December Season 2010?

That a number of classical music artistes have decided to present a limited number of concerts in the 'season'.

Some rasikas say that it was time to do just that.

Others say that one will have to wait and see how this works during the season when a large number of rasikas want to catch some concerts of their favourites and may lose out on some.

T M Krishna had, many weeks ago said that he was not going to perform in December and would rather sit back and enjoy the music on the other side of the stage.

He said this in a posting on his web site. When that thread was picked up recently, the debate began to build.

Krishna opened the fest of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan at its own fest in Mylapore earlier this week and was at his robust self on stage. The hall was packed.

Now, Sudha Ragunathan's schedule shows that this popular artiste has also cut down on her concerts.

As have some others.

Artistes like Bombay Jayashri have in the recent past given 5 to 6 concerts for the 'season' but Aruna Sairam who has been a huge rage this past years has run up even 15 concerts and 2 years ago had to cancel one show when she had a voice problem.

The season does take a toll on major artistes, more when the chill is severe. Also, sabha managers do push artistes to perform always and such issues can be rather sensitive.

Fest opens on Karthigai Deepam

The first arts festival of December season 2010 got underway on Sunday, November 21 in the heart of Mylapore, hosted by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.

This Sunday, the mada veedhis came alive early in the evening with devotees heading to the local temples to take part in the Karthigai Deepam celebrations while Srikant and his young team set up 1000 villakkus all around the tank of Sri Kapali Temple.

It was indeed an auspicious atmosphere for an arts fest. BVB's auditorium was packed. The stage was resplendent, work crafted and designed by Sri Krishna Sweets.

The MD of Indian Overseas Bank, the head of the Bhavan's Chennai Kendra, Krishnamurthy and Preetha Reddy of Apollo Hospitals were the chief guests.

For the first time in his festival history, BVB honoured artistes with awards which were instituted in the name of late Obul Reddy, a prominent arts promoter and his wife Gnanamba.

On Sunday, vocalists T. M. Krishna and Sudha Ragunathan were decorated. Also decorated were A. K. C. Natarajan, clarinet guru, 'Chengleput' Ranganathan, a senior vidwan and mridangam guru 'Guruvayur' Durai. The last named could not make it to this event so his sishya was invited to the stage but the young man was hugely embarrassed when the chief guests put the ribbon-held medal around his neck; he took it off in a flash. How could he sport the medallion meant for a senior guru?

Three teenage artistes who have shown great promise were also recognised - this was a nice gesture on the part of the Bhavan.

And finally, T. M. Krishna's concert followed. Krishna's entourage is big. Three sishyas sat behind him.

A Bangalore-based artist has exhibited on the first floor of the Bhavan, his series on paintings that are themed on the zodiac signs