Sitar virtuoso Pradeep Ratnayake does Sri Lanka proud in Brussels

by Mahen KARIYAWASAN

Sri Lankan Sitar Virtuso Pradeep Ratnayake and his ensemble performed at the most prestigious music venue in Brussels, the Palais des Beaux Arts (BOZAR) on Saturday (2 October 2010), at an event jointly organized by the BOZAR and the Embassy of Sri Lanka, with the sponsorship of Sri Lanka Tourism and the Sri Lankan Airlines. Pradeep was supported by Ravibandhu Vidyapathy (Sri Lankan percussion) Alston Joachim (Bass Guitar) and Chandralal Amarakoon (Tabla), while Madhuka Wickramarachchi was the host of the evening.

The performance by the Pradeepanjalee troupe was part of the cultural programme held to coincide with the Asia-Europe Summit Meeting (ASEM8) which took place in Brussels from October 4-5. The President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy and Madam Van Rompuy were the Guests of Honour, while Members of the Brussels based Diplomatic Corps, officials of the European institutions and the Belgian Government, Belgians with business interests in Sri Lanka, members of the Sri Lanka community and music lovers attended the event.

Pradeep Ratnayake performs in Brussels

Introducing Pradeep Ratnayake, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the EU Ravinatha Aryasinha said “Pradeep Ratnayake and his music in many ways mirrors modern Sri Lanka; steeped in a historic tradition, but bold enough to experiment with the best, whether from the East or West. His melodies convey both the serenity and vibrancy of Sri Lanka’s polity. His constant quest to surpass himself, epitomizes the ambitions of a country, that seeks to become the pride of Asia”.

President Van Rompuy traced Sri Lanka’s relations with Europe since ancient times, emphasizing that “it was not all one way”. He observed that “the art, musical, theatrical and dance heritage of Asia is exceptionally rich and sophisticated, and continues until today to exercise a strong influence”, and described Pradeep Ratnayake “as a living example of blending different influences from the North Indian to jazz and western classical music”.

The concert started with an item named Spring, a composition based on the classical raga Bahar where Pradeep played with Chandralal Amarakoon on the tabla. The beautifully classical touch which was obvious in the first item changed dramatically when Pradeep went on to the next composition, Roots.

Sri Lankan melodies like the gajaga vannama, vairodi vannama, prashasthi geetha and even the melodies of folk songs flowed out from his instrument, giving meaning to what Pradeep says he is trying to do with his sitar, give it a Sri Lankan identity. Ravibandu Vidyapathy’s powerful getabera supported Pradeep ably with its fascinating pulse and rhythm.

The next composition, Flight, where Aslton Joachim joined Pradeep and the others with his bass guitar had the elements of jazz joining in to blend with the strains of the Ukussa vannama. As the music soared over everyone it had the audience ecstatic, as evidenced by the clapping and cheering they all received at the end of it.

After the interval, Pradeep entered a deeper and more serious mood, where he showed the audience that while being a composer of avant guarde music, he is also an excellent classical musician, when he played Raag Maad Kamaj from the Hindustani raga system. He played solo, getting deep into the intricacies of the raga in the alap section, the almost meditative mood keeping the hall in a hush.

The alap ended with the tabla joining in to play the rhythmic gat in three speeds, which Pradeep and Chandralal ended with the breathtaking jhala, the gat in its fastest speed.

Then all the musicians joined in to play the haunting Kuweni, a piece based on the 15th century Sri Lankan literary work Kuweni asna. Pradeep’s technical virtuosity on the sitar came to the fore in the next piece titled Wind.

The amazing speed with which he traversed the strings depicting the different movements of wind made the audience cry out at its culmination.

And the concert ended with the all the musicians coming on to the stage to play Stallions, its rhythm unexpected and powerful, following the melody line of the Thuranga vannama to create a beautiful composition at the end of which the audience got to its feet to cheer the musicians.

It was obvious that there couldn’t have been a better introduction of Sri Lankan music to a European audience than this. The standing ovation called the musicians back three times to take their bows, at the end of an evening of wonderful music. Commenting on the performance Director World Music and Jazz of the Palais des Beaux Arts, Tony Vander Eecken who was responsible for the overall coordination of the event, said “the performance of Pradeep in Bozar was a memorable event. Especially the interpretation of classical themes and the variations on folk music showed the virtuosity of this artist.”

Rebecca Smit (violinist) & Dimitri Vansteenlandt (violinist and manager) from Hacienda Projects SPRL, a Belgian professional artist agency commented “we were truly impressed by Pradeep’s performance, especially by his refreshing and surprising approach to Sri Lankan and Indian sitar music and the virtuous execution of his performance. That, in combination with the perfect and very well synchronised percussion ensemble, was real eye opener (as well as a mind opener).

While enjoying the concert we were mesmerized by what it could be like to combine the Sri Lankan sitar music with western influences, who knows where this could lead? Having met the artists we were impressed by their professionalism and ability to collaborate in unison. A truly wonderful experience!”

Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha and his dedicated staff at the Brussels Embassy with the support of the Honorary Concul for Sri Lanka in Belgium Monique De Deker-Deprez and the Belgolux-Sri Lanka Business Council headed by Mr. Wim Ceriez had also succeeded in expanding the event into a multi faceted Sri Lanka evening. Guests had the opportunity to not only be transcended to a higher level through Pradeep’s music, but also to be refreshed by a cup of Ceylon tea from the varieties of tea of the country displayed and to be introduced to other Sri Lanka exports. There was also a colourful projection of Sri Lanka as a tourist destination and of the National carrier, Sri Lankan Airlines.

Sri Lanka’s Honorary Consul in Belgium Monique De Deker-Deprez noted “this was possibly the first occasion where a Sri Lankan artist held a solo performance at the BOZAR. It provided an opportunity to bring to the cosmopolitan audience in the Belgian Capital and home of EU institutions, an excellent performance by the Sri Lankan virtuoso. Rapturous ovation from the audience and critics’ reviews all bear eloquent testimony to the quality of the performance.”

Commenting on the success of the BOZAR event, Mr. Wim Ceriez, the President of Belgolux-Sri Lanka Business Council was to observe “the concert drew attention to hitherto less known cultural and artistic facets of Sri Lanka. The fact that the President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy and so many other distinguished guests attended the event enhanced the stature of the event”. He said “the Council valued the opportunity to promote tourism and Sri Lankan products such as Ceylon Tea and other exports to an audience of high level policy makers, diplomats, traders and investors”.

Being a professional in the travel trade and a regular visitor to Belgium, what struck me was that the event held at BOZAR was different from that traditionally done to promote Sri Lankan exports, travel or tourism abroad. It was an excellent idea to seek to promote Sri Lanka alongside a performance by Pradeep, who excels in an instrument, less associated with Sri Lanka in the past, but made more famous internationally as a result of the impact Pandit Ravi Shankar has had on Western audiences.

But the political message conveyed through the presence and words of the President of the European Council, as well as Belgian and European officials present was significant and augurs well for Sri Lanka. Rarely had politics, arts and business blended together so well.

Mahen Kariyawasan is Managing Director, Andrews Travels and Vice President of the Sri Lanka Inbound Tour Operators Association and the Sri Lanka-Benelux Business Council