Peradeniya Singers in unusual programme

The programmes of the Peradeniya Singers have usually been marked by the rich variety and number of the works performed. They tended to make a wide sweep through the history of choral music from Plainsong and secular Medieval songs to choruses from contemporary musicals and challenging modernist works.

This year’s Concertaid VII, generously sponsored by the French Embassy and the Alliance Francaise de Kandy, is different. It includes two substantial offerings of choral works by Gabriel Fauré: his Cantique de Jean Racine and the two haunting choruses Libera Me and In Paradisum with which he ends the celebrated Requiem. The concert ends with Vivaldi’s Gloria.

The vocal part of the programme is further varied by the inclusion of a ‘classical scat’ - Bach’s Air on the G String and Caccini’s Ave Maria sung by three members of the choir.

The Director, Bridget Halpé, has made a new departure this year by inviting into the programme three outstanding young dancers. The mature art of Sudesh Mantillake’s performance in an original modern dance Insight belies his youthful appearance. He is a lecturer in Performing Art in the Fine Arts Dept. of the University of Peradeniya. The other two are girls - the winner and the runner-up of this year’s Young Performers’ Competition which the Kandy Music Society organises annually to enable Kandy’s under-twenties to exhibit their skills.

The dimunitive Oshini Aloysius is focused and fluent far beyond her years. The 30-strong choir is directed by the evergreen Bridget Halpé who has been called ‘an inspirational conductor’ (review by Antonietta Notarielli, examiner of the Royal Schools of Music, London). She picks up the baton for the 45th year, while the choir itself has been in existence for 55 years since its founding by Cambridge man Robin Mayhead who was teaching in Peradeniya’s English Department at the time.

Since half the choir lives and meets in Colombo half the rehearsals in Colombo are managed by Assistant Director Haasinee Andree, with Bridget Halpé meeting them twice a month. The accompanist is Namali Premawardhana. Néné Pilzer (flute) and Joy Butcher (‘cello) enrich several items in arrangements by Bridget Halpé.

All proceeds go to the Deaf and Dumb and so you are urged to take ‘donor’ seats at Rs.1000. The performance in Kandy was on August 29 at 6.30 pm at Girls’ High School Hall and the performance in Colombo will be on August 31 at 7.00 pm at St. Peter’s College Hall, Bambalapitiya. Admission by programme, available from Bridget Halpé (tel. 081-2239 113), Haasinee Andree (tel. 0112 723026) and at the gate.