Visakhapatnam, September 5, 2013: There is no way one can compare one vaggeyakara with another, Carnatic exponent and scholar Rama Varma said describing his guru Mangalampalli Balamurali Krishna as a composer of extraordinary scholarship.

He described how the works of Trinity of Carnatic music – Tyagaraja, Syama Sastry and Muthuswamy Dikshitar – independently produced works of art that transcended time and are revered by all musicians. He explained in detail the similarity of their ‘varnams’ and how the ‘varnams’ of Balamurali Krishna were different.

At an interactive session with Carnatic music aficionados of the city, he displayed his scholarship and depth of understanding of the performances by some of the all-time greats. The attentive audience who had heard him perform at Kala Bharati Auditorium on Tuesday evening were bowled over by the mellifluous voice without the accompaniment of any instruments.

The descendant of Swati Tirunal and Raja Ravi Varma, was a picture of humility that reflected his scholarship and command over the subject. The select audience that gathered for an interactive session organised by director of Centre for Policy Studies A Prasanna Kumar in association with the Andhra Music Academy were awestruck at the scholarship and versatility of the singer who took pains to describe nuances of music. A music album that tops the charts today may be totally forgotten in just a couple of months, but the music of Vaggeyakaras like Tyagaraja lives long after their passing away and even today these Vaggeyakaras are revered by music lovers, “classical music is one that stands the test of time,” he said.

Mr. Prasanna Kumar introduced the guest to the audience which had some of prominent citizens of the city, including former mayor D.V. Subba Rao, actor and writer Gollapudi Maruthi Rao, among others.

Source: The Hindu, September 5, 2013