Tanya Ekanayake soloist with SOSL

by Mahes Perera

The Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka moves centre stage with a long awaited concert on November 10 at the Ladies’ College Hall. The concert will feature one of Sri Lanka's most distinguished classically trained pianists Dr. Tanya Ekanayake who will perform Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor with the Orchestra.

The program for the evening will include Strauss’ Overture to Die Fledermaus Op 362, Massanet's Suite No. 4 for Orchestra ‘Scenes from Pittoresque’ and a new work by the Japanese composer Keiko Eiji Suzuki. The orchestra will be conducted by Keiko Kobayashi, no stranger to Sri Lanka. Dr. Tanya Ekanayake currently on the staff of Edinburgh University in Scotland has been teaching in the Departments of Linguistics and Music since 2007. She began studying the piano when she was just five years old, made her debut public recital appearance at the age of twelve and has since performed widely as a soloist, accompanist and in ensembles internationally and in Sri Lanka.

In Sri Lanka she studied the piano under her mother and later under Bridget Halpe. Two years ago, Tanya was invited to give a solo piano recital in the ‘Pianists of the World’ series at London's St. Martin-in-the Field, a renowned recital venue founded by the legendary Dame Myra Hess. She completed her recital with the world premiere of her composition ‘Adahas: of Wings of Roots’, the first work by a Sri Lankan composer to be performed at this venue. This year Tanya Ekanayake performed a solo recital at the John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts in Washington DC, and followed this performance with a concert at the Asia Society Concert Hall in New York.

At her Kennedy Centre debut Tanya performed two of her compositions ‘Dhaivaya: Alter(ing) Hue and Labyrinth: Vannam Lent. Tanya was invited to give another piano solo recital at London's Martin-in-the-Fields and she will be returning for her performance which will be on November 14. Keiko Eiji Suzuki whose composition will be performed by the SOSL will be in Sri Lanka for the concert.

A popular composer in Japan, Eiji has composed music for ceremonial and national events. He gives lectures on a regular basis, judges competitions, plans CDs and writes for magazines as well. His compositions have been released and published nationally and internationally.

Ballet on the move

Ballet in Sri Lanka which is making a steady progress, is kept alive by some young ballerinas on the go who are determined to take it to the top and pursue it in the ensuing years and make an impact on the international stage.

But now, they have to strive hard and the few schools of ballet are dedicated to make this dream come true. It is left for the girls to take up the challenge.

Among the few ballerinas are Anika Amalean, Sumaya Ramanayake and Karin Wijeratne from the Deanna School of Dancing who will be facing the new syllabus of the Royal Academy, London's examinations set for the first week of November. These three girls are all academics from foreign universities who are following ballet professionally. Princess

Bhadraji launches audio novel

An award-winning novelist and writer of nearly 40 original novels, mainly in Sinhala and English, including two Tamil translations to his credit Bhadraji Mahinda Jayathilaka launched his first audio novel Kulageyin Kulageyata recently in Colombo. It is distributed by Sarasavi Publishers, Nugegoda.

Dredd at Savoy

Dredd, a 2012 science fiction action film directed by Pete Travis, written and produced by Alex Garland will be screened at the Savoy 3D Cinema, Wellawatte from November 1. The British production is based on the 2000 AD comic strip Judge Dredd and its eponymous character created by John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra. Karl Urban stars as Judge Dredd, a law enforcer given the power of judge, jury and executioner in the vast dystopian metropolis of Mega-City One that lies within a post-apocalyptic wasteland.

Alongside rookie Judge Anderson (Olivia Thirlby), Dredd is forced to bring order to a feared 200-storey slum and its resident drug lord, Ma-Ma (Lena Headey).

The future United States is an irradiated wasteland known as the Cursed Earth. On the east coast of North America lies Mega-City One, a vast, violent metropolis containing 800 million residents where 17,000 crimes are reported daily and “Slo-Mo”, an addictive new drug that slows the user's perception of time to 1 percent of normal, has been introduced. The only force of order are the Judges, who act as judge, jury and executioner. Judge Dredd is tasked by the Chief Judge with evaluating rookie Judge Anderson, a psychic who has failed the tests to become a full Judge. Elsewhere, in the 200-storey slum tower block Peach Trees, drug lord Madeline Madrigal, known as Ma-Ma, infuses three men with Slo-Mo and throws their skinned bodies from the top of the tower.

