Archives

Amaradeva magic charms Abu Dhabi audiences

Pandit Amaradeva's Abu Dhabi Concert marking the high water mark of his cultural tour of the UAE was an event Abu Dhabi audiences will not forget for a life time. He was able to weave the magic of his music and hold the audience at the prestigious Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation Auditorium spellbound for nearly two hours on Tuesday, 12th March. At the end the audience of over a thousand erupted by springing to their feet with a thunderous standing ovation which seemed to last forever.

The concert was a landmark event for a variety of reasons. First of all the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation has never seen such a mammoth audience. The hall was literally overflowing and some had to sit even on the floor or stand in corners. Further, it was an ethnically mixed audience comprising of Emiratio nationals, foreign expatriates in Abu Dhabi and Sri Lankans. The front rows were filled with dignitaries including Ambassadors of over eight countries.

The audience though large was very attentive and seemed to be in a spell of silence when the Maestro sang. The quality of music was of a very high order and the Doyen sang as he did 40 years ago with the same feeling, depth and variety. Despite his age the voice was as mellifluous as ever.

The orchestra which backed him comprising Wijeratne Ranatunga on the tabla, D.D. Gunasena on the violin, Jagath Wickremasinghe on keyboard and Nalaka Anjana Kumara on the guitar, each a top performer of his instrument, added lustre to the performance. The show was presented expertly by Professional Compere Ron Simon, a Sri Lankan in the UAE who works for the Radio Station FM2. Ron was able to update the audience on Amaradeva, his life and times and his music. The Maestro himself filled the gaps explaining the origin of his songs, their background in clear lucid English rendered on his soft voice.

His description of the audience as a large ocean where artistes like him were compared to fish who swim, touched the hearts of those listening. He said that if the ocean was not there the fish would not survive graphically bringing out the audience artiste inter dependence.

The songs that Amaradeva sang though composed and written in a different social and culture milieu were yet lapped up by the audience. As the Argentinian Ambassador in the audience, himself a musician put it "I do not understand a word of the lyrics but the sounds and melodies tug at our heart strings". The universality of good music was never brought out more clearly.

Pandit Amaradeva and his delegation were visiting U.A.E. at the invitation of the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation, an organisation under the Abu Dhabi Government set to support interaction of cultures of different countries. The visit was arranged by the Sri Lanka Embassy in Abu Dhabi. The show was co-sponsored by four organisations, the Cultural Foundation, the Sri Lanka Embassy, Sri Lankan Airlines and M/s U.A.E. Exchange Centre, the latter one of the largest Exchange Houses in the UAE.

These organisations have got together even in the past to promote music, art and films of Sri Lanka. The show was inaugurated with the lighting of the oil lamp by Ambassador of Sri Lanka, Janaka Nakkawita, Abdullah Said Al Muhairy, Deputy Director for Culture and Arts, Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation, Abdullah Al Ameri, Director/Art Department, Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation, B.R. Shetty, Vice Chairman & Managing Director, UAE Exchange Centre, Sudhir Kumar Shetty, General Manager, UAE Exchange Centre and Lalith Silva, Sales Manager, SriLankan Airlines. Abdullah Al Ameri later commented that the Amaradeva Show was the best ever in the history of the Foundation.

Pandit Amaradeva's visit was given wide publicity in the media in the UAE. All three English language newspapers Khaleej Times, Gulf Today and Gulf News carried features about him with pictures. The Gulf News write up on him called him "A Legend in Concert" while Khaleej Times ran a caption saying "Lanka Maestro Amaradeva would be performing in Abu Dhabi". Pictures of the concert, its inauguration etc. were carried in the papers. Pandit Amaradeva also gave a press conference at the Embassy.

He was asked many questions by the journalists on his music, his background, predominant influences in his life, his heroes, idols and his philosophy. Being steeped in Asian philosophies and drawing on his vast experience and knowledge he was able to give thought provoking answers. One answer he gave is indeed worth reproducing as it is doubtful whether his Sri Lankan admirers are familiar with it.

To a question about influences and inspiration, Pandit Amaradeva came with a quotation from Rabindranath Tagore which said that a creative artiste always has unlimited credit in the world market of ideas as he would not be a debtor for too long and would pay up with his own creations before long. Only a mediocrity should be shy to draw from ideas outside as he will not be able to pay back. Amaradeva referred to the philosophies of Tagore and other Indian sages, writers and poets as providing him inspiration. The song "sannaliyane" written by Mahagama Sekera was based on a poem by Sarojini Naidu which reflects on the impermanence of life.

Before returning to Sri Lanka Amaradeva gave a well attended concert in Dubai.

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager