'Mostly Mozart'

SOSL - free concert:

Fresh from their memorable Verdi Requiem, the Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka has another concert free of charge for music-lovers shortly, with a delightful programme - "Mostly Mozart" at Ladies' College Hall on Saturday 16th May at 7 pm. This special concert is funded by the Royal Norwegian Embassy. Reserved as well as unreserved seats are available.

The concert will begin with J.S. Bach's famous 'Air on the G String' from his Orchestral Suite No.3 - one of his most moving and noble melodies, much appropriated by contemporary pop composers.

The main work is Mozart's beautiful, at times sublime, Sinfonia concertante, a late eighteenth century title given to a marriage of the symphony and concerto. In this work no less than four wind soloists perform with the orchestra - Oboe, Clarinet, Horn and Bassoon. The soloists are all principal players of the Symphony Orchestra and founder members of the Colombo Wind Quintet: Hasitha Pathirana, Oboe, Ajit Abeysekera, Clarinet, Manilal Weerakoon, Horn and Nalaka Perera, Bassoon.

The Sinfonia concertante begins with an extended orchestral introduction, after which the solo wind quartet is presented as they might be in a classical concerto, with passages uniquely suited to their instrument's sonorities and capabilities. The second movement is a graceful adagio - music of elegance and refinement.

After an orchestral introduction, the quartet takes over, blending solos and ensemble in a variety of beautiful colours. The last movement is a set of variations on a theme stated by the oboe, and each variation features one or two instruments answered by the full quartet. A lighthearted coda brings the work to a close.

Immediately after the interval, the orchestra will perform the pioneering American composer Terry Riley's 'Half-Wolf Dances Mad in Moonlight' from his 'Salome Dances for Peace' which is based largely on Native-American mythology. This unusual and wildly energetic work was suggested to SOSL by the evening's young conductor Eshantha J. Peiris, who earned his Master's degree in Music Performance and Composition from New York University.

The concert will conclude with four lovely works sung with orchestra by Menaka de Fonseka Sahabandu, Soprano, a Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music and a well known recitalist.

The most memorable of the four is probably Mozart's hugely demanding and stormy 'Queen of the Night Aria' from The Magic Flute. This is contrasted with Leo Delibes' charmingly light hearted and lyrical song 'Les Filles de Cadiz', the Norwegian Edvard Grieg's hauntingly beautiful 'Solvejg's Song' from Peer Gynt, and Donizetti's 'O Luce di Quest'Anima' a delightful showpiece for coloratura agility from his opera Linda di Chamounix.

There is no charge for the tickets which are available on a first come first served basis from the SOSL, Upstair Floor, 83 Dickman's Road, Colombo 5. The Box Office is open on weekdays 9-6.30 pm and on Saturdays 9.30-1pm.