Dredd and Anderson respond and learn of a drug den, which they assault.They arrest Kay, one of Ma-Ma's henchmen, after Anderson psychically detects his involvement in the murders. To prevent Kay being removed from the building and interrogated about her operation, Ma-Ma's forces seize the tower's security control room and seal the building using its blast shields under the pretense of a security test, preventing the Judges from leaving or summoning help. Ma-Ma orders Dredd's and Anderson's deaths. Several groups of armed men unsuccessfully try to kill the pair as the Judges proceed through the building with Kay to find safety. After arriving at one floor, the Judges are assaulted by Ma-Ma and her men using Gatling guns that cut through the building's concrete walls and residents. The gunfire damages one of the tower's outer walls, allowing the Judges to call for backup. Ma-Ma sends her right-hand man Caleb to confirm the Judges’ deaths. Dredd throws Caleb from the tower in full view of Ma-Ma.

'Soul Beat', Mueen Saheed's maiden art exhibition

Mueen Saheed's work is mostly based on abstract art and he uses a lot of vibrant hues in his drawings. They are a reflection of energy, freedom and inner peace. They represent a spontaneous expression, flowing freely from the collection of memories from his travels all over the world. Each piece is infused with the rhythm of music which navigates him from the first to the last stroke. His wealth of experience in the gem and jewellery trade has given him a kaleidoscope of ideas and spectrum of colours through which he creates these beautiful pieces of art.

"I still consider myself an amateur artist and believe that an artist never stops learning; all my paintings are a distinct part of my life, they read my inner feelings", said Mueen.

In 2008, Mueen was selected by the Malaysian Art Gallery to participate in the Geo Park Art Exhibition in Langkawi. In 2009, he participated in Expo Art in Malaysia. In 2010, and 2011 he participated in the Tourism Malaysia Art Exhibition, and Laava Exhibition. He has also participated in the Kala Pola Art Exhibition in Colombo.

'Soul Beat' Mueen Saheed's maiden art exhibition will be held from November 2-4 at the Lionel Wendt.

Echoes of Heaven II at the Nelum Pokuna

St. Sebastian's College choir Moratuwa along with the choirs of St. Joseph's College, St. Peter's College, Holy Family Convent, Bambalapitiya and Our Lady of Victories Convent will present 'Echoes of Heaven' at the Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre on November 4 at 6.30 p.m. The Channa-Upuli dance troupe will add glamour to the event.

 Russian literary ceremony

The Russian literary ceremony, jointly organised by the Russian Literary Circle and Sameera Publishers, will be held at the Russian Centre, Colombo 7 on October 31 at 4 p.m.

The ceremony held to honour the renowned Russian author Maxim Gorky will be presided over by Dr. W. A. Abeysinghe. Prof Hemantha Sirisena will deliver the Maxim Gorky memorial lecture. Prof. K.N.O. Dharmadasa will evaluate Gorky's trilogy, Childhood, My Apprenticeship and My Universities.

France confers National Honours on Kumar de Silva

On behalf of the Government of France, the Ambassador of France in Sri Lanka Mrs. Christine Robichon will confer on Kumar de Silva, the title of Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Chevalier in the Order of Arts and Letters) on October 31.

The Order of Arts and Letters is a French Order of France, established on May 2, 1957 by the Minister of Culture, to recognise eminent artistes, writers, and scholars for their efforts in promoting awareness and enrichment of France's cultural heritage throughout the world. The decision to induct Kumar de Silva as a Knight in this Order has been taken in recognition of his significant contribution to promoting French culture in Sri Lanka for more than a quarter of a century.

Paris-trained de Silva is best remembered for his one and a half decade long contribution to Bonsoir, the French cultural television programme, both as producer and presenter.

Sponsored by the Cultural Service of the Embassy of France, Bonsoir has been, between July 1985 and December 2010, a very popular "window to France" with a successful run, first on ITN and later on Rupavahini.

An eloquent speaker of the French language, de Silva's abiding passion for France and the French culture is amply manifest in Nostalgie, his series of annual black and white photographic exhibitions showcasing France.

An active founder member of the Alliance Francaise de Kotte (France's official French language teaching institution in Colombo and the Greater Colombo areas), de Silva is a Public Relations and Media Consultant, and a past student of Wesley College, Colombo.

Naga Meheyuma

Ananda Sellahewa's latest book Naga Meheyuma was launched in Colombo recently as a Sooriya Publication. It is the Sinhala translation of Frederick Forsyth's popular novel Cobra.

Sellahewa is the author of Apa dedena saha mama (poetry), Kalayata Amathakavu Deshaya (translation), Amathakavu Deshayaka Atharamanva (translation) and Paligenume meheyuma (translation).

Ge Kurullo

The latest edition of R.R. Samarakoon's Sinhala novel Ge Kurullo was relaunched at Dayawansa Jayakody Bookshop, Colombo 10 recently. Ge Kurullo is a Dayawansa Jayakody publication.

Geeth Raath at Jayewardene Centre

Kalaik Kamal will present Geeth Raath, an Islamic devotional song program, at the J.R. Jayewardene Centre, Colombo 7 tomorrow at 7 p.m. The program is presented by the Khalid Foundation to mark the Hajj festival.