Concertaid XIV, a delight for the young

Reviewed by Gwen Herat

One could not have expected a better backdrop than the wondrous chancel of one of lovely Anglican church’s altar with its medieval architecture, sculptured pillars from Romanticism to the set of the impressive and tidy altar with its tapering candles ready for a high-mass. At least, that is the impression I got as I entered up the aisle to take my seat in wooden-heavy bunch, many of which made up the pews, very airy and spacious for the congregation.

Bridget Halpé who prompted Concertaid XIV at St. Paul’s

Even the heavily carved wooden canopy that stood isolated beside the altar probably for the use of a bishop, fitted and arrayed itself especially to absorb Verdi’s Wolken Beschattet in G that was garishly sung by the Japanese soprano, Haruko Nagakubo. Any other singer would have handled it less dramatically, taking into consideration the mood of the small audience. However, Mendelssohn’s Elijah was well in line being less obtruse. They were the two sacred compositions for the evening with Bridget Halpe at the piano.

It unfolded appropriately in the presence of Rev. Malinda de Mel, Chaplain of St. Paul’s Church, Kynsey Road, who waited patiently until the last note was played. Concertaid XIV was a simple presentation, not highly professional but not without its flavour or some Classicism in several of the items presented this evening. It was the day of the youth, by the youth and for the youth, also for the young and not so young. As usual, Halpé was at the piano, supporting the celloist, Sasnga Cooray who was the guest artiste for the evening and Jata Richards.

I picked the senior choir of the Peradeniya Singers whose beautiful choral blending and rendering, were sensitive and gentle in unison. Ave Maria by Guilio Caccani arranged for sextet was flawless by the six girls. They hardly needed a musical backing.

Solo

Trained and nurtured by Halpé, baritone, Harin Deekshan Amirthanatna singing solo lifted the spirits for the evening in Felix Mendelssohn’s Elijah. He was near brilliant and all the voice controlling he did, simply fell on flat ears because of the poor sound system that prevailed. From high pitch to low toning with a mike in his hand, would have made the difference otherwise. When singing a classic when the audience to pick every note, it becomes a success to the singer. However, he delighted the audience and one could see him on his way to the top.

Elijah oratario written in 1846, Mendeloohn was at his peak profound; the music has an overwhelming bumanity i.e, ‘O Rest in the Lord, ‘If with all your Hearts and ‘It is enough’ are among its fine areas. It also has a dramatic force and trust, at double chorus, ‘Baal we cry to thee’. Elijah is still a mystique score for me even after it being played and rendered by the BBC Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall.

I am more familiar with some of his scores such as A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ Op. 21 and 61, the incidental music to Shakespeare’s play. The famous overture was written when Mendelssohn was only seventeen, is a miracle for the work of a boy. He was already in his mature style with its ‘light, aerial, fairy reaches. Even the exports could not spot the joint between this and remaining parts on this incidental music.

Fitting enough of a composition to be performed in a church or at an induction of a spiritual leader, it touches the hearts of all those who sing, play and hear it. Elijah was a power of force and an inspiration to the composer who went from strength to strength in his composing. Mendelssohn visited Birmingham for its triumphant premier in August 1846 before returning to Leipzig followed by another visit to England in the spring of 1847 when he played Elijah again for Queen Victoria who was his long-time fervent admirer.

Mozart – La Vandetta, yet another on boards tonight that needs little introduction. His writing for voice has been rarely matched with his particular ability of each singer, writing not to show off the vocal chords but practise until it means the form of expression found within the score. I read somewhere that Maria Callas had stated she found it very comfortable singing Mozart and felt that he had written for her own voice. Pity the guy did not live to hear it. If Amirthanathan bears this in mind, he can improve his quality and knows where he is heading and with a teacher like Briget Halpe the possibility is there.

Memorable

All the youngsters did their best and in all, it was a memorable evening. I will be in wanting if I failed to make three quotations from the Holy Bible’s Old Testament that were to be read the next morning which was Trinity XVIII Sunday, that drew my attention, noticed on a pillar and being a devout Anglican, I found them redeeming.

First Reading (page-496) When autumn came that year, the Syrian army attacked Judha and Jerusalem, killed all the leaders, and took large amount of loot back to Damascus. The Syrian army was small but the Lord made them defeat the large number of Judean army because the people had abandoned him; the Lord God of their ancestors. In this way King Josh was punished. He was severely wounded and when the enemy drew two of their officials plotted against him and killed him in his bed to avenge the murder of their son of Johoiada the priest.

He was buried in David’s City but not in the Royal Tomb. Those who plotted against him was Zabad, the son of Ammonite, a woman named Shimeath. Epistle (page 1192) ‘If you love me you will obey my commandments. I will as the Father and He will give you another Helper who will stay with you forever. He is the Spirit who will reveal the truth about God. The world cannot receive him. But you know him because he remains with you and is in you.

‘When I go you will not be left alone. I will come back to you. In a little while the world will see me no more but you will see me because I live, you also will live. When that day comes you will know that I am in my father and that you are in me, just as I am in you.

‘Those who accept my commandments and obey them are those who love me. I too will love them and reveal myself to them’ ...

Great city

Gospel (page 1007) Again the Lord spoke to Jonah. He said ‘Go to Ninevah, the great city and proclaim to the people the message I have given you. So, Jonah obeyed the Lord and went to Ninevah, a city so large and took three days to walk through it.

Jonah started through the city and after walking a whole day, he proclaimed ‘in Forty days Nenevah will be destroyed.

The people of Ninevah believed God’s message. So they decided that everyone should fast, all the people from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth to show that they had repented.

When the King of Ninevah heard about it, he got up from his throne took off his robe, put on a sack cloth and sat down in ashes. ‘This is an order from the king and his officials.