A mellifluous soprano

by Mahes PERERA

"Working with the orchestra which was professional and with the members who are highly experienced, it was really a pleasure. The orchestra under Lakshman Joseph de Saram is a disciplined orchestra and I must say that Lakshman is a charming conductor," expressed Mary Anne David - soprano - when we met up with her after her distinguished performance of Stephen Allen's 'Forest Paths.'

The concert "Troubled Seas and Forest Paths" by he Chamber Music Society of Colombo was held on February 26 at the Lionel Wendt. The programme for the evening comprised works by Mozart, Hindemith, Vivaldi, Stephen Allen, Handel and Haydn. Stephen Allen's 'Forest Paths, was written for double string quartet and soprano, and ended the fist half of the concert.

The composer has been a resident of Sri Lanka for the past five years and according to the liner notes" has written songs as well as orchestral and chamber works, including works based on Sri Lankan themes with reference to historical figures as King Kasyapa and Viharamahadevi".

Forest Paths was a group of four songs - Dawn, Winter Turning, Small Fellows and Night Passage depicted the moods and changes within a forest.

This performance with the Ensemble of the Chamber Music Society is after your appearance with the Friends in Concert in early 2000 with Soundarie David, Dushy Perera and Ramya de Livera Perera, what was your impression of the work?

"It is a deep work. The more you sing it you gather a lot more into the composer's thoughts. It seems he has been in the wilderness to experience nature and with the idea of getting away from humanity. From the way the music is written, his mood swings. The first time I sang it I felt that the words and music didn't synch. But again when I sang it over and over it began to grow. Though it was a chamber music concert it was necessary to have a conductor. I could have interpreted the songs in many ways but talking to him I was able to understand his expression of the songs.

Did you miss a piano?

"No, I didn't. I have pitch and I sight sing it at first. Subsequently I did work with a keyboards."

Which of the four songs did you enjoy singing?

"The fourth song "Night Passage" - I know the forest knew my steps...." The phrasing was gorgeous.It was demanding because it involved a lot of breath control and voice control. When we first performed this work at the Galle Literary Festival, I had the butterflies but I was happy with my performance and with the response from the audience. The audience at the Lionel Wendt were wonderful too. We hope to go to Jaffna for a performance there and I'm looking forward to that."

What are your future plans for the Mary Anne's School of Vocal Music?

"Well on February 20 we held the twentieth dedication service at the Christian Reform Church and our next event will be a musical presentation of the Merry-An Singers with the students of the Shyama Studio Organ Academy in June at the Bishop's College Auditorium. In July its going to be a special something for Andrew my husband who will be turning 80 years.

This will be a concert of traditional hymns and in October we will be working on a major production "Tribute to Cole Porter" which will feature thirty to forty participants. Of course as usual for the season we will be staging our Festival of Nine Lessons."

Mary Anne David - the acclaimed mellifluous soprano and her School of Vocal Music has over the years gained unparalleled recognition in our music industry. Her solo career began in the seventies and she has appeared in many major works. She followed intensive training with Christiane Huff and was selected for Master Classes in lieder with Romy Gundermann.

The Auckland Symphony Orchestra in 1980 invited her to appear with them in a programme of well known arias. A distinguished musician, Mary Anne has been in demand as a Chorus Director. In 1995 with Opera Lanka/Rohan de Joseph de Saram she directed Verdi's Rigoletto and La Traviata while in 2009 she was responsible for the choral direction of Verdi's Messa de Requiem with the SOSL/Gregory Rose. Honoured with Zonta Woman of Achievement Award 1989 and the State Music Award in 2006 for her contribution to Western Music in Sri Lanka, Mary Anne David has to be applauded for her untiring and selfless love of uplifting the standard of vocal music in Sri Lanka.