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| Monday, 26 July 2004 |
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Priceless medieval treasure exhibited for the first time For the first time the exhibition of one of the most famous illuminated medieval manuscripts the 'Tres Riches Heures du Duc de Berry' is open to the general public for four months until August 2, 2004 at the Musee Conde of the Chateau de Chantilly (Paris region). This priceless work of art is carefully kept in an armoured safe, maintained at a constant temperature and has never been exhibited. It is part of the collection belonging to the Duc d'Aumale the son of King Louis-Philippe a generous patron of the arts who donated his castle and estates in 1884 to the Institut de France which consists of five academies including the French academy. According to the provision of his will, it was strictly forbidden to lend any of the countless treasures included in his collection (paintings, sculptures, books, artefacts, archaeology and photographs).
It is an exceptional event. Although some of these fifteenth century illuminations are often reproduced and known throughout the world, their fame has led to disregard the diversity of this extremely elaborate manuscript as a whole. It is far from having told all its secrets. It began in 1411 and went through several stages. The first stage was the most famous involving three outstanding painters, three brothers, Paul, Jean and Herman Limbourg from Nijmegen in the Netherlands who worked for Jean Duke of Berry (1340-1416). The son, brother and uncle of three kings of France. The three painters and the duke probably died of the plague in 1416. After this interruption a dozen more artisans, copyists and artists including the painter Jean Colombe continued the manuscript until 1485, however it was never completed. This treasure was discovered by the Duke of Anumale in 1855 in girls' boarding school in Italy. He was filled with wonder, bought it immediately and allowed contemporary historians to study it but never showed it to the public. The manuscript is exhibited in the specially converted chapel. The book of hours (a prayer book for laymen) consists of 206 pages measuring 29 to 21cm with a precious 18th century Italian red morocco binding. It includes 66 big fullpage miniatures and 65 smaller ones. The binding makes it impossible to look at more than one double page at a time but the pages will be turned over each week, so that the visitor can see as many illuminations as possible. The first period concerning Jean de Berry and the Limbourg brothers will be privileged. The complete manuscript is recorded on CD-ROM and is accessible to visitors on computers installed in the king's reception room. It is entirely reproduced (the illuminations and the written text) on parchment pages with a comment for each page on a CD-ROM in French, English and German. The museum also possesses a great number of sculptures, China, antiquities, enamels, glassware and woodwork. A masterpiece of seventeenth century architecture, the grandes Ecuries (great Stables) of the Prince de Conde house the Musee Vivant du Cheval (Living Horse Museum) covering 7,800 hectares at the heart of a vast nature reserve. - Claudine Canetti (Website: www.chateaudechantilly.com) - Actualite en France Kandy Music Society Young Performers' Concert 2004 An abundance of entertainment Where in the world could you attend a show which included Beethoven and Bharatha Natyam, Reinecke and Haydn, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Folk Music from America and Portugal and Holland, Folk Dancing from Sri Lanka and India and Japan? Disco Dancing and Calypso, Piano Duets and a capella Pop not to mention Brahms, Dvorak, a Pot Dance, Shakespeare and a great deal besides. The answer as the large and enthusiastic audience would gladly have told you, was the Kandy Music Society's annual Young Performers' Concert.
