Entertainment

Gold dreams do come true!

by Mahes Perera

“To achieve a GOLD medal in the open categories is a challenge and the members of SOUL SOUNDS definitely rose up to the challenge “voiced a happy Soundarie David Rodrigo the choir director when the whole group returned to Sri Lanka.

The people of the ancient city of Graz, Austria were given a large dose of the artistry of the Sri Lankan girls choir when the group carried off not just one but three golds in the open categories of Gospel and Spiritual (Category 24), The Popular Choral Music Category (Category 26) and the Folklore Category (Category 28), at the World Choir Games 2008.

In the Open Folklore Category Soul Sounds had to compete with over 40 choirs from all over the world, and you can proudly say that it was a singular achievement for Soul Sounds and Sri Lanka to win Gold Medals in all three categories they competed in.

“There is no one winner for the entirety of the Games but there are category winners,” says Soundarie to put the records straight.

What were the reactions and comments of the audience and people of Graz because this was the first time they have heard a Sri Lankan girls choir in full flight?

“Rewarding to me and the troupe personally were the comments of the people. For instance a member of the jury who was present at the Gospel Competition came out to meet the choir as soon as we finished singing, stating that the choir brought tears into her eyes and that our rendition of “Great is thy Faithfulness” truly showed her God and the Heavens.

A South African conductor, his own girls choir having won a gold also for the Open Gospel Choir category said that whilst listening to our choir at rehearsal he wanted to turn back and go home, because he thought we were so good. To me a comment like this coming from a conductor who himself had a brilliant choir was certainly encouraging and rewarding.

Another comment from a member of the jury after our popular choral music section, was that our rendition of the a cappella “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” brought tears to his eyes... because it had soul. He was South African by origin. There were many other favourable comments and all in all it seemed to highlight the fact that the girls had touched peoples’ hearts and conveyed a message of love, peace and hope through their music that cuts through all barriers.”

Soul Sounds we understand did spread the message of peace and love and indeed the beauty of the country and its folk traditions thus inviting many inquiries about Sri Lanka. There were many instances when other choirs from around the world thronged round 25 beautiful damsels attired in Sri Lankan dress.

Apart from singing at the competition, Soul Sounds wherever they went, at public places and Squares sang to the pleasure of the people of Graz, taught and shared Sri Lankan music and dance with other choirs from like South Africa, Serbia, Austria, America, Hungary and Indonesia.

Jerome L de Silva was the artistic director and Neranjan de Silva - keyboards and Christopher Prins - drums and percussion added their expertise to make Soul Sounds triumph. Ofcourse the Sri Lanka Tourism Authority and other sponsors should be thanked for their support.

Your plans for the future?

“Definitely a show before the end of August that will showcase all three categories. I do hope that Soul Sounds has set the stage for other choirs to follow them and I would encourage more Sri Lankan choirs to keep the Sri Lankan flag flying high at similar competitions. Ambition, dreams and the desire to reach out and touch people’s lives is what Soul Sounds is about. Congratulations Soul Sounds!

A memorable experience

by Mahes Perera

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It was the first time she played a singing role in an opera and the experience of it all is a highlight in the career, of soprano Menaka de Fonseka Sahabandu. She was invited to play the role of Frasquita in Bizet’s Carmen by the Neemrana Music Foundation which was staged at the Kamini Auditorium in New Delhi. Her choir too was invited to perform as the Chorus Director Gabriella Rechner was impressed by their performance.

The Neemrana Foundation presented Bizet’s The Pearl Fishers, here in Sri Lanka with an international cast and an international orchestra. Menaka’s choir was invited to partake in the chorus and their performance resulted in an invitation to be a part of Bizet’s Carmen.

“Working with the directors at New Delhi was an interesting and enhancing experience to me. In the story Frasquita and Mercedes sung by Peshali Yapa were friends of Carmen and were looking out for a rich man to marry. What made the opera a creative presentation was that the opera was set in New Delhi and not in Spain.

Since the audience were mainly Indians the production saw a change in costumes for the visual impact. The road scene was that of a road in New Delhi and Carmen was made to work in a beedi factory. The music remained the same. The Indian costumes women in colourful Salwar Kameezes and the men in Delhi police uniform made the presentation colourful and suited New Delhi.

Flamenco was replaced by Kathak and a rickshaw wheeled on to the stage to give the eastern feel. It was a successful experiment and my choir with their high level of musicianship impressed the producer” commented Menaka.

The orchestra comprised 15 French musicians from the Ostinato Orchestra and the opera featured 60 Indian and Sri Lankan singers. Else Levy played the role of Carmen and according to the critics she was well received especially her rendition of Habenera with a saucy glint in her eyes. In New Delhi it was a most eagerly awaited show and the four days saw full houses and standing ovations.

Here in Sri Lanka would you not want to present a complete opera?“We have the singers they can sing, read and play an instrument. In New Delhi most of the singers do not read. Our music is on a high level and staging operas of such a nature like Carmen requires sponsorship which is difficult to get”. We hope we can enjoy an opera by Sri Lankans on our stages one day.