Concert to extol music masters

An Auckland based Music School and a private organisation are to pay its tribute to one of the most revered singers of Carnatic Music next fortnight.

The melodious compositions of the late G N Balasubramaniam, respectfully referred as ‘GNB’ will be rendered at a music evening coming up under the Sangeetha Bharathi Music School and Rasikas New Zealand banner at the Mt Roskill Intermediate School hall, Denbigh Avenue on August 1.

University of Delhi Music Department Head Dr Radha Venkatachalam will perform at the concert, called, Swaranjali, commemorating the anniversary of Sangeetha Bharathi Music School.

Many music schools and music lovers are organising concerts in the GNB Centenary Year to honour the great man whose impeccable voice reverberated the corridors of auditoriums for more than 35 years. Born on January 6, 1910, the grand maestro was the uncrowned king of Carnatic Music until he breathed his last on May 1, 1965.

Since that first concert when she was at an impressionable age, Dr Radha Venkatachalam has achieved significant strides as a vocalist par excellence, teaching the great art to “serious students” and those with an aptitude for Carnatic Music (that includes Vishnu Priya Mallela of Auckland). Her ability to execute with proficiency some of the most intricate ragas has earned her a place of distinction among the galaxy of celebrated artistes of the 20th Century.

Dr Ashok Malur and Sridhar Chari would accompany her on stage respectively on Violin and Mridangam.

The two organisations have also planned another concert by Gayatri Venkataraghavan at the Auckland Boys Grammar School Centenary Hall on August 7 at 6 pm

A detailed story on the singer will appear in our next issue.