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| Monday, 27 October 2003 |
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Rohan Joseph de Saram: A genius drops his baton by Gwen Herat Death came as a thief in the night, it came as a shock to all music lovers: and it took some time to get over the news. Rohan Joseph de Saram, the gentle, genial giant of western classical music had laid down his baton (though he never used one) and silenced the music world, a void that can never be filled. He was the Master of his time, the guardian of the score. I could hear the strains of Rose Adagio days after watching him perform. They lingered on for eternity where he is now. From Tchaikovsky to Rossini from Dvorak to Bach's Brndenburg Concertos and the vast number of classical music came under his baton. He spared no composer because enigma was his name. But I must say something of Giuseppe Verdi, his favourite composer who was certainly not mine but talking music with Rohan, I realised what Verdi meant for him. With time.
Rohan was more than a conductor. He was great at the keyboard and if he did not turn conductor, we would have discovered a genius pianist in him. He was oozing in talent. No one went after one of his concerts disappointed. His orchestration of philharmonic music was on par with the world's best and as usual in Sri Lanka, they go unsung. Always opting to remain modest, Rohan was responsible in turning around western classical music and its survival today. It had only to take off the floor when the late President Premadasa inspired and helped him to do so. Years later after establishing himself in his beloved art, he became the foremost icon in the land. There was Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe who put the icing on the cake. He not only encouraged Rohan but helped him achieve what no other Western musician had achieved in the annals of this art. There were many like him before as well as during his lifetime like Malini Jayasinghe-Pieris. Rohan and Druvi de Saram, Rohan Perera who are internationally acclaimed as well as the up and coming Ananda Dabare to name some. Given the task to do the impossible viz to get the local audiences used to appreciate the works of great composers and achieving it, Rohan reached dizzy heights. Yet, he kept in the background, shunning limelight. His dedication to this beloved art was so great that Rohan never knew how much he had captivated our hearts. He was the unsung hero of his time. Too young to die, he left us at a time he was set to illuminate his career abroad on an assignment in England. While in England, Rohan was invited to conduct the Philharmonic Orchestra in London's celebrated Royal Festival Hall of which the Patron is the Prince of Wales. As a youngster, Rohan performed with the Philharmonic Orchestra of Sri Lanka as a pianist and was hardly twenty six years old when he performed in South America. Before his return to Sri Lanka, Rohan was invited as the principal conductor to wield the baton upon famous concert artistes such as pianist Abbe Simon as well as Erick Fredman and Lily Kraus. Rohan was also invited by Swedish soprano Bright Nillson to conduct her farewell concert at the Lincoln Centre. After restoring the dying art of classical music, he commanded its progress as he performed in the major centres of our country. By now he had established the Lanka Philharmonic Orchestra. Rohan had the magical touch to bring out the authenticity of the great Composers whom he played all the years but I know for sure his favourite was Verdi. It was Verdi all the time and I used to tease Rohan about it. Since Verdi was not a favourite of mine, Rohan persuaded me to study him with patience to know why Verdi is so appealing to him. I did and I came upon some startling compositions especially the requiem. Verdi had escaped my interest because he was never in ballet. I had done some reviews on his orchestral performances and Rohan would always say modestly as much as he appreciated them I ran beserk with them. To me Rohan was so close and yet far away just like how I miss Richard de Zoysa. Both are icons in their art and relate to me visibly. I still hear the faint strains of the Rose Adagio under his baton (really hands). In his journey to eternity, may Rohan gently glide over The four seasons' as Antonio Vivaldi scored. Sri Lankan contestant for Miss World 2003: Final day for applications tomorrow
Short-listed applicants will be required to parade before a panel of five judges comprising photographers, actors, beauticians and former beauty queens at a small private ceremony at Hotel Galadari on the 30th of October 2003.The competition is being organised by Ceylon Tours Limited, in collaboration with the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited and Supreme Orchid. Sea Shells 'Sea Shells' - a performance created by 'The Lost Child Project' participants and directed by the David Glass Ensemble, UK will be held today and tomorrow at 7.00 p.m. at Bishop's College Hall, Colombo 3. A unique performance created by 80 young people from National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) homes, Sunera Foundation, Don Bosco Technical Centre, Active Theatre Movement Jaffna, Third Eye Batticaloa, Sooriya Womens Centre, Trincomalee and Trincomalee District Youth Development. A partnership project between the David Glass Ensemble, British Council, the NCPA, and the Sunera Foundation, The Lost Child Project is a unique coming together of young people aged 6-16 to create a multi-media performance over three weeks. Through workshops facilitated by members of the David Glass Ensemble they have explored their own creativity to bring to the fore issues that concern them. The culmination of this work is a performance involving the 80 young participants, followed by an after-show question and answer session between the audience and the participants. "Sea Shells" is devised from the stories and imaginations of the 80 children participating in this first Lost Child Sri Lanka Project. It focuses upon the images and issues that they have voiced during the 3 week process. Their journey has been both traumatic and joyous, and so is their story. From the harsh realities of their real world they escape to a world of fantasy, from which they return, wiser, and looking for a future. The performance is open to all and free of charge. 'Down Memory Lane' next month The Moratuwa Arts Forum (MAF) is once again busy organizing the "2003 Sing-along Festival" which will go on the boards on November 30, at Hotel Ranmal in Moratuwa. According to the co-chairmen of the committee, Messrs Priya Peiris and Laksiri Fernando, the DML committee is sparing no pains to ensure that this show will surpass all the previous shows in quality and content. This is the seventh consecutive year that the MAF is organizing this annual event. "Down Memory Lane Sing-along" show, the brainchild of Priya Peiris, has been a roaring success each year and has now become the prime oldies sing-along show in Sri Lanka. The proceeds of this show will be channelled for the development of the youth in Moratuwa in the field of arts through the Moratuwa Arts Forum. Watch out fans for more news in the weeks ahead. |
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Produced by Lake House |
I came to appreciate Verdi's operas and there were 26 of them. The
great Requiem (1874) which he dedicated to his hero menzomi, was often
played by Rohan. Nabucco was yet another. His first opera was Obetto
(1836) followed by Giavanno d'arco in 1845, La Battagia di Legnano (1849),
Rigetto (1851) Trovantore (1853) and there were many more of Verdi that
came under Rohan's imagination. All these were played at one time or the
other but LA Traviata of Verdi conducted by Leonid Madysber for the
Festival Symphony Orchestra was no better than Rohan's. Verdi was Rohan.
The last day for applications to pick a Sri Lankan representative to
contest at the Miss World Pageant 2003 will be tomorrow. The applicants
will be short-listed and a winner chosen, to vie for honour among more
than 200 international beauty queens at the pageant in China this
December.
