The curtain raiser was by the Pithamah Shri Semmangudi and the solitary piece was rendered with sincerity. He is still capable of giving a two hour performance with the same old time punches as he was heard in the Parthasarathy Swami Sabha the next day with rapt attention.

Lalgudi Jayaraman's Vadya Vrinda in the Raga Amrithavahini was rivetting. However, the Jalatarangam was not heard at all. Did this have anything to do with the mike adjustments? Lastly, while conducting an orchestra is there any way out to see the face of the conductor now and then?

The DKP-KVN effort was noteworthy especially the spirit behind such a presentation. Next came the Seshagopal-Ramani effort with M.Chandrashekar and Guruvayoor Durai. Though of the same calibre, the instrumentalists scored over the vocalist and the vocalist sounded off key most of the time.

The MSG-VVS-TKM effort was a good effort though MSG seemed to have an upper hand. Similarly, the Karaikudi-Vellore team gave an impression that Karaikudi led the show.

The surprise item - the SVS Revathi Shankar Karthick skit was a hit and through this, SVS wanted an entry during the season in the Music Academy. Hope the boss TTV will oblige next year.

In the YACM chorus, the concluding item, the decibel level could have been a bit lower. Sudha did compere the show with gay abandon. Also visually, the slide presentations by the young artistes on the old legends was very well planned and presented very well by each and every one who introduced the legends.

All in all, the camaraderie of the old and young musicians was really commendable. Can we expect a similar show on December 31, 2000 midnight since the very commencement of the next millenium seems to be a question mark?

I conclude with a Locksley Hall quote :-
"Comrades, leave me here a little, while as yet 'tis early morn:
Leave me here, and when you want me, sound upon the bugle horn"

P.S. Sorry, I forgot to mention the "Maithrium Bhajathe" piece rendered by 500 children in wonderful unison which would have meant a lot of hard work on the part of the organizers for the many rehearsals. A Herculean effort well rewarded. Tributes were also paid to Prof. Sambamoorthy, THE HINDU, Annamalai University, The Music Academy , All India Radio and Swadesamitran. The curtains were finally brought down with an auspicious Mallari by a procession of twin Nadaswarams and Tavils.