Arts
 

Fusion of excellence

Thibault Cauvin in concert with Pradeep Ratnayake:

by Ranga Chandrarathne

It was not a mere meeting of great talents from the two traditions of music, classical Eastern traditional and the Western classical guitar but also of two personalities who have revolutionized their respective fields.

The concert consisted Pradeep's usual creations such as wind and sooth. However, the most intriguing piece that Pradeep Ratnayake and Thibault played was a composition by Italian composer Dominico Scarlatti who belonged to the Baroque period. Pradeep also played an oriental piece which was also enthralling as it was a unique fashion of two instruments; guitar and Sitar in a most unprecedented way.

One of the unique characteristics of the show was that both musicians are trying to redefine the traditional roles of the instruments they play; sitar and guitar. Pradeep's journey in asserting a Sri Lankan flavour and identity to the Sitar has been acclaimed internationally. Though he has been nourished by diverse traditions, Pradeep has also incorporated Sri Lankan original melodies into his compositions.

His first performance was at the age of ten at the National Museum Auditorium in Sri Lanka. His most famous concert Pradeepanjalee was held at prestigious concert venues including the Kennedy Centre Millennium Stage and at the Walt Disney Theatre.

Thibault Cauvin was born July 16th, 1984 in Bordeaux. Since the age of six years, he has dedicated himself to the study of classical guitar, under the direction of his father, the guitarist and composer, Philippe Cauvin.

Thibault has long begun a career as a concert soloist. He has furthered this goal by continuing his studies under Olivier Chassain at the National Conservatory of Bordeaux. There he earned the golden medal with the highest honours and he was awarded the Medal of Honour of the City of Bordeaux, with distinction.

At the age of 17, he received the highest ranking in the entrance competition to the Superior National Conservatory in Paris where he is still studying. He improves also with Alvaro Pierri and Judical Perroy and he has master classes with Aniello Desiderio, Eduardo Isaac, Pavel Steidl, Roberto Aussel, Alex Garrob,, Thomas Muller-Pering...

In 2001, Thibault Cauvin played with the Orchestra of the conservatory of Bordeaux and in 2002 toured with the Bernard Thomas' Orchestra of Paris in Portugal, Antilles Island and France. In 2003 he received "le prix des arts" of Rotary club of Bordeaux.

He won a lot of prizes among the 1st prize at the prestigious Sotsenberg guitar competition in Los Angeles. And behind his first prize at the "Concours International de guitare Alexandre Lagoya" he received the "Prize of the Dominica Island" during a concert in the Dominica which was diffused in live by the Caribbean TV in the English Antilles.

In January 2004, he went to the United States for a concert tour, one of them, in Los Angeles, has been diffused by the National Public Radio. Then in February, he gave a concert in Radio France, Paris, diffused and recorded for realizing a live CD in the "D,clic" collection.

At 20 years of age, Thibault is the only frenchman to have won eleven international competitions. He gave many concerts in prestigious halls and festivals in Europe (Radio France, Paris; Royal Festival hall, London; Festival Andres Segovia, Madrid; Bonner Meisterkonzerte, Bonn...), America, Canada, Turkey (International Ankara Music Festival, Ankara; Aksanat Taksim, Istanbul), Marocco (Festival des Cordes Pinc,es, Rabat...) Australia and has a promising future ahead of him.

French guitarist Thibault Cauvin captured the 1st prize in the 2004 San Francisco International Classical Guitar Competition. The only guitar competition of its kind in the world, the San Francisco event invites only those players who have placed first in one or more major international competitions during the past two years.

A sold out audience at the California Palace of the Legion of Honour watched on November 20th, as all four finalists performed exquisitely and caused the judges to declare a tie for 2nd place between Marcin Dylla of Poland and Flavio Sala of Italy. 3rd place went to Anabel Montesinos of Spain and 4th place was eliminated.

As the victor, Thibault Cauvin will return to San Francisco during the 2005-2006 concert seasons as the Omni Foundation for the Performing Arts Artist-In-Residence, performing in schools and businesses throughout the area. He was also awarded a recording contract with GSP Records. $16,500 in prize money was distributed to the performers.

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'The Last Two Minutes' at Bishop's

'The Last Two Minutes', the latest drama by the Suneral Foundation will go onboard at Bishop's College Auditorium at 7.30 p.m. on May 29 and May 30.

The drama will also be staged in Debarawewa Central College at 2.30 p.m. and 6.30 p.m. on May 26 and in Galle Town Hall at 2.30 p.m. and 6.30 p.m. on May 27 prior to its Colombo show. Tickets will be available at the performance venues.

'The Last Two Minutes' has been directed by Kalasuri Rohana Deva Perera and choreographed by Ramani Damayanthi. Music is by Janaka Fonseka. 'The Last Two Minutes' thrilled audiences at the Biennale of Theatre and Psychiatry in Northern Italy last year, where it won a Special Jury Award.

The present cast includes some members of Sunera's performing arts workshops for those who have been traumatized by the Tsunami.

In its Tsunami Theatre Outreach project (T-TOP) which functions in six Districts, Sunera utilizes the performing arts to provide a therapeutic benefit to hundreds of children who were traumatized by the 2004 Tsunami.

The project is funded by Deutsche Bank, Global Fund for Children, East-West Centre Hawaii, American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, The Force of Nature Foundation and Siege Social Jules.

(RC)

There's no business like show business

Being part of a show, Rally Round 2007, is an event that has manifold advantages, the least of which is the discipline and team work that you experience by working along with 275 other children from all sections of the college.

"No doubt the children of this show spent many hours on strenuous training but these serious hours were liberally doused with delightfully funny moments, and many stolen instances of frolic which all helped make it a totally rewarding experience for all from the KG singers to the Coll formers.

As Director, I have watched children being transformed from quivering KGer's in a paralytic state of stage fright, to bold and creative players, whose exuberance has sometimes been hard to contain. Such is the experience that Rally Round has offered them", said Vinod Senadeera.

'Rally Round 2007' is a presentation of a careful selection of material from Walt Disney, TV, Film and Broadway with particular attention to lyrics and music which is both appealing and exciting for the different ages.

Music, and drama are an essential component of college life and exposure to music from the diverse world of entertainment will hopefully create a curiosity in the young singers to discover the wonders of the world of theatre, that is out there waiting to be savoured.

Here's wishing that this show will be for you a true Thomian experience.

(RC)

'Guru Nandana Upaharaya'

Felicitating Nandana Balasuriya:

A teacher, dancer and artiste Nandana Balasuriya will be felicitated in a special performance titled 'Guru Nandana Upaharaya' presented by Lak Uruma Arts Foundation on May 20, 2007 at John de Silva Memorial Theatre.

During 1960s, Nandana conducted a dancing class organised by the Soviet Drawing Society. The students who attended the class were fortunate to receive an overall training from Nandana Balasuriya who taught them every aspects of 'Kohomba Kankariya', an important segment of the up country traditional dance.

He had been a teacher of dancing at D. S. Senanayake College. During his time, the college dancing troupe won the first place at All Island Dancing and Ballet competition.

He was also instrumental in conducting 'Nandana Prasanga', a public performance held annually to introduce his students to mainstream theatre. He is also credited with producing over 15 ballets and many other dramas.

Nandana Balasuriya holds a degree in Performing Arts and dedicated his life in imparting knowledge to a generation of youngsters. He was the driving force behind most of the veterans in the field of performing arts in Sri Lanka. All the professional dancers featured in the performance were introduced to the field by Nandana Balasuriya.

(R.C.)