Carnatic music in Chennai

gianni66

Hi all! I am going to make a two-weeks trip to TN next March, and my itinerary will start from Trivandrum to Madurai, Tiruchirapalli, Thanjavur, Chidambaram, Mamallapuram, Kanchipuram, Cochin, Trivandrum.
I will spend three days in Mamallapuram-Kanchipuram area, and the indications of all the travel guides are to skip Chennai, but I would like to have a Carnatic music experience after the overdose of Hindu temples that I will have in the region... so I am thinking to stay one full day in Chennai also.
Can anyone suggest to me an address in Chennai where to have some good (and autentic) Carnatic music? Are music halls open in the evening only, or is it possible to attend a music show during the day too?
Ciao!
Gianni, Italy

Nick-H

Hello Gianni.

I suggest you use the Search function on the bar at the top for "Carnatic Music". You'll find quite a lot of stuff here on IM that's been posted recently, so no point in trying to repeat it.

Chennai is the capital city of Carnatic music. Any program that you see there will be 'authentic'. It is an art: not all artists are great, not all great artists are great every day...

In my view (I like the place enough to be moving there!) the guide books are unfair to Chennai. It may not be full of great temples and palaces but it is a pleasant city. Kanchipuram and Mahabalipuram are within easy reach; you could stay in Chennai and visit them both.

There is a lot of music in Chennai, but probably not every day of the year. Spend a few days there!

Oh, except during 'The Season' (now; until mid January) when stuff goes on all day, most concerts will be in the evening.

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