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| Sunday, 24 March 2002 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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A nightingale in concert
Deservedly respected as a star singer with a mellifluous voice who knows how to sculpt the lyrics and melodies of the songs she sings, Neela Wickremasinghe will give a solo concert on Saturday March 30 at the BMICH. Simple in nature, Neela takes her success in her stride. "At the concert we will be acknowledging the contribution to the music industry by four artistes from the 50s and 60s by honouring them. This concert is in aid of a new organisation called 'The Mother' which was opened recently to help poor children.' The date is an auspicious one for her. She tells us, its her birth date and quite naturally all her many fans will be with her on that day to wish her success in her remarkable music career. The solo concert entitled 'Master Sir' will see her perform many of the songs associated with her, including some of her own compositions. "I have invited Pandit Dr. W.D. Amaradeva to sing a duet with me at the concert. The other singers will be Sanath Nandasiri, Victor Ratnayake, Rukantha Goonetilleke, Kapila Herath and Kamal Addararachchi," reveals Neela. An A Grade artiste of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, Neela Wickremasinghe turned professional at the tender age of nine years when she sang for many Sinhala music programs broadcast on SLBC. Her musical roots were nurtured by the SLBC oriental Orchestra and it is fitting therefore that at her solo concert on March 30 she will be performing with the Orchestra. Today she is a leading light on the Sri Lankan musical scene with her captivating 'golden' voice. With many audio cassettes and CD's behind her Neela is a much sought after singer on concert stages abroad. She has performed countless concerts in Australia, States, Canada,
Singapore, India, France, Italy and the Middle East, giving Sri Lankans
abroad many opportunities to appreciate the sophisticated elegance of her
voice. Two days more for the concert Music lovers young and old will have the once-in-a-lifetime experience of enjoying the distinctive talent of the world famous Vienna Boys Choir when they perform in Sri Lanka in three days time. This exclusive choir which had its beginnings in 1498, according to historians, will give their first concert at St. Theresa's Church, Thimbirigasyaya at 1.30 pm on Wednesday March 27 in a program of sacred music and will be in concert again at 8 pm at the Hilton Colombo. The organising committee has also arranged a special concert for school children on Thursday March 28 at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium. All proceeds according to the committee will go towards the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for children and other charities. Speaking to the Sunday Observer, Hasinee Andree Vice President of the Vienna Boys Choir Organising Committee live in Sri Lanka said she was extremely happy with the response from our music lovers and the concerts are now sold out. "This is the second time The Vienna Boys Choir will be in Sri Lanka. The last time around was in the early 50's when the impressario Donovan Andree brought them down for a concert performance. "It all began to happen when Paul Mueller the President of the Organising Committee walked up to me one day and surprised me by announcing that he was getting them down for a concert! From then on it was like action stations. We formed the Committee comprising Paul his wife Jessie, myself and nineteen year old Metin Kabay, the head boy of the College of World Education." At the first concert in the early 50's tickets were priced at Rs. 650 and today in comparison at Rs. 2,500 for the public and Rs. 450 and Rs. 650 for schools, the price is reasonable since it is all for a worthy cause. On behalf of our committee I wish to thank the Sri Lanka Tourist board, the Hilton Colombo, Singer, Suntel, Belucci, Bank of Ceylon, SLBC, Rupavahini, Channel Eye, Sunday Observer and Daily News for moving in and helping us to make these concerts a reality." For the 27 choristers who will be performing in Sri Lanka this would be
a new experience." For the first time in their career the Vienna Boys
Choir will be performing two concerts in one day and to music lovers in
Sri Lanka the knowledge that choristers Schubert, the brothers Haydn and
even Mozart and Bruckner have all been a part of the Vienna Boys Choir
makes it all the more interesting. Swearing upon one's mother We are not supposed to swear. Neither the English nor the Sinhalese are supposed to swear because the words used in swearing are very offensive or shocking to others. However, the Sinhalese do use swear words and phrases in certain contexts either to offend others or to prove that they are right. An Englishman may also swear by God that he is telling the truth and nothing by the truth. To swear, the Sinhalese use phrases in which they mention people and things that are held by them in high esteem. For the Sinhalese one of the people they hold in high esteem is the mother (amma). So they say 'amma palla' (upon my mother) when they want others to believe that they are saying the truth. However, they are also scared that this might bring about adverse results, specially when they know very well that they are not telling the truth. So they resort to mislead the listener by pretending to swear by the mother by saying, not 'amma palla' but a modified version of it such as 'ammapa' 'ampalla'. The Sinhalese use the phrase 'ammapa' not only when they swear but also when they express surprise or shock. "Salaries have been increased!" says one 'Ammapa!" shouts another in utter disbelief. An Englishman, in a similar context, would say "Tell me
another!" or "You must be joking!" Words like 'ammapa' are
considered taboo and young ones are not encouraged to use them. Boltan the Lion comes to town The Goethe Institut Inter Nationes and the Sunera Foundation in association with the Galadari Hotel presents 'A friend for 'Boltan the Lion', in the children Theatre series. Based on the children's book of the same title by Klaus Kordon and Pieter Kunstreich, the story is a musical adventure about a difficult but not impossible friendship between a lion and a camel. The performance is by Erik Schaeffler and Uwe Schade and will be held on two days March 27 at 6.30 pm and March 28 at 10.30 am at the Russian Cultural Centre. Since all proceeds are in aid of children in need via Sunera Foundation. tickets are priced at Rs. 20, (more if you can afford) with free seating on a first come first in basis. |
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