A performance of strength, restraint and engaging flair
It is four years since the fine young tenor Asitha Tennekoon left for his Bachelor of Music voice course at Indiana University, America. On August 5 he gave a recital of Late Romantic art songs, which bring poetry and music together, accompanied on the pianoforte by Eshantha Peiris, at the Russian Cultural Centre.
My immediate impressions….Asitha‘s voice is now bigger since he left in 2007 and can be more penetrating. In the searching art songs of the Austrian Hugo Wolf, there was a striving edge demanded by the composer, perhaps shades of Wagner, a new part of his voice repertoire.
Asitha executed Wolf’s demanding lieder to the poetry of Mörike with strength and artistry, giving musical life to contrasted encounters of love, and moving the audience with emotions running from high passion to the pain of farewell.
The French music was in subtle contrast. Matching Debussy and Duparc’s elegant songs, Asitha’s voice now had a lighter tone and a more restrained mood of intimacy, yearning and shaded colour, with good nasal pronunciation as required.
He was very much at ease in the English music, with a full range of expression, fine phrasing and diction ably pointing up the text. This was evident in Butterworth’s ‘Songs from a Shropshire Lad’ such as ‘Is my Team Ploughing’. And his performance of Vaughan Williams’ ‘Silent Noon’ set to the lyrical, love poem of Christina Rossetti was perhaps the highlight of the recital, warmly applauded by the audience.
‘Yarmouth Fair’, a great fun choice to end with, was well executed with variation, humour and saucy gesturing, loved by the audience… but Asitha must practise at the speed of an Olympian to get all his words out fully, every time!
Asitha’s confident stage presence was reassuringly relaxed and engaging throughout. His recital acting and gestures were just right, underlining meaning and adding value to the text.
He is to be thanked and congratulated for putting on such an ambitious, little known and delightful programme with such polish and good taste.
Eshantha Peiris’ piano accompaniment also deserves special mention. He was accurate, sensitive and supportive to the singer, yet also commanding in his solo passages. Among his many talents, he is one of the best accompanists in Sri Lanka with a clear classical voice.
Asitha Tennekoon has developed very pleasingly both as a tenor and musician in the last four years. I wish him well in a long and successful career of music-making. And eagerly anticipate his next recital here, perhaps in a year’s time?
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