It was almost like the climax scene from a Bollywood potboiler. Drama and high tension all the way but a very happy ending! The flight to Kansas City on Friday 9/11 was canceled due to inclement weather- we were rerouted on a different airline via North Carolina but missed the connection to Kansas and were stranded in Charlotte Friday night. The show was scheduled for Saturday at 5 PM. and we had to be at the auditorium by 2 PM. The earliest flight out of Charlotte to Kansas was the next morning at 9:45 and it was overbooked. After some haggling and pleading, Ramani got the team of five on that flight. We reached Kansas at 11:30 and were in Viswamohan’s home by 1 PM. After a quick lunch the team was on stage for the sound check. The stress did take its toll and I was pretty sick and throwing up.
Happier tidings soon followed, though. We were told that the show was sold out and online sales were closed at noon. Around 100 people had to be turned back at the gate. The 850 capacity auditorium was completely packed. The caterers ran out of food. Although, this can be an event organizer’s nightmare, honestly for the artistes it sounded like music to the ears :) . This was one of the well organized shows that I have been to, and the music itself was wonderful. The 6 piece orchestra was completely manual and very well synchronized. Chundu (Sundaresan) from Virginia was a revelation. He was on the keyboard for the most part, but his beginning interlude on the violin for Thaaye Yashoda (Morning Raaga), was simply amazing- not sure if there are many in the US who could play that complicated piece with such perfection. Looking forward to the video from Viswamohan- who had his put his heart and soul to this event and his efforts paid in a big way!
I also got to meet Jitesh Nair , a key coordinator for ASHA and an old friend, after a gap of nearly ten years. Kudos to the Asha for Education team at Kansas City.
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