Rasika (www.rasika.org ) is celebrating the tenth season with a classical violin duo concert by the amazingly gifted
With
Srimushnam V. Raja Rao on Mridangam
Ravi Balasubramanian on Ghatam
7pm, Saturday 25th October 2008
First Unitarian Church
1011 SW 12th Avenue
Portland, OR 97205
(Located at the intersection of SW Main & SW12th)
Tickets: Free for Rasika members (membership sign up available online and at the door).
$20 & 25. with Discount for children/students/seniors
Discounted advance tickets online: $15 & $20 available online at www.rasika.org . Advance tickets are also available at ApnaBazaar.
Contact: info@rasika.org; 503-531-7266
Artist's Website:
http://www.violinindia.com
Violin Maestros Mysore Nagaraj & Dr. Manjunath, the sons and disciples of
renowned violinist Sangeetha Vidhya Nidhi Prof. S. Mahadevappa, were amazingly
gifted child prodigies who matured quickly to emerge as one of the top ranking
violinists in India today. Their exceptional musical talents were first revealed
at the tender age of 9 when they stormed into the music world and swept the
music lovers & critics off their feet by their extraordinary musical acumen and
technical virtuosity. Acclaimed as child prodigies with astonishing
musicianship, Nagaraj and Manjunath blossomed into some of the leading
instrumentalists in the contemporary musical scene. Their marvelous imagination
and technical versatility made them brilliant Violinists in the annals of
Carnatic Classical Music.
From child prodigies to trail blazers, captivating audiences & critics alike,
The Mysore Brothers have created an unrivalled reputation as star performers in
prestigious organizations the world over. Violinists par excellence, Nagaraj and
Manjunath hail from the princely city of Mysore and make a formidable violin
Duet team. Their performances feature an extraordinary range of musical
expressions from the deepest meditations to astonishing virtuosity with
outstanding artistic imagination. As critics admit, their concerts are filled
with peace, tranquility and exhilaration-the result of superb fingering & bowing
techniques that create breathtakingly beautiful melodies. Violin Concerts of
these Maestros have been featured in innumerable music festivals & conferences
collaborated with many out standing musicians from all over the world & have
performed Jugalbandhi (Indian fusion) concerts with many Top-ranking Hindustani
artists in contemporary music today including Pandith V.G.Jog, Pandith
Vishwamohan Bhat, Tejendra Narayana Majumdar, Pandith Ronu Majumdar Dr. N. Rajam,
and others.
They have repeatedly enthralled audiences in USA, Canada, UK, France, Germany,
Austria, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Switzerland,
Australia and Gulf countries. They are among the youngest musicians to be
honored with the prestigious Rajyothsava Award by the Government of Karnataka.
Mysore brothers received innumerable awards including the Best Violinist awards
from The Music Academy and Indian fine arts society, Excellence award from
American Institute of World culture, honors from the American Arts council,
Sangeeth Samrat, Aryabhata Award, Sanskruthi Sinchana Award, Meritorious Award
from University of Oklahoma-USA, Sangeeth Rathna, Ganakalashree, and more. Some
of the unique performances also include Music concerts at prestigious Sydney
Opera house, Australia, Common thread Festival in Oregon, Concerts at Theatre da
la villa in Paris, European Cultural festival in Leicester,UK, Milano Music
festival, Italy, Festival of India in London, SAARC summit, Santa Fe Music
Festival in New Mexico, Royal charity concert at Putra world trade centre in
Kuala Lumpur, and innumerable work shops at some of the top most universities
all over the world.
“…..The rare vocal – instrumental Jugalbandhi concert by Dr.M.Balamurali Krishna and Mysore brothers organized by RASIKA with support from the National endowment for the arts at the First congregational church in Portland enthralled the audience….” THE EXPRESS
“…Brilliant classical violinists from India..” THE LOS ANGELES TIMES
Srimushnam V. Raja Rao
(
http://www.srimushnamrajarao.com) is born in Palayamkottai, Tamilnadu into a
family with an illustrious musical heritage, dedicated to music for four
generations. His father Sri. S. Venkataramana Rao, a disciple of Mridangam
Maestro Tanjore Sri. Ramadas Rao, is himself a mridangist-cum-musician and his
grandfather Sri. S. Sanjivi Rao and great grandfather Sri. Sethumadhava Rao were
all accomplished mridangists and musicians.
Sri. Raja Rao had his initial training in Mridangam from his father Vidwan Sri.
Venkataramana Rao and further under the tutelage of the famous Kumbakonam Sri.
M. Rajappa Iyer. He started performing at the age of 7, and has 40 years of
concert performance experience. He has accompanied various leading Carnatic
musicians, and continues to perform in the Radio Sangeetha Sammelanam, and the
National Program of Music as a Top Ranking Artist with the All India Radio and
Doordarshan (Indian National TV).
Known to music lovers as the 'Nada Yogi', Sri. Raja Rao is able to convey the
rhythm of life in its different attitudes. Music courses through his veins and
his elite handling of the instrument is alluring and mystifying. His 'asura
sadhakam' has made him a top ranking musician and a leading percussionist in the
musical fraternity. He has captured the hearts of music lovers in India as well
as abroad with this versatile and masterly performance on the Mridangam. His
artistry, consistence and technical perfection have made Raja Rao an outstanding
and one of the leading mridangam players in the Carnatic music arena. Sri.Raja
Rao is also a fine vocalist and an exponent of the Khanjira and the Morsing.
Dr. Ravi Balasubramanian is the most sought-after Ghatam artiste in North America and is known for his energetic and sensitive accompaniment and solos. Ravi has extensive experience in Carnatic percussion, including performing on the Ghatam at top musical institutions such as the Music Academy and the Cleveland Aradhana for over sixteen years. He received the title Yuva Kala Bharathi in 2003 from Bharat Kalachar, a music organization in Chennai, for excellence and dedication in the art of Ghatam. Ravi has had the rare honor of performing with leading artistes including Sangitha Kalanidhi vocalists such as Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna, Dr. N.Ramani, Sudha Raghunathan and many more in India, USA, Canada, Singapore, Malaysia, and Australia. Ravi received his initial tutelage from Palghat Sri P. K. Sekar and Sangitha Kalanidhi Dr. T.K.Murthy and later pursued advanced training from Sri V.Suresh in Chennai, India. Ravi has given lecture-demonstrations on the Ghatam in the University of Pittsburgh and Chatham college in Pensylvania, and has been featured in several local and national media articles. Ravi recently received his doctorate in Robotics from Carnegie Mellon University and is a Research Associate in the University of Washington.
This project received support from the Oregon State Arts Commission, WESTAF, the Western States Arts Federation, and the National Endowment for the Arts