Angels at Galle Face

Ishara JAYAWARDANE

It was a dazzling evening of the sweetest music when Russian musicians, Vladimir, Maria and Svetlana took the floor at the Palm Lounge, Galle Face hotel. At the end of the show they had the audience enraptured and clapping to the beat of the music. It was a wholly refreshing and exhilarating evening. Vladimir's baritone performance had power, passion and rapture as he sang Glinka ('Doubt', 'A fire of desire burning in the blood'), Dargomyzhski ('A night Zephyr'), Tchaikovsky ('At a hilarious ball', 'I'd like to have a single word') Massne ('Elegia'), Balakirev ('hug me, kiss me'), Russian Folk Song ('Along piterskaya') and Cardillo ('Katar').The two nightingales Maria and Svetlana sang like angels.

These two beautiful young ladies lit up the stage with their heavenly singing off the clouds. Maria's rendition of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Memory" was enchanting, haunting and mesmerizing.Her rendition of Elvis Presley's classic 'Love me tender' was also well received by the audience.

Svetlana's rendition of 'Je t'aime' was done, playing a violin, adding to its haunting element.Credit should also go to Pianist Alla Turjanskaja for her excellent performance. Maria sang Gurilev ('I will tell my mother'), Presley's ('Love me tender') and Weber's ('Memory')Svetlana sang The Old Russian Romance ('He didn't love'), Bulahov ('Why does my heart beat so much'), Allison ('Je t'aime') and Herman's ('Hello Dolly')"Russia have been always very close to Sri Lanka specially the cultural aspect of it. We handle the cultural aspect of it in Sri Lanka. We feel that a lot of Sri Lankans have a liking and enjoy Russian music, literature and food.

With the National Day which fell on the 12th of June, these artists visited Sri Lanka and on a very short notice we thought of creating this event," said Cultural Co-Coordinating officer Chandi Aluvihare of the Russian Centre in ColomboThe Russian Embassy together with the Cultural Centre and the Galle Face Hotel organized the event. The artists will be here till 4th of July.