It’s time for those Christmas concerts

The Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka will celebrate the season with its popular Christmas Concerts on Friday, December 7 at 7.30 p.m., and The Family Christmas Concert on Sunday 9 at 7 p.m., both conducted by Manilal Weerakoon, and at Ladies’ College Hall.

This year the musical world is celebrating the 150th birth anniversary of Edward Elgar. Two of Elgar’s most popular works will be featured at the Symphony Christmas Concert - the heart-rending Cello Concerto and the stirring ‘Pomp and Circumstance’ March No.2.

Dushyanthi Perera

The soloist in Elgar’s Cello Concerto will be Dushyanthi Perera. The Symphony Christmas Concert will begin with Rossini’s sparkling Overture to ‘The Thieving Magpie’. And it will conclude with Christmas music, including Pola & Wyle’s ‘It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year’ among others.

Top of the bill at The Family Concert on Sunday 9th are Christmas Songs for the audience to Sing Along with the Orchestra and combined Choirs – The Menaka Singers, Past Choristers of St. Benedict’s College and Friends, 45 young voices in all. They include ‘White Christmas’, ‘Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer’ and ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’.

The Family Christmas Concert will also feature Johann Strauss’s famous waltzes ‘Tales from the Vienna Woods’ contrasted with Waldteufel’s exotic ‘Espana’ Waltz among other favourites. The Symphony Christmas Concert is sponsored by Link Natural Products and the Family Christmas Concert by Standard Chartered Bank, both in aid of the Sunera Foundation. Tickets are available at Titus Stores, Liberty Plaza.