On Nov 11th 2008 evening a land mark concert was presented at the Dag Hammarskjold auditorium at United Nations in New York City by world renowned musicians Sikkil Mala Chandrasekhar – Flute, Nirmala Rajasekar – Veena, Mullaivasal G. Chandramouli – Violin and Tanjore K. Murugaboopathi – Mridangam. This concert was the brain child of Abaynesh Asrat, (CEO& President of Nation to Nation Networking Ltd.), Raj Janarthanan (President, San Vision Energy Technology & Board of Directors, Nation to Nation Networking Ltd.) and Krishni Anandarajan (Founder & President, Youth Center for Music & Arts Inc.). This event came together miraculously in a weeks time. Sikkil Mala Chandrasekhar, Mullaivasal G. Chandramouli and Tanjore K. Murugaboopathi were on tour in the USA sponsored by Youth Center for Music and Arts Inc. and performing in the new ensemble “Nadha Sangam” with Chennai born and Minnesota based renowned Vainika Nirmala Rajasekar. The invited audience was made up of musicians, scholars and music lovers from various disciplines from New York and New Jersey area and included dignitaries from various branches of the United Nations. . Veteran Carnatic Vocalist from Sri Lanka “Sangeetha Kala Bhooshanam” Smt. Sathyabhama Rajalingam, felicitated the artists with an “Award of Excellence” for their performance and contribution to the field of Carnatic Music.
The audience was totally involved right from the beginning with the opening song “Shanthi Nilava Vendum”. This was followed by “Vathapi Ganapathim” peppered with taut rounds of Kalpana swarams. Bohghindra Shayeenam was rendered next followed by “Raghunatha Nannu in Swararanjani. Saint Thyagaraja’s immortal tribute to music the song “ Nadhaloludai Bramhanandame” was preluded by an imaginative alapana by Mala and Nirmala. After this the main suite in Kalyani was taken up for elaboration. Sumptuous raga delineation by Mala and Chandramouli was followed by a brilliant thanam by Nirmala. Papanasam Shivan’s “Unnaiyallal” was rendered beautifully. Interesting patterns of Kalpana swaras were played after which a scintillating tani avarthanam was played by Murugaboopathi. The thukkada section included “Kurai Ondrumillai” and “Katrinile Varum Geetham” as a tribute to Bharatha Ratna Smt. M.S. Subbalakshmi who was the last carnatic musician to perform at this venue. The concert concluded with an ode to friendship “Maithreem Bhajatha”.
Several people in the audience expressed similar sentiments of joy witnessing such a momentous concert.
Several people in the audience expressed similar sentiments of joy witnessing such a momentous concert.
