Future leaders of classical music

by Gwen Herat

Two young men stumbled on to the stage and their body language said they did not know what to do the next moment until they seized the audience by surprise with a symphonic rendering of the National Anthem.... and then they opened out lustily to shatter the silence of the auditorium of the British School.

Two young tenors, Emesh Wijewardena and Stefan Steinwall blended and bonded with each other with George Bizet's Pearl Fisher Duet followed by the all-time favourite, 'O Sole Mio' by Eduardo Di Capua.

George Frederic Handel.

Together they lifted the first note of a scale which was the keynote and centre of its tonality into a vibration that reverberated. They were a class by themselves; two young vocalists going places the right way. It was simply wonderful.

Youngest candidate

As the dust settled, came the little performer in the guise of Anagi Gunaseekra at the piano with her little feet dangling because they could not touch the floor. Being the youngest candidate to obtain a distinction, her fingers flew over the keys in Alllegro Vivace from Sonatina in C by Kuhlau, and the playful child is on her way to glory the way she handled the violin, this time, taking on Rosini's William Tell Overture.

Grade Three Sarisha Senanayake was lively and spirited with Tchaikovsky's Neapoitan dance of song. Kavindya Abeysinghe's lilting song 'None' Ver by Tito Mattei', had her breaking the chords accurately as she sang through with Bridget Halpe' at the piano. Halpe' also had a very successful student in Jacinta Ricards who twice over in Grade Four caressed the keyboard with Niels Wilhelm Gade's Ringeltansz and the strings, playing Cantabile Op 17 with equal aplomb.

In the Grade One section, Verdi's Rigoletto came up alive under the adroitness of Senitha de Alwis. Verdi is different and he is also difficult because of his operatic music, but apparently Senitha had taken up the challenge in true spirit.

It was only last Sunday that I wrote about Verdi and must admit featuring Verdi in itself was a challenge. Grade Two performer richly deserved her achiever's award for playing the very popular, Amaryllis on the strings although the score by Herbert Ghys was meant for the keyboard and Kavisha Ratnayake displayed with skill.

Audience reaction

Tchaikovsky's scores are always lively and spectacular and Sarisha Senanayaka knew his staccato style. From where I sat I was able to see her flying fingers, pausing to caress the notes and then again flying over the edges.

To me she never looked a Grade Three performer with her mature approach and in full control of herself.

There was audience reaction to Grade four achiever, Sebastian Bentjerodt as he crossed the stage with his cello to strum the romantic Waltz from Sleeping Beauty scored by Tchaikovsky, especially, for the namesake ballot, The young man with so much musical versatility which he displayed on the piano as well, bagged the Grade Five award, playing the naughty 'Puck' by Greig.

He was better at cello than on the keyboard. August Nolck's Hungarian Dance was Suvini Dharmaratne's choice to claim the Grade Five award on strings. She was very confident and self assured.

Smiling princess

Next, walks in a smiling princess in green Amasha Tissera, steady and bewitching to sweep us off our feet with Humoresque by W.H. Squire on cello and was a warded Grade Six which she richly deserved. (I also did another 'Humoreske' for my examination, but it was by Anton Dvorak, Op. 101-No. 7).

Jascintha Richards was yet another outstanding achiever, playing the keyboard as well as strings. For, her Grade Four award, she took on Niels William Gade's Ringelatinsz and the Cantabile Op 17 proving her merits to the arduous training of Bridget Halpe. She can look forward to a rewarding musical career if she continues with the same determination.

The young and upcoming players of the future are the results of dedicated teachers who will leave legacies and as I watched everyone of them accompany their budding proteges, my heart went out to them chasing me down memory lane when I too studied music. But then, we were not so lucky as today's children with such an abundance of gifted teachers with great skills and dedication.

Again, the Sri Lanka representative of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, Mano Chanmugam spared no pains to present this annual concert in a fitting manner and he was joined by the chief guest, the High Commissioner for South Africa, Geoff Doidge who delivered a witty speech highlighting the progress made by the Sri Lankan classical music scene, tributing it 'from one music loving nation to another music loving nation.

Credits - Those who presented the prize winners: Priyani Suriyawansa, Harin Amithanathan, Thusahani Jayawardena, Dr. Suresh de Mel, Naomi Gunaratne, Ananda Dabee, Ruvini Kalupahana, Zahara Vilcassim, Bridget Halpe, Tamara Holsijnghe, Dilangani Bhareti, Hasine-Halpe Andre, Ruvini Hapulallge, Dialnthi Prasad, Lal Perera, Surangani Dodanwela, Nimmi Jayasuriya.

The presenters covered both practical and theory examination 2002 brilliantly and meticulously.