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Lovers of good music and all those who appreciate the intricacies, nuances and cadences of opera are in for a treat when world renowned soprano Preshanthi Navaratham, together tenor Ronald Samm, mezzo soprano Sarah Brooks and baritone Jason Wasley, supported by the Krasner Ensemble conducted by Ananda Dabare, perform at the Lionel Wendt Theatre on April 29 and 30, 2005.
This concert is in memory of Dr. Noel Bartholomeusz and his wife Nora, who by their immense generosity have contributed to the welfare of so many organisations, individuals and institutions in Sri Lanka.
Dr. Noel Bartholomeusz, a surgeon of consummate skill, passed away in 1977. Compassionate, kind, courteous and dedicated, he maintained the highest standards of his profession and was an inspiration to all he came in contact with.
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His wife Nora passed away in April 2003 and on her death their beautiful home Gowanlea situated at Independence Avenue was bequeathed to the College of Surgeons of Sri Lanka in accordance with their wishes. The College needs an auditorium and part of proceeds will be used for this purpose.
Funds from this performance will also be used to purchase a high-powered Colour-Doppler Ultrasound Scanner for the obstetric unit of the Colombo University. Using this sophisticated scanner, the state of the fetus in-utero can be clearly demonstrated and any abnormalities detected.
Some of these abnormalities can be corrected even during the pregnancy by very careful and precise manipulation while the child is in the mother's womb. Such a unit is not available in Sri Lanka and by installing one, many babies and their mothers would greatly benefit.
Among the selection to be performed is 'Brindisi' from 'La Traviata'. Other favourites on the programme are Mozart's Tutti Fior from 'Madame Butterfly' 'Adieu Foret' from 'The Maid of Orelans' composed by Tchaikovsky, Mozart's 'Benedictus' from 'The Requiem' and Rossini's 'Largo Al Factotum'.
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Preshanthi Navaratnam is no stranger to Sri Lanka. A graduate in music from the London University, the Guildhall School of Music and the Academy Drama School, she has performed many times in Sri Lanka and Great Britain. She took part in the controversial 'Jerry Springer - the Opera' at the Edinburgh Music Festival. Together with Ronal Samm, Preshanthi gave us those delightful songs to remember in 2002 and 2003.
Roland Samm is a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and the Royal Northern College of Music. He is an accomplished performer with several operatic performances to his credit. He has appeared in the Glyndebourne Festival Opera.
He has toured Great Britain singing with the Pegasus Opera Company. When not involved in performing, Roland delights in teaching young people the fine art of singing. Mezzo Soprano Sarah Brooks is a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music. She is a free-lance opera and oratorio soloist. She has played Carmen, Dorabella in Cosi fan tutte and Dido among others. She has also broadcast on British Radio and television.
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Jason Wasley studied at the Victorian College of Arts in Melbourne and later worked with the State Opera. He then moved to London where he completed the National Opera Studio Course. He later joined Glyndebourne and sang the coveted roles of Morales in 'Carmen' and the title role in Eugene Onegin.
More recently has preformed in 'The Magic Flute' and in 'Rigoletto'
with the Melbourne Opera Company.
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Ayumi excels in dance
Ayumi Ratnakumara is a serious and highly committed student of
classical ballet. A member of the Deanna School of Dancing. she has
consistently scored high marks at the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) exams
which are conducted once a year in Sri Lanka by qualified dual examiners
from RAD, London. Last year (November 2004) she took the Grade 8 and
Intermediate exams back to back and obtained distinctions in both - a
fine achievement by any standards.
Ayumi joined school at the age of two and a half. Her teacher, Deanna Jayasuriya (who started the school 25 years ago) recalls how she would come to class carrying a bottle of milk, to which she was so attached that she would refuse to part with it! At the beginning Ayumi was reluctant to learn ballet, but as she grew older, she began to discover that dancing was fun, and the more she danced, the more she loved it. Very soon, ballet became her first love.
Over the years she has matured and developed into a stylist, graceful and technically correct dancer. Her petite figure and smiling face are also very pleasing to the eye. Indeed, she is the picture of grace and elegance when performing arabesques, attitudes or allegros on pointe. Her leaps too are quite splendid.
Ayumi has figured prominently in several ballets including Nutcracker, Swan Princess and La Bayadere. She is very keen, after completing her London A-Levels at CIS to pursue a dance degree in London. I asked her when she made this decision. "Oh, a couple of years ago," she replied, "when I started helping Aunt Deanna with the kids. I began to enjoy this very much.
I love teaching kids and I absolutely love ballet. My parents are very supportive and so is my elder brother." She grinned and added, "I'm so lucky to have such a kind and understanding family."
Ayumi obtained six As at the London O\Levels in 2003 and is getting ready to take her London A\Levels in June this year.
Here is a girl who is as good in her studies as in her dancing. She has some other fine attributes as well, such as a sweet nature and a wholesome personality. She is by far the most reliable, dependable and disciplined student at the school. I forget who coined the phrase below, but for someone like Ayumi, who is one hundred per cent committed and motivated, they are most appropriate: 'Hitch your wagon to a star.'
- Senaka Abeyratne
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