Review:

High Scorers’ Concert, the night of the cello

Gwen HERAT

The Associated Board of The Royal Schools of Music (Sri Lanka Chapter) presented the High Scorers’ Concert at the Bishop’s College auditorium a few days back where the cream of Sri Lanka’s youth in classical music debuted. The auditorium was packed that indicated their presence as a tribute to tomorrow’s qualified musicians.

Most people who have not studied music or art had the time to give ear to it or may only have began as a marginal interest and perhaps grew into an obsession that lead to deep and satisfying experience are also a part of the audience. Looking around, most of the people I saw had music in them.

They were the collectors, performers, teachers, examiners, conductors, etc. I saw several professionals and some who are dedicated to it. Each time I see them, they grow in numbers which speaks well for the classical music scene in Sri Lanka. I do not know how Mano Chanmugan manages to gather them into one warm evening. It is his love, passion, dedication for classical music.

Mano himself is a great pianist who shares his talent with others, especially in the improvement in children. As Sri Lanka Representative of The Associated Board of The Royal Schools of Music, he has risen to the occasion magnanimously. Mano is one of the few outstanding impresarios in Sri Lanka and a great reformer towards music and a champion of its cause. He spares no trouble to sustain it.

Melodies

Some music is set against spacious long melodies of beauty that defy structural criticism. But by and large to categorised symphonies, movements, melodies etc. and attempt to emphasise and transcend any single creed, is impossible even if you try doing it for the rest of your life. We breathe in music and sustain its joy.

The soul is stirred. Comparison under-rates uniqueness. Each composer is a master unto himself and put together, they are our icons. The uniqueness of their music appeals to all. The passion and intensity with which I studied, left me only to be a reviewer. I had my dreams for a concert pianist but my teacher, Ms Glenis Range said otherwise. But I remain very close to classical music because of my ballet training.

Johannes Brahms was the favourite composer among the achievers and it is no surprise because of his vast catalogue of music in which he demonstrated his genius clearly for the piano.

Considered as one of the best contributors to the mid-19th century chamber music, his luxuriant string sextets, two piano quartets reveal the critical balance between Brahms’ romantic impulse and his austere classical cult. Soft, gentle and delicate, one gets carried away by his scores. In fact, Brahms sits well on children to follow him because of his untangled music, pure and refine.

The Hungarian Dance No. 4 by Brahms which Tehani Tissera opted for the evening was composed in 1869 and was published as duets. Brahms’ second piano concerto was a magnificent, high-spirited four-movement work which many historians and performers say is the greatest of its kind. I hope the performers who chose Brahms for their debut, knew this fact and if they did, it would have inspired them.

Choice

Manuel de Falla was the choice of Savindi Chandrasinghe who played the Ritual Fire Dance on cello. Falla’s music is often adapted for dancing. Since the time his major work, Et Amor Brujo, he had to return to Madrid because of the war had broken out. His ballets were premiered in 1915 and he re-recorded a version later. From this characteristic score, he wrote Ritual Fire Dance.

However, this piece is performed separately as played by Savini. In her own way she paid tribute to this wonderful composer. Falla’s scores are played in ballets so much so that Diaghilev requested him to do a full scale ballet score based on El Somero de Tres Picos which the Russian choreographer staged at the Alambra Theatre in London in 1818. It was such a spectacular production that it sealed the composer’s international reputation. Overnight, Falla became choreographers’ choice.

Expectation

The High Schorers’ Concert opened with much expectation. All children did their best while some were outstanding. Strangely, the night belonged to the cello girls and there were five of them equally talented in their own grades. First was the cherubic Anoushka Tissera with the cello being taller than her. She was a confident little Miss who played ‘Rock a Bow Baby’ by Pamela Wedgewood.

Second was Kadheedha Wahid playing My Old Man by Charles Collins followed by Amani Tissera opting for Charles Davidoff’s Romance Sans Paroles. Shamistha de Silva was wonderful playing the ever popular Humoresque Op 26 by W. H. Square and the last was soul stirring with Savini Chandrasinghe playing like a near-professional. This girl will go very far if she continues her style and manner of playing. Cool, collected and very confident, she let the cello speak. A touch of fire in her bow, from thunder to calm, brilliant fingering of the strings. Her choice was from Manuel de Falla.

Wish Rohan de Saram was in the audience. The little boy at the piano was Sachitra Fernando and he played Polonaise Militaire by Fredrick Chopin. He was confident and in full control of his notes. An emotional Tharindhya Amaratunge sang her heart out with the Aria - The Queen of the Night. She was equally good at the piano playing Danza Negra by Emesto Leuno. The evening would have held happy memories to her presenter Brigette Halpe. The sole saxophonist was Chaminda Wickramanayake who played Dave Bruback’s Take Five and he played it delightfully. Kiara Wickramasinghe was another violinist who stole the hearts of the audience playing the Dankla version of the Variations of Theme Bellini. The vivacious and exuberant Suhanya Joseph de Saram took few strides across the stage and mesmerised the audience with her passionate, fiery playing of Fritz Seltz’s 1st Movement in Concert No. 5 in D major.

She played with such vigour and confidence and was an example to most of the players who sought to take control of the stage and solicit attention.

Here is a girl who is on the right track on her way to make good, helped by her bloodline, the de Sarams. My pick for the evening was the hopelessly shy Jaliya Ekanayake, who was not even sure of himself. He walked in as though lost and with body language letting him down, he sang wondrously and beautifully. Terrific voice, but sang like dazed.

He should have opened out more, held more air in his lungs and released it softly. With an air of Richard Tauber in his voice, Jaliya could lead himself to be one of Sri Lanka’s extraordinary tenors. He has to shake of stage-fright and nervousness. His is a well modulated voice, the best of the evening and woke me up.

He sang Come Gentil scored by Donizetti, rendering it the way it was meant to be. A student of Ananda Dabare, Jaliya was on the strings of his violin, softly and gently airing Carl Bohn’s much adored La Zingana. In contrast to Jaliya, was pianist Johanne Pieris, the fresh looking young kid on the block.

First as an accompanist on the piano, Johanne caressed the keys playing his chosen score of Brahms’ Ballad In G Minor OP 118 with his deaft figners. Yet another player who stood out that evening for confidence and stage personality. Michico Herath who is Diploma of ABRSM was simply above the rest. Playing like a young professional in-the making, her flying fingers were a treat to watch. She had immense control over the keyboard, caressing them with burning passion. Michiko played Primavera from Forgotten Melodies by Nikolay Manter to end the High Scorers’ Concert.

A fitting adiue by the Soul sounds was warmly appreciated, especially the rendering of Dhanno Budunge, slightly classicalised, warm and patriotic.

Tim Arnold, Director, International Operations-ABRSM and Chief Guest for the evening congratulated the winners and said in his keynote address ‘He is proud and happy over the progress made by the Sri Lankan Chapter of the ABRSM and the standard of the students. They are a bunch of outstanding performrs. There is nothing like music to bind and keep people together. We have the power to share and commit ourselves to one another as much as we are liberated from them. Music is mind and soul and such unity is priceless. Young people like you must find this power in music to mould your lives.’

Mano Chanmugam briefly outlined the history of the ABRSM and said it was 110 years old and that Sri Lanka is one of its oldest members. The ABRSM has produced some of the world’s best known musicians, especially at the keyboards and some composers too.

..................................

<< Artscope Main Page