Kishani sings for displaced children
by Lisa Blake
Sri Lanka's very own golden voiced soprano, Kishani Jayasinghe will
take centre stage after four years in Colombo on January 9 2014 at the
Lionel Wendt Theatre when she sings for the Displaced Children of Sri
Lanka.
Her last performance at home in 2009 held local audiences spell bound
at the sold out charity concert organised by the Sunera Foundation in
aid of Differently Abled Children. "I have been incredibly blessed in my
life, especially having had an extremely loving, supportive and blessed
childhood.
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Kishani Jayasinghe |
This is why I always try to do something to help children who are
less fortunate using my own talents and gifts. To be able to make an
actual difference in a young life is an extraordinary thing and it
enables me in some small way to give something back at home" says
Kishani who endeavours to support charitable causes related to children
as often as possible in her homeland of Sri Lanka.
I have had the pleasure of following Kishani's exciting career
develop and blossom whilst she was still a student at the Royal Academy
and then as a Young Artist at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden.
What started out as an extraordinary talent and natural affinity for
the stage has developed into beautifully crafted artistry with a true
gift for performance and a natural sensitivity that captures even the
most seasoned connoisseur of music. Each performance of this rich, honey
and copper hued soprano voice is truly a treat for the ears and eyes. To
quote Rupert Christiansen of the Daily Telegraph on Kishani UK: There's
a gorgeous voice in embryo here, charged with the crushed velvet,
vintage port and Jersey creaminess of the young Kiri Te Kanawa". I most
recently witnessed her vocal prowess as the Soprano soloist in Verdi's
Requiem in the UK. As one reviewer commented, "young soprano Kishani
Jayasinghe confirmed previous judgements, and indeed exceeded all
expectations.
In the final Libera Me she had that blend of power, beauty and range
without which Verdi ultimately fails: hers was a performance to
treasure."
Upon completing her tenure as a Jette Parker Young Artist at the
Royal Opera House, Kishani has spread her wings from Europe to America
and is currently venturing into Asia. She made her European debut in
John Corigliano's Ghosts of Versailles at the Wexford International
Opera Festival as Rosina.
A role premiered by one of Kishani's "all time favourite sopranos",
celebrated lyric soprano Renee Fleming. Soon after that Kishani had the
opportunity to sing the much loved and coveted role of Mimi in Puccini's
La Boheme at the Opera House in Verona. She has gone on to sing the role
with Glyndebourne Touring Opera and is set to return there next Season
to sing Verdi's tragic heroine Violetta in La Traviata.
In addition to the romantic and lush repertoire of Puccini and Verdi,
Kishani also has great love for Mozart's heroines. She sang her first
Countess in the Marriage of Figaro in a traditional John Cox production
with Garsington Opera and made her American debut as Donna Elvira in Don
Giovanni with the Opera Theatre of St. Louise.
"There's a gorgeous
voice in embryo
here, charged with
the crushed velvet,
vintage port and
Jersey creaminess
of the young Kiri Te
Kanawa"
Rupert Christiansen,
Daily Telegraph UK
Since her performance for Prince Charles' 60th birthday celebrations
at Buckingham Palace, she has been presented to Queen Elizabeth II at St
James Palace as a Commonwealth Representative for the Arts. A fitting
choice, having been a South Asian pioneer in this field.
Evident also in Kishani being adjudged Asian Woman of Achievement for
Art and Culture in the UK; Zonta Woman of Achievement for the Creative
and Performing Arts; Associate Award recipient from the Royal Academy of
Music in London; Alumni Laureate Award winner from the University of
Nottingham UK and Platinum Award Winner for the Performing Arts from her
alma mater, Visakha Vidyalaya. She has won International Vocal
Competitions in Italy, Spain, Finland, Turkey, Holland and France and
was the only South Asian representative throughout.
It is always a pleasure to interview young artists at the beginning
of their careers and watch with anticipation how things unfold. Nothing
in life is certain, and life as a performing artiste knows no certainty
except that every performance has to be your best performance.
Great artistry is a combination of countless hours of tireless work
honing and perfecting a skill which keeps growing and changing as the
artist does; of being able to deliver the same brilliance and beauty
with every appearance; it means having nerves of steel to have nothing
but your voice between yourself and few thousand eyes and ears and
having the nobility of spirit, strength of heart and true courage to
bare your soul through your singing.
It is a rare occurrence to see all these factors combine so
seamlessly and mature so gracefully in a young artist and yet in Kishani
Jayasinghe it has all come to fruition so deliciously that her concert
for the Displaced Children of Sri Lanka is bound to be a veritable
feast.
The writer is a freelance writer and classical music enthusiast, UK.
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