Cultural Diary

An entertaining prelude to the SOSL concert

Keiko Kobayashi - piano and Atushi Kimura - French Horn.

The Ambassador of Japan Kunio Takahashi hosted a unique musical concert at his official residence recently. The concert was a performance by the two renowned Japanese musicians Keiko Kobayashi, Conductor and Pianist and the French Horn player Atushi Kimura who were in Sri Lanka for a performance with the Sri Lanka Symphony Orchestra.

This concert which was primarily organised with a view to further promoting cultural exchanges between the two countries in the field of music was well attended despite the inclement weather on that evening.

The programme for the evening commenced with the lively Mozarts Concerto in D Major for Horn and Orchestra No. 1 KV 412 followed by Schubert's Impromptu No. 3 Op 142 (Air from Rosamunde). Bizets "I Hear As In a Dream from the opera, the Pearl Fishers was lyrically performed by Kimura the Horn Player.

To the delight of the audience the duo played two very ethereal and lyrical compositions considered as classics in Japan. Hisaishi's "Princess Mononoke" and Takenitsu's soulful "Will Tomorrow I wonder be Cloudy or Clear?" The Sri Lankan players from the Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka, Ananda Dabare Principal Concertmaster, Dushyanthi Perera principal Cello and Naveen Fernando, trumpet, joined the duo individually and collectively to perform interesting short pieces by Mendelssohn and Schuman. - MP

A celebration in song

by Mahes PERERA

You speak the name Neranjan de Silva and you can be assured is no stranger to Western classical and semi-classical music lovers. He is an acknowledged organist and also a pianist who has accompanied many choirs and soloists and still continues to do so. To celebrate his 25 years in this inspiring field Niranjan de Silva will stage a unique event `Celebration in Song' at St. Mary's Church, Bambalapitiya at 7.30 p.m. on his birthday October 13.

Neranjan de Silva

The best voices in Sri Lanka - Soul Sounds, The Revelations, the Merry An Singers, St. Mary's Choral Group, the Peterite Chorale and the L.G. Singer will combine for the first time ever to form one large choir directed by Mary Anne David and accompanied by Neranjan at the organ. The combination of these superlative voices will no doubt be absolutely awesome. Entrance is free.

A quick spool back on his career reveals that his commitment and interest in music seriously goes back to his school days. "When I was a chorister in the choir of S. Thomas College, Mount Lavinia the sound of the Hammond organ in the loft of chapel at STC with the choir master Russel Bartholomeuz was something I looked forward to at the three practices every week and the regular Sunday service. I was determined to become an organist one day.

When I asked Russel whether I could play the organ, he advised me that I should acquire Grade 5 proficiency in pianoforte before even thinking of sitting before an organ. This spurred me to study formally under Vilma Varnakulasinghe and at the end of six years armed with an FTCL and LRSM, more than the renowned Grade 5 I proudly sat at the church organ and fulfilled my dream", reminisces Neranjan.

From then on his musical career escalated. He joined the English Service of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation and came into close contact with the late Kalasuri Lylie Godrige and the L.G. Singers. At SLBC Neranjan got involved in live broadcasts, recordings and studio concerts. The young soprano soloist Prashanthi Navaratne sought him out to be her accompanist and through her, Mary Ann David roped him to be the regular accompanist to the famous Merry An Singers. Today he is an accompanist for Soul Sounds and Revelations.

Neranjan's inroads to become the organist he is today was through Gautier Willm the Director of the Alliance Francaise in 1983, himself a brilliant organist who used to play at St. Mary's Church, Bambalapitiya for the Christmas watchnight service. Gautier introduced him to Fr. Claver Perera and Neranjan took over from Gautier when he went back to France. An unbroken service for 25 years at St. Mary's Church, Bambalapitiya as an organist quite naturally hold a special significance for his 25 year celebration, which should not be missed.

Urumayaka Waruna

An exhibition of a special collection of photographs by photographer, Anura Kuruwitage Silva, coordinated by the Mohan Lal Grero Foundation and the Dehiwala - Mt. Lavinia Municipal Council, will be held at the National Art Gallery, Ananda Kumaraswamy Mawatha, Colombo 7, from 20 to 22 October.

The collection includes pictures acclaimed by academics and professionals covering: historical, cultural, educational and religious places of Sri Lanka. Nature and environment are given a wide coverage with particular emphasis to places of interest and importance in the North and West of the country. The exhibition is open to public with free entrance from 9.30 am each day till 5.30 pm.

Gandhian philosophy and its influence

Gandhian philosophy and its influence, a lecture by Dr. Kumar Rupasinghe, will be delivered on October 7, at 4.30 p.m. at the Indian Cultural Centre Colombo. Lynn Ockersz, Associate Editor Sunday Island, S.Chandrasekaram, President Mahatma Gandhi Sabha, Matale will also join as discussants.

Gandhi, the film

A film on the life and times of Mahatma Ghandi by Richard Attenborough will be shown on October 9 at 5.30 p.m. at the Indian Cultural Centre.

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The Sam

The Sam, Moment of Pleasure in music by Nrithiya Nipun Ms. Moksha Samarasooriya and her students and Shasthrapathi Ranga Perera will be held on October 16 at 6.00 p.m. at Indian Cultural Centre.

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Bharatha Natyam

A Bharatha Natyam recital by the students of Indian Cultural Centre trained by Guru Subashini Pathmanathan will be held on October 30 at Indian Cultural Centre, Colombo 04.

Panhindaka Sanhinda

A literary workshop for amature writers will be held on November 8 at Sri Lanka Foundation Institute. The resource personnel for the one-day workshop are experts in diverse fields. The workshop is open for persons in the age group of 18-35 and prospective participants are requested to apply with a creation not exceeding two A4 pages together with a photocopy of the national identity card, on or before November 20, to Sthri Shakthi Productions, 198/4, Siriwimal Uyana, Nawala. Applicant should certify his or her work.

The applications are called in Sinhala, English and Tamil mediums.

Janamadya Sangarawa

By Amila BANDARA

Contributions for the "Janamadya Sangarawa", an annual publication by theAssociation of Media Scholars, can now be sent to "editor", JanamadyaVidyartayange Sangamaya, University of Colombo, Colombo 3. Contributions on the theme of ' Communication' in Sinhala or English should be sent on or before October 25.

Artists taking part in the three plays

Prof. Sarachchandra drama festival

Prof. Sarachchandra Drama Festival will host 'Magul Prasthawa' with 'Elowa Gihin Melowa Awa', 'Sinhabahu' and 'Kapuwa Kapothi' at the Lionel Wendt Theatre, Colombo 7 from October 16 - 18.