Shehara's solo endeavour:

Simply sensational

by Mahes Perera

Sure she belonged to the fast-food generation but she proved to the traditionally minded purists that she can sing a variety of songs - be it classical, pop jazz soul, Sinhala and gospel with perfection that made you sit upright in your chair and wonder why she has been in the wings, hesitant to capture the spotlight, all these days?

Shehara Liyanage was sensational as a solo singer and her 'Musically Yours' concert left you, to use a cliché, wanting to hear more. One hopes this will not be the beginning and the end. True we've heard her with the Merry Ann Singers, with Soul Sounds and at the Broadway musicals that unfolded at the Lionel Wendt Theatre.

But her concert at the Park Street Mews was a different kettle of fish.

She commenced with Caccini's Ave Maria and sailed through, hitting the notes with perfection and followed it up with Puccini's O Mio Babbino Caro. Her versatility and phrasing was impeccable. And as Mary Ann David said after the concert "She was excellent". There was no doubt about it.

Somewhere Over The Rainbow saw a wonderful change in mood. Shehara took the audience on an esoteric flight, a dedication to her mother and to Danu's mother.

The jazz vibes in Shehara were emotionally expressed when she sang The Glory of Love with Mary Ann David, who sat in at the piano for this particular number, and brought out the best of the jazz beat from Shehara. There were other songs from this era - My Funny Valentine, Try A Little Tenderness, Paper Moon all of which showcased Shehara's superiority in handling these songs. Shehara's duet with Dinushka Jayawickrema when they sang Ennio Morrione's Nella Fantasia was a good break in mood and tempo before Shehara swung into the Whitney Houston songs Didn't We Almost Have It All/Where Do Broken Hearts Go and showed the audience how comfortable she was singing these songs, away from the classical idiom.

Another highlight was the acapella singing of Somewhere with her two sisters who were well talented, but Shehara had the edge over them.

Sunil Santha's and Nimal Mendis' Olu Pipila/Nim Him Sewwa in medley form, was a good choice.

There were others like Moondance, Ben/Music and Me and' Don't Rain On My Parade and the 'Power of Love'.

Shehara was comfortable in putting the songs across, giving each song the correct emotional expression, which proved her inborn talent that blossomed under the training from Mary Ann David. On familiar grounds with the Merry Ann Singers and Soul Sounds was the selection of Oh Happy Day and the Christmas medleys.

The standing ovation was well deserved.