Entertainment

A high calibre performance

by Mahes Perera

Leila

Nadir

Zurga                   Nourabad

The audience had an memorable time on the last day (Friday 11) of the performance of Bizet's The Pearl Fishers a Sri Lanka - Indo - French opera which was staged at the BMICH, by the Neemrana Foundation in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Tourist Board and the French Embassy.

This was the first time our audience had the opportunity to experience an opera performance complete with chorus, orchestra and choreography.

Bizet was just 24 when he wrote the Pearl Fishers and many opera lovers adore the 'lustrous melodies' that belong to the opera. They say that the opera is rarely staged nowadays because listening to the music through stereo speakers has a better impact. Be that as it may the performance that day at the BMICH was laudable.

The lead roles Leila played by the delightful melifluous soprano Aude Priya - Engel, Nadir by the tenor Jamie Allen and Zurga by the young baritone Vikrant Subramaniam transported the audience into an oriental world of the exotic. We couldn't find fault with the singing of Leila or Zurga - both were proficient in their expression.

But unfortunately Nadir's tenor delivery now and then dropped in volume and we wondered why? Did he get caught in a grey spot of the hall's acoustics, because after all the hall was built for conferences and not for performances of such a nature.

The chorus has to be praised for their singing which was fine, what with the hard work of profitable rehearsals conducted by Gabriella Boda Rechner, the Delhi choir conductor and Meneka de Fonseka the Sri Lankan choir conductor.

Of course praise has to be showered on the conductor of the orchestra Benjamin Levy who took the orchestra in the pit through their music with style and panache drawing out the best from the players - which was a transformation, a pleasant surprise.

We cannot leave out Ajith Abeysekera, the assistant conductor and his dedication to music and who laid the foundation for the Symphony Orchestra's soaring performance through hard work of rehearsals.

Costumes colourful and sober to suit the different moods of the opera were the ideas of Meera Ali and Senaka de Silva and fitted an Oriental scenario, although there were comments from some members of the audience that it was a distraction.

So too they thought was the dancing when an aria was being sung. But Santosh Nair and the Sadhya Ballet have to be congratulated for their wonderful performances, of a high standard.

This is the first time Sri Lankan audiences were treated to a high calibre opera performance. We hope that the Neemrana Foundation's next presentation which will be Carmen will come Sri Lanka way!

The Cloves in concert

by Mahes Perera

The Big Bang concert which is open to the public free of charge, will blast off at 6.30 p.m. on February 2 at the Bishops' College Auditorium. The sizzling sounds will be dished out by the hottest rock band enjoying popularity in the Maldives, The Cloves. The band is made up of some of the best available musicians in the Maldives, who made their debut last August in UK and earned quick popularity.

The concert was well received and many were impressed by the band's lead vocalist Rittey who captivated the audience with his reggae songs. Ofcourse the nine year old prodigy drummer Thotho was the centre of attraction as he performed as a guest artiste with The Clove.

The band plays covers of Maroon 5, James Blunt, Queen and quite naturally hits of Bob Marley. Your complimentary ticket will be issued on a first-come first-served basis and could be obtained from Trans Asia Hotel, Pearl Hotel, Bambalapitiya and the Gallery, Majestic City.

The Manager of Clove, Artay says that this concert is a prelude to bigger things to come from The Clove.