Cultural DIARY

2011 Skywards Future Artists' Competition

Emirates Airline launches the Skywards Future Artists Competition 2011 to find the world's most exciting budding artists. The winning artwork will be displayed on the Skywards 2012 membership cards, Emirates award-winning frequent flyer programme.

As part of its initiative to support the arts, Skywards is searching for emerging artists; whether a young art student just entering the field or an experienced artist who has never exhibited their work, Skywards wants to give artists worldwide the opportunity to showcase their work.

The competition is open to all artists, regardless of medium: sculpture, photography and paintings are welcome. Three winning entries will be chosen and the image of the selected artwork will be used on the Skywards membership cards in 2012, as well as in all supporting online and offline communications and promotional material. Each artist's name will be displayed alongside their winning artwork.

'3-5-0 Concerts'

Under the baton of conductor Reinhard Seehafer, the Europa Philharmonic will perform two live concert in the series "3-5-0 Concerts" at the, Mount Lavinia on Monday, July 18 and Tuesday, July 19 at 7.30 p.m. This first time concert is presented by the German Cultural Institute in association with the Mount Lavinia Hotel.

Under the motto "Music for a better place", the Europa Philharmonic rises to meet the challenges of the 21st century with "sounds of tradition, filled with life raising questions of cultural sustainability and enriching the present and the future for posterity".

The programme will include:

Vivaldi's - The Four Seasons

Johann Pachelbel - Canon in Gigue in D Major

Leroy Anderson - Three Pieces for Strings - Fiddle Faddle/Forgotten Dreams/The Typewriter

Solo Violin will be by Sandor Javorkai

The Europa Philharmonic in 2002 played guest performances in Shanghai, Beijing and five other cities in China in honour of the 30th anniversary of the diplomatic relationship between the Federal Republic of Germany and the People's Republic of China. The orchestra has performed in Sana'a Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Oman and Antalya. In Antalya the Orchestra was awarded a prize for their work in inter-cultural understanding.

Fête de la Musique

On June 22 more than 1200 people shared their passion for music by celebrating the 30th edition of the Fête de la Musique at the BMICH.

Thanks to the support of the Sri Lankan Ministry of Cultural Affairs and of the BMICH, of YES FM, of the Embassy of France and of the French companies ALCATEL and ALSTOM, the Alliance Française de Kotte could organize an event bringing together 50 musicians from Sri Lanka, France, Canada and Australia.

The Colombo public could participate in 7 hours of concerts and vibrate to plural music from both worlds: The audience was deeply moved by the tradition as it was revisited by the students of the University of Kelaniya and the Ravibandhu Vidiyapathi Ensemble, seduced by the rich and original project proposed by Jazzed out and literally shaken and energized by the amazing Sri Lankan rock of Stigmata.

Hindustani vocal music recital

Hindustani vocal recital by Palinda Udawela Arachchi will be held on July 15 at ICC Auditorium at 16/2 Gregory's Road, Colombo 07. Palinda is accompanied on the tabla by Visharad B. Isuru Tharaka Perera , on the violin by P.A Amila Madusanka, on harmonium by Visharad Nalin Ginendra Alwise.

Sri Geeth- Talat Mahmood commemorative concert

Sri Geeth-Talat Mahmood commemorative concert will be held on July 16 at 6.00 p.m. at Elphinston theatre.

Talat Mahmood - 1924 - 1998) was a popular Indian playback singer and film actor. A recipient of the Padma Bhushan in 1992, he was famous for singing ghazals. For this quality he was known as the King of ghazals. Talat Mahmood was born in Lucknow, India, to Manzoor Mahmood. Talat showed his musical leanings from a very young age and would enjoy sitting through all-night music soirees listening patiently to some of the biggest names in classical Indian music then.

Sri Geeth Hindi song concert with a song competition was held for the first time in 2005 at the auditorium of Basilica College in Ragama where Sujatha Attanayake distributed certificate for the winner. The concert marked a milestone in Sri Lankan music scene.

A significant feature of each concert is to felicitate artist, introducing oldies. At the Sri Geeth concert held on June18 at K.C.P Theatre in Kadawata, veteran artist M.M.K Hack who was very popular in the 1970s participated.

Bhumika

Shyam Benegal's film Bhumika with English subtitles will be screened on July 12 at Indian Cultural Centre, Colombo 7 on July 12.