entertainment

Kobayashi conducts SOSL

by Mahes PERERA

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Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony in C Minor one of the greatest masterpieces will be performed by the Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka at its Premieres Concert at Ladies College Hall on October 18 at 7.00 p.m. The Tokyo born Keiko Kobayashi is the guest conductor at SOSL’s performance. She graduated from the University of Yamanashi and has a Masters degree in conducting from the Senzoku Gakuen College of Music in Tokyo.

She was also the winner in 2007 of the First Prize at the Mid Europe International Conducting Master Class. She has studied under Seiji Ozawa and has conducted many orchestras in Japan and Europe. Keiko Kobayashi played a major role in embellishing the performance standard of SOSL for the Tokyo concert. The programme on October 18 will also include Mozart’s Concerto for Flute and Harp with guest soloists Mayumi Mori, harp and Kimihiko Akiyama, flute. The orchestra will also perform Yuzo Toyama’s Rhapsody for Orchestra.

The Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka is the only organization in the country that gives regular performances of classical music. The orchestra which celebrated its 50th seeason last year is now gaining international recognition. Apart from its performance in Tokyo last year on the invitation of the ‘Association of Japanese Symphony Associations,’ the SOSL also performed to a highly appreciative audience in the opera ‘Pearl Fishers’ by Bizet, produced by the Neemrana Foundation New Delhi in January this year under the baton of the French conductor Benjamin Levy.

The only symphonic orchestra in the entire sub continent to perform classical music on a regular basis, SOSL reaches out to the youth of our country and invites thirty to forty school children to each of its concerts.

The SOSL focusses on performing works of Sri Lankan composers and to providing training and a platform for performance, for outstanding young Sri Lankan talent.

Namal Mitak - a debut CD success

by Mahes PERERA

Siri Sangabodhi with the group Bathiya & Santush triggered off a successful professional music career for Randhir who launched his debut album Namal Mitak at the Goethe Institut on September 23. Randhir pulled out all stops to make the launch an entertaining one what with performances and a fellowship that was extravagant.

Labelled as Sri Lanka’s “Hip Hop heart throb” his album was named after his first popular Sinhala hit Namal Mitak which hit a right note with the youth, what with his smooth sensuous singing voice and his stunning vocal range.

The album contains fourteen songs - there are twelve Sinhala ones and two English ones. At present his current hits are also on the album.

Besides the title track Namal Mitak, there’s a remix of the Gypsies hit Ojaye (The remix done by Randhir with the blessings of Sunil Perera) Upuli, Kelilol Balmen and songs of R & B influence hip hop anthems, and soul ballads.

“Namal Mitak was released through Universal Music/M Entertainment and produced by the legendary Bathiya & Santhush and co-produced by Sri Shyamalangam, the much sought after music maestro. The album also features the music creativity of Navarathna Gamage and young Sachith Peiris.

As for the lyrics they were by Kelum Srimal, Nilar N. Casim, Vasantha Dukgannarala and Upul Shantha Sannasgala.

I’ve featured some guest artistes Bathiya & Santhush, Umara, Krishan Maheson and Orry Athugiriya who is Germany based” comments Randhir, who works as an award winning music video director for one of Sri Lanka’s most creative production houses Saregama Productions.

To jog your memory Randhir was also featured on Neththara and Res Vihidhena Samanaliyak with Bathiya and Santhush and on Alawanthiyak with Ashanthi.His appearance at Germany’s C/O POP 2008 Festival in Cologne he says opened his eyes to the inner workings of the international music industry, and he was quite taken aback by the interested response he had when he performed a couple of tracks from his Namal Mitak album.

Currently on a concert tour in Canada and the States with Bathiya & Santhush, Ashanthi and Umara, Randhir when the group returns will be gearing himself for some shows.

His demeanour is quiet and soft spoken but once he steps on the stage the fire within him alights which draws his fans towards him, like moths to a flame.

Karaoke finalists

A Karaoke competition was held by the Sri Lanka Exhibition and Convention Centre for the first time. More than one hundred competitors vied for the top slots. Besides a panel of judges gave 75% of the points the balance 25% was through votes on the final day of the event. In the open category the winner was Dilshard Fernando who carried off Rs. 50,000 cash. Chrishan de Silva was the first runner-up who won Rs. 30,000 cash; while Ajith Perera the second runner up won Rs. 20,000 cash. In the junior category the winner was Erandi Thakshila with Romain Maladeniya as the first runner up and Kadeeja Mansoor was the second runner up. The popular titles were awarded to Dilshard Fernando and Sandarine Philicocq.

Memorable entertainment

One of Clifford Richards long nursed dream became a reality when he staged his solo concert at Kings Court Trans Asia recently and today this entertaining concert was launched on DVD for your pleasure. Clifford’s name is constantly tossed around in entertainment circles as he is an acknowledged compere, singer, Radio and TV presenter and if you didn’t know it he plays saxophone as well which he did at the concert. Musical backing was by Super Pink ‘N Purple. A total of twenty six songs were sung by Clifford and you are sure to find a selection of your favourites in the programme. He sang an appealing duet with his little daughter Jacinta in But You Love Me Daddy. Then of course there are the duets with Mariazelle in Heartaches By The Number, Something About You Baby I Like, Something Stupid to name a few. There were Sinhala songs as well like Neela Desa, Nonagey Aale, Kolampurey Sriya. Super Pink ‘N Purple performed Have You Ever Seen The Rain and Save The Last Dance. The concert was memorable and full of audience inter action. Experience it.

Golden Ball 2008

The Old Boy’s Association of D. S. Senanayaka College will hold their annual dinner dance the Golden Ball on October 17 at the Colombo Hilton.

The bands performing at the event will be Gypsies and Heat. All proceeds are in aid of the development of the College.