By M.L. Krishnaswami

Nadabramha Sangeetha Sabha had organised a classical music programme on Sunday, the 5th inst by the well-known senior artiste Dr. Vidyabhushana.

Any programme by this artiste always attracts a large crowd of listeners and connoisseurs both and hence, the hall was fairly well-crowded, the reason being, the artiste will mix in his repertory pure classical style well received by the musical literati and a rich splash of Dasasahitya of both Purandara and Kanaka, both of which will linger for long in the ears of the other class not well attuned to the nuance of the pure classical style.

This concert-spread over a little more than two hours was no exception proving, if proof is necessary; the popularity of the artiste in no small measure.

The accompanists were veteran Vid. H.K. Narasimhamurthy on violin, Vid. H.L. Shivashankaraswamy on mridanga and Vid. M.R. Manjunath on ghata, all of whom very ably supported the main artiste.

The programme commenced with a number in Raga Kambodhi in a brisk style and was very well-received and set the tone for the numbers that followed. A number in Saramathi came next in Adi Tala with a sudden splash of alapana in Raga ‘Panthuvarali’ followed by “Shiv Shiva Ena Radha.” This was followed by ‘Saranu Sri Vaikunta Nayaka Sharanu Garuda Vahana’ in ‘Kanada’ Raga. ‘Desh’ Raga followed in ‘Madhukara Vritti Enadu’ by Purandaradasa.

A Ugabhoga in ‘Aanada Bhairavi’ preceded “Savi Nudi Heluva Purana Sastrangala kivi mele keluva” by Kanakadasa was very well-rendered. This was followed by ‘Pillangovi Ya Cheluve Krishnana’ in Mohana, well-received.

The vibrant voice module of the artiste was very well-received by the listeners and a sort of divinity was spread in the auditorium. The more than two hour programme was crowned with ‘Bhagyada Lakshmi Baramma’ in ‘Madhyamavathi.’

The programme was spon-sored by the well-known art patron of the city, Dr. Jagannath Shenoy. His senior sister-in-law Vasumathi Shenoy was present at and sat through the entire programme and personally handed over a cheque for Rupees five lakhs to Dr. Vidyabhushana’s ‘Bhakti Bharathi Prathistana’ on behalf of ‘Smt. Ramabai Charitable Foundation.’  The generous gesture was well-appreciated by all.