ARTISTE'S
IMPRESSIONS
OF
THE SEASON
Shri Vijay Siva(vocalist)
The Madras Music Season,
in my opinion, is one of the pride of Asia's cultural environ. The
only other music festival that we hear of such magnitude is the one held
in Vienna, though we do not have specific reports about that, not as much
as is said about this festival. The continuance of this festival
every year and the upsurge in the number of concerts and in the flow
of rasikas in the season only prove, that the musicians and the music lovers
crave for interaction among competition, which directly or indirectly hints
that music is a unifying force. Whatever be the quality that is produced,
whatever be the level of the rasikas, the Madras Music Season proves beyond
doubt that music crosses all boundaries and shall bring eternal peace
to humanity.
Shri Rajkumar Bharathi(vocalist)
In general, I like
the Music Season in December, just for the reason that Carnatic Music gets
the prime importance during this time. As I have been observing in
the recent years, many people from abroad come down for the Season.
My travel outside India has helped me to appreciate better, our culture
and music and this helps me enjoy it more, when it comes to Season in
India. With the over- ambitiousness of the sabhas organising concerts
at the same time, the audience number gets staggered. Nevertheless,
everybody is buzzing with activity. Several go to the Halls if not
to the concert. If the sabhas can organise the concerts in a spread
out manner over two months, it will be beneficial all round, with the Season
still retaining its charm. So many youngsters get a chance to perform
and more importantly, they get a chance to listen. This music will
never die. In general it is good.
Shri Sanjay Subrahmanian(vocalist)
For me the Season is the
Event Piece De Resistance every year. Every year I look forward to
those three weeks of hectic activity, performing almost 10 to 12 concerts,
besides listening to sometimes even 4 or 5 concerts a day. The entire
cross section of the Carnatic Music listening public can be seen during
this time and it really is a must for every serious rasika of Carnatic
Music.
Shri Shashank(flutist)
Season is good in the sense
that lot of artistes get to participate. On the other hand, it is
also a waste of effort, in the sense that the same artiste performs in
the same area too often with organisations multiplying. Artistes
are also willing to perform, simply accepting all concerts. Artistes
cannot give their best in this condition and by the end of the Season
they get too tired to give their best. If artistes decide on giving
only 3 to 4 concerts of 1 1/2 to 2 hours duration, they could prove themselves
better. This would be ideal for the artiste as well as the listener.
To bring out the merit of the artiste and for better performance, the
acoustics of the auditorium has to be improved. Honest criticism
is lacking. The musicians have to be the most respected persons,
but this is not the case. The sabha secretaries become more important
than the artistes. Enough scope should be given to creativity and the
artistes allowed to grow naturally.
Smt Nithyashree(vocalist)
The Music Festival has become
very famous. Everyone awaits the Music Season, not only in
Madras, but all over India and even all over the world. The
audience and the artistes prepare themselves for a good knowledgeable
fare. Artistes attempt to present themselves only after serious preparation
and talent is acknowledged especially during this Season. But,
in a span of 10 to 15 days, there are too many kutcheries. The sabhas
could jointly organise the concerts in a coordinated manner. Too
many slots, lead to substandard music. In order to fill up the time
and the slots, even mediocre artistes are being provided opportunity.
Even paper plants are being watered.
Smt Bombay Jayashree(vocalist)
The Madras Music Festival
is by itself one of a unique kind all over the world. It is a time when
classical Carnatic Music congregates its best self to project what Madras
is, as a seat of Music. Participation of seniors, junior and upcoming
artistes, makes it very novel. At the same time, in the span of 15
to 20 days, you get to hear the stalwarts in the field, those who are preparing
for this and those who are appearing for the first time for the valuation
of the audience. For a listener, it is a feeling of great participation
in the deep rooted culture of India. There are people who come in
from abroad (I know of rasikas who have been coming for around 20 years,
without missing even one year) and in this sense can be compared to an
annual visit to a family temple.
Smt Mala Chandrashekar(flutist)
The season is wonderful,
for there is a collective representation and an integration of various
styles of classical music. The climate may not be at its best, but
it is a joyous occasion for all. New talents are revealed and Sabhas
provide opportunity to exhibit their caliber. It is a good opportunity
to listen to good music. The season's calendar is really packed with
programs of leading and upcoming artistes that people attend from all
over the world. The importance of such an occasion demands the very
best from the artiste. The onus rests on the artiste to ensure that
they perform their best and render innovative music to please the audience.
The expectation is for new and creative performance.
Shri Shashikiran(vocalist)
Carnatic Music is definitely
one of the greatest systems of Music in the world and having taken it
as a profession there is the responsibility of each and every individual
to do well in every concert that he/she performs, but all the more so,
during the December Festival, because for professional musicians it is
the time when they can catch the eyes of the listeners and organisers
all over the world. For youngsters like me, I have always felt it very
thrilling, competitive and enthusiastic, apart from a tinge of nervousness,
when the Season is approaching. Being a vocalist, to perform in December
Festival in Madras and to consistently maintain good standard and voice
is a challenge, over a period of 15-20 concerts, since the climatic conditions
during that phase does not suit most of the vocalists. Hence all the more
the pressure. But once, you do well in the complete season, there is nothing
equivalent in terms of any compensation which can match the satisfaction
that you attain.
Smt Jayanthi R.K
(veena)
Madras is the Mecca of classical
arts, especially Carnatic Music. The air of festivity in Madras during
the Season in unmatched anywhere else;ie. the amount of international audience
that madras attracts during the Season is something unbelievable. All the
hotels are fully booked, canteens with South Indian food aromas are packed,
concert halls are filled with silk and lovely smell of jasmine and perfume,
artistes are seen all over Madras in cars, taxis, autos sporting their
traditional concert jibbas, veshtis, pattu sarees etc. carrying tamburas,
violins, veenas and mridangams from one concert hall to the other.
Complaining of abundance?
What is a "festival" if there is no abundance? Ever heard of a Diwali with
limited crackers? or Dasherra with limited dolls? Why complain about the
overflowing ragas and talas all over?
One suggestion : If only
experienced (at least with 7-8 years ) are given slots to perform during
the festival, quality of music can be ensured. Freshers can gain exposure
during other parts of the year!
Poorna Siva(violinist)
I started performing
in the various sabhas as a junior artiste as an accompanist for various
artistes adopting varied styles, which has given me exposure to various
styles and has enabled me to play with an anticipation when I am on stage
with a new artiste. This in turn has increased my repertoire.
This also encourages me to practice more and to strive for perfection.
However, the Season is so packed with programs that I am sure, the
rasikas would enjoy it if given the fare in a more phased manner and
also if more screening is done at the initial level. All this would
increase the quality of performance in the Season.
Kum Kiranavali(vocalist)
The Season is something
unique, one of the greatest Music Festivals in the world, where artistes
from all over come to perform, exhibiting their skill and people come
from all over to listen. There is now an oversaturation of sabhas and
concerts. There can be fewer sabhas which are more quality oriented and
it would be better if the sabhas join together and organise the whole
thing collectively. With this over abundance of concerts, audience can
get tired of this. Even for musicians, it will be better to give fewer
and better performances.
Artiste's
opinion - Main Page