Sri.  Sanjay Subramaniam presented a 3.5+ hour concert here in Cambridge MA on 14th November, 2004, under the aegis of MITHAS at the Wong Auditorium.  Sanjay was accompanied by Nagai Sri. Muralidharan on the violin and Mannargudi Sri. Easwaran on the mridangam.  

The concert opened with a varnam in Ata Talam in the Raagam Kanada.  This was followed by a brisk Anandanatam in the raagam Poorvikalyani - a composition of Nilakanta Sivan.  Sanjay then presented a wonderful delineation of the ragam Janaranjani, which was ably answered by Sri. Muralidharan.  This was then followed by a beautiful Bhairavi  Chintayamam, a composition of Muthuswamy Dikshitar followed.  Sanjay impressed with his laya control and his swaram renditions in this piece.  

Mohana Rama - a popular composition of Saint Thyagaraja then followed.  Sri. Easwarans thani avartanam (solo percussion) was exemplary.  What was amazing was the rapport that these artistes shared.  It was interesting to note that Sri. Easwaran appreciated Sanjay's final korvai in the Swara passage and followed it up by presenting it as the first korvai in his Thani Avartanam with additional embellishments.  Sri. Easwaran's seamless transitions between the different nadai's was simply superb.  

This was followed by the sublime Devi Brova (Syama Sastri) krithi in the ragam Chintamani.  The piece-de-resistance, Sankarabharanam was next.   Raagam and thanam were followed by the pallavi in Mishra Chapu.  The intricate laya exercises that followed were simply astounding.  It was exciting to watch the artistes exchange ideas and these ideas led to more interesting passages in the pallavi.  Following, the pallavi, Sanjay presented a few concluding pieces.  

It has always been my humble opinion that the overall standard of a concert is significantly improved when the main singer has capable accompaniments.  Sanjay's concert was a case in point.  With such superb accompaniments, it would have been very difficult for Sanjay to have not performed well.  Also, to have a singer of Sanjay's caliber brought the whole concert to a totally different level.   The concert was very satisfying in the selection, presentation and execution.  Concerts such as these don't come often.  Rasikas in Boston were truly privileged to have been part of one such concert.  

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