Viva la Musica!
Sakuntala SACHITHANANDAN
I had never had the good fortune to watch and listen to the famous
Bridget on stage - it was exciting, waiting for this show of shows, my
first ever of its kind, to start! A treat was guaranteed!
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Enthralling
the audience with their vocal skills |
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Bridget
Halpe |
Bridget Halpe became 75 years of age on October 8 and this concert
was in anticipation and celebration of that event. Meeting her outside
in the lobby, I had once again marveled at how she did not even faintly
show her age!! How does she do all this – train young people, perform
and plan –shuttle between Kandy and Colombo and keep young-looking as
well? I kept asking myself this question all the way home after the
marvelous performance.
The Kandy Junior Singers, highly disciplined and demure walked in
with little baskets of melons. True to their reputation, they gave the
most enchanting renderings of the songs: “Funiculi Funicula (Music L.
Denza, words: Edward Oxenford) , “Wanderer’s Nachtlied (Music: A
Rubenstein .Words: W.Stigand) Jamaican Farewell (words and music: “Lord”
Burgess ) and “Water Melon Seller” (Words and Music by Aubrey Beswick).
The music was so charming, light and airy we seemed to just float along
until, at the end, in an amusing and dramatic Bridegtian gesture , the
demure little folk threw their melons at the audience – taking care not
to hit anyone, of course! And instead of a messy splash, the hollowed
out melon halves just rolled apart!!
The next item, in contrast to the classical one that preceded it, was
by The Peradeniya Swingers’ Jazz Ensemble. A swing- along event with
Praveen Tillekeratne and Adrian Selvarajah on drums and piano. As moving
and exciting as jazz is, in its own particular interpretation of music,
we were treated to some classy playing by both .I particularly admired
the smooth professionalism of the pianist .
The Violin Recital based on Rag Brindhavani Saranga was by violinist
Ravindu Peiris. He was accompanied by excellent thabla player Ranga
Perera and another boy whose name is not on the programme, on the
thanpura. As a layman, I felt that the long and arduous rendering of the
raga on the violin poured out its passionate content like a soul in
ecstasy and the thabla beat like the heart’s rhythm, strong and regular
and supportive. This item to me, personally, was by far the best. I hope
I will have the good fortune to listen to this violinist Ravindu Peiris
again and again. I learnt that he is equally good on the violin with
Western music.
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Playing the
violin |
Dr Nirmala Kumari came up with a charming Sitar recital accompanied
by Ranga Perera once again on the thabla and Yamuna Uswatte on the
thanpura. Another enjoyable oriental item.
The splendid, much awaited Peradeniya Singers then arrived on stage –
the star item for choral music directed by Bridget Halpe standing on a
little dais. They carried us on wave after wave of enjoyment with: A
Gaelic Blessing (John Rutter) , Ev’ry Time I Feel The Spirit (Spiritual
arr. Bob Chilcott), Sandavata Ran Tharu (C.T.Fernando arr. Kim Nandfred
), Rivers of Babylon (Trad .Spiritual arr. Ken Burton), In te, Domine,
Speravi from Bruckner Te Deum: Mabig bewegt, Fuge, Alla breve and Vva la
Musica (Ivan Erod op.43).At the end Bridget in an endearing Bridget-ian
gesture took off her high-heels and got off the dais to a round of
applause and TWO bouquets of flowers!!
I would like to repeat here a quote from Antonietta Notarielli,
ARAMand BRSM examiner appearing in the programme, regarding the
celebrated Peradeniya Singers: “A vibrant choir with an inspirational
conductor in Bridget Halpe which brings out the essence of each song
with sincerity and a wide range of colour”.
The music at this performance was from both Western and oriental
cultures played and sung in kaleidoscopic splendor - one universal
language in some of its regional dialects, so to speak! Viva la Musica!
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