Reviews…
“Rising Star of World Music” – The Evening Standard
“Then at last Sivanesan and Sairam played together, passages in which the veena provided the backing as Sairam demonstrated her rapid-fire vocal improvisation, or changed direction for a soulful piece praising a temple; in other passages, voice and veena slickly echoed phrases back at each other. An impressive set, though it would have been good if Sivanesan had been allowed to show off his own fine voice.” – The Guardian
“Hari’s instrumental style was fluent and expressive, and the ragas performed had an earthy eloquence” – The Independent
“Sivanesan, an exponent of the veena, sat cross-legged to begin the concert with an 18th-century instrumental that started with drifting flurries and built into a confident, driving piece showing his improvisational skills” – The Guardian
“The solos on the latter were full of surprises for those with active imaginations; Hari Sivanesan’s workout on the fretted veena nearly seemed to veer into an American country music groove.” – Variety.com
“His dancing fingers sliding expertly up the veena’s frets, it didn’t take long before the audience was transfixed” – Theclassicalsource.com
“At BBC Prom 58, Hari Sivanesan’s Kāla, Sanskrit for ‘time’, combines, through written and improvised sections, folk and classical Carnatic genres. This enjoyable piece depicts the lullaby of life, its struggles and finally a sense of hope.” – Theclassicalsource.com
“Hari coaxes sublime modal drone on the veena” – thequietus.com
“Cracker number seven for the year has to be Hari Sivanesan, who plays the veena – irresistible!” – www.spectator.co.uk
“Best of all were the passages where Puente’s sturdy, confident playing was used to back Sivanesan’s powerful singing.” – The Guardian
“Scratch combo of Hari Sivanesan with Omar Puente and others were sublime, performing wonderful tunes on veena, fiddle and percussion” – Greencentre.com
“Ears and eyes came alive when Hari Sivanesan, one of the UK’s most acclaimed veena artists, came on stage and took his place on the floor in among the strings of the Northern Sinfonia to play his own composition. We were all transported by this soulful lullaby” – The Telegraph
His dancing fingers sliding expertly up the veena’s frets, it didn’t take long before the audience was transfixed – Theclassicalsource.com
At BBC Prom 58, Hari Sivanesan’s Kāla, Sanskrit for ‘time’, combines, through written and improvised sections, folk and classical Carnatic genres. This enjoyable piece depicts the lullaby of life, its struggles and finally a sense of hope. — Theclassicalsource.com
Hari’s instrumental style was fluent and expressive, and the ragas performed had an earthy eloquence. – The independent
Sivanesan, an exponent of the veena, sat cross-legged to begin the concert with an 18th-century instrumental that started with drifting flurries and built into a confident, driving piece showing his improvisational skills. – The Guardian
Then at last Sivanesan and Sairam played together, passages in which the veena provided the backing as Sairam demonstrated her rapid-fire vocal improvisation, or changed direction for a soulful piece praising a temple; in other passages, voice and veena slickly echoed phrases back at each other. An impressive set, though it would have been good if Sivanesan had been allowed to show off his own fine voice. – The Guardian
Hari coaxes sublime modal drone on the veena – thequietus.com
The solos on the latter were full of surprises for those with active imaginations; Hari Sivanesan’s workout on the fretted veena nearly seemed to veer into an American country music groove. – Variety.com
Cracker number seven for the year has to be Hari Sivanesan, who plays the veena – irresistible! – www.spectator.co.uk
Best of all were the passages where Puente’s sturdy, confident playing was used to back Sivanesan’s powerful singing. – The Guardian
Scratch combo of Hari Sivanesan with Omar Puente and others were sublime, performing wonderful tunes on veena, fiddle and percussion–
Greencentre.com
Ears and eyes came alive when Hari Sivanesan, one of the UK’s most acclaimed veena artists, came on stage and took his place on the floor in among the strings of the Northern Sinfonia to play his own composition. We were all transported by this soulful lullaby – The Telegraph