The young people who entertained us certainly understood the essence of performance. Dancers were brilliantly and extravagantly attired but they were not the only ones who dressed for the occasion. There were singers in costume, ensembles who had taken the trouble to dress in uniform, pianists and performers of every sort who made a good visual impact and conducted themselves professionally on stage. Some of the folk dancers looked charming - for example, little Hanako Herath who, complete with parasol, gave us an enchanting Japanese solo dance. In general, the poise and 'stage presence' of these young performers, who ranged in age from six to eighteen years, was most impressive and encouraging for the future. The astonishing diversity of the programme, already referred to, was really the key to this outstandingly successful evening. For example, piano solos featuring Mozart and Haydn (confidently played by Dilshan de Silva and Priscilla Isaac) were followed by 'Tikiri, Tikiri.' The latter, a Sinhala dance performed with polished sauciness by Denithi Pussegoda and Manindra Karunarathna, brought the house down! Elsewhere, music by Copland was followed by the Corrs, traditional Sinhala songs with harmonium were followed by a sentimental number by Debby Reynolds and interspersed throughout the whole programme, there was plenty of highly accomplished dance, both solo and ensemble. The President of the Kandy Music Society, the redoubtable Bridget Halpe, must be congratulated for providing the driving force behind this enterprise. Ably assisted by Ashley Halpe, Ruvini Kalupahana and other members of the KMS committee, she acted as impresario, box office director, stage manager and accompanist-in-chief. The result was not just a splendid evening out for the audience. It was, more importantly, a splendid opportunity to perform for the young people who took part. Sad to say such opportunities are few in Kandy. The KMS Annual Young Performers' Concert is not intended as a competition, rather it is a festival. All participants were invited on stage at the end of the evening and were awarded Certificates of Participation. Professor Tim Scott, resident of Anniewatte and well known for his expertise in the arts, was invited to say a few words. The performers whom he commended highly were Dhanushya Amarathunga (piano), Jason Samuel (piano), Renushi Perera (piano and voice) and Chamithri Ranatunga (piano and voice). The nomination of Young Performer of the Year 2004 went to Namali Premawardena, a very accomplished young pianist. In a change to the printed programme, she choose to play an unusual Japanese piece which was full of interest and evocative folk tunes. Her performance was finely controlled, confident and well balanced. Following these nominations, the KMS committee made some further awards in recognition of the most memorable dance performances. Dakshith Samaraweera gave an outstanding solo performance of a Baratha dance and held the audience's attention with the authority of a true professional. 'Doolare' is a dance troupe formed by Mithil Rathnayaka, Aroshi Ranatunga, Chiranhe Abeysinghe, Kanchana Sakalasooriya, Madavi Leuke and Niroli Daniel. Their up-tempo, dynamic and highly polished performance was very well rehearsed and provided a colourful close to the evening. All these dances received the committee's special awards. - Anthony Newman Lionel Wendt lecture series The Trustees of the Lionel Wendt Theatre plan to hold from time to time a series of talks under the title 'As I see it' on a variety of topics by eminent persons resident in Sri Lanka. The inaugural talk will be delivered by Rev. Fr. Mervyn Fernando of 'Subodhi' Institute of Integral Education, Piliyandala, Sri Lanka at the Harold Peris Gallery of the Lionel Wendt Theatre today (26) at 6.00 p.m. Duration of the talk should be approximately one hour. Admission is free. Rev. Fr. Mervyn Fernando is well-known in Sri Lanka for his studies ranging over a wide spectrum of subjects such as psychology and counselling, education, philosophy, astronomy, cosmology, law and photography. He has done post graduate work at the Angelicum University, Rome, Fordham University, New York and the Post Graduate Institute of Pali & Buddhist Studies at the University of Kelaniya. He is the author of 'Outline of a New Education for Sri Lanka', 'This Piece of Planet Earth, Sri Lanka', and 'Dancing Waters, Liquid Light' and co-author with the late Harrison Peries of 'A Guide to Sri Lanka'. |
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Produced by Lake House |
This is precisely the reason why the public at last has the opportunity
of seeing the precious manuscript at the request of the Musee du Louvre
now holding a superb exhibition on 'Paris 1400. Art under the reign of
King Charles V of France'. It would have been inconceivable to evoke the
artistic profusion of the golden age of the 'Fleur-de-Lis Princes',
patrons of the arts of royal blood, without presenting the 'Tries Riches
Heures du duc de Berry'. As a result, we can now see the original version
instead of a few pages of the replica.
This year's event which took place on May 23rd at the EOE Pereira
Theatre, University of Peradeniya was bigger and more ambitious than any
in recent years. When auditions were held in April, it was clear that
there was an increased awareness of this prestigious event and a large
number of young people came forward. Thus it was that thirty seven items
appeared on the final programme and more than sixty performers took to the
stage. A true variety show on a grand scale, this event lived up
splendidly to its own publicity as being 'A Showcase for the Young
Performers of Kandy'.
