Lankan artistes in Indian production of Carmen

Soprano Menaka de Fonseka Sahabandu and mezzo soprano Peshali Yapa have been invited to play Frasquita and Mercedes in the Neemrana Foundation’s production of the opera “Carmen” by Bizet.‘Carmen’ will be staged at the Kamani Auditorium, New Delhi from April 17-20. The Menaka Singers under the direction of Menaka de Fonseka Sahabandu have also been invited to join the chorus of this production.

Menaka de Fonseka Sahabandu

Carmen is Neemrana’s third production following “The Fakir of Benaris” and “The Pearl Fishers”. Founded by Francis Wacziarg in India, the foundation aims to promote western classical music in India, train local talent through classes and workshops and build up an opera repertoire for performances in India and abroad.

Bizet’s “Carmen”, an opera in three acts set in Spain is one of the most popular and most performed operas in the world. Sixty Indian and Sri Lankan singers, seven dancers and 20 French artistes will come together for this Indian premiere under the baton of French conductor Claire Lavacher and directed by Patricia Panton, resident producer and director of the Monte Carlo opera.

The invitation for the Sri Lanka choir was initiated by the success of “The Pearl Fishers” in which director Patricia Panton was impressed by the talent and musicianship shown by the Sri Lankan singers. This is the first time a Sri Lankan choir has been invited to perform in an international opera abroad.

The Sri Lankan chorus for this opera consists of Eriko Perera, Tahanee Aluwihare, Andrina de Mel, Dushyanth Aluwihare, Sharmila Panditharatne, Sureka Amerasinghe, Laknath Seneviratne, Yohan Pieris, Geethika Cooray and Milinda Perera.