Pandit Amaradeva delights Japanese fans

Pandit Amaradeva was felicitated by Japan's prestigious house of culture, the Japan Foundation in Tokyo on Friday at an exclusive concert organised by the Sri Lanka Embassy in Japan with the special assistance of the Foundation and co-sponsorship of SSH Japan and SriLankan Airlines.

The concert titled Bhakti Pranama and held at the Japan Foundation Forum, was attended by over 300 Japanese dignitaries, including Diet members, senior officials of the Japanese Government, Japanese businessmen and academics, chief prelates of Buddhist Temples in Japan, Ambassadors and members of the diplomatic corps, Consuls, Japanese media and others.

Pandit Amaradeva was introduced to the Japanese audience as Sri Lanka's virtuoso singer-musician and trailblazer in the creation of a distinctly Sri Lankan music which is both protean and unique in the melodious blending of Indian classical tradition and Sri Lankan folk music.

Amaradeva's semi-classical songs were presented in three selected segments representative of his musical career spanning over half a century, and included some all-time favourites such as Adawanwu denetin galana, min dada hee sara, wakkada langa and ira handa payan loke.

The melodious musical repertoire was accompanied by brief explanations of his music and the meaning of the lyrics by the Maestro himself. The Pandit's melodious voice mesmerised the Japanese audience by capturing their hearts and minds and was greeted with a rousing applause and calls of encore.

President of the Japan-Sri Lanka Parliamentary League and former Cabinet Minister Hosei Norota, Executive Vice President of the Japan Foundation Sohei Yoshino, Mayors of Shibuya and Minato-ku wards of Tokyo Kuwahara and Takei, were present.

At the end of the concert Pandit Amaradeva was presented with a token of appreciation by Sohei Yoshino, Executive Vice President of the Japan Foundation.

Yoshino told at a reception organised following the concert to felicitate the Pandit that it is a honour and privilege for the Japan Foundation to be associated with a debut concert in Japan by Sri Lanka's most celebrated musician, singer, composer who is also internationally renowned as one of the greatest musicians of the day.

Sri Lanka's Ambassador in Japan Karunatilaka Amunugama also presented Ambassadors with a token gift and expressed the appreciation of the Sri Lanka Government and the Sri Lanka Embassy in Japan for having the privilege to felicitate the Maestro at the Japan Foundation.

He expressed his happiness that this visit would lead to further strengthening of cultural links between Sri Lanka and Japan.

The Ambassador also thanked the Japanese Government and people for their support

He added that the Embassy in Japan had collected up to 230 million Yen from well wishers in Japan towards tsunami aid in Sri Lanka. Segments of the concert were aired on Japan's main television station, NHK. Publicity for the concert was also given in several leading Japanese newspapers including Japan Times and the Daily Yomiuri.

At another concert organised by the Sri Lanka Embassy on Sunday, the Maestro delighted over 1,000 Japanese and Sri Lankan fans at Toita Women's College Hall in Tokyo.

Singers T.M. Jayaratne, Deepika Priyadarshani and Asanka Priyamantha also performed.

Fans all over the world had the opportunity of watching the performance live through the Internet courtesy J-Nine Radio Online in Tokyo.

The orchestra for the two concerts comprised musicians led by Manoj Pieris (tabla), Tissasiri Perera (violin), Mahinda Bandara (guitar), Suresh Maliyedda (organ) and Bhagesri Fonseka (sitar).