Sri Lanka’s very own golden voiced soprano, Kishani Jayasinghe will take centre stage after four years in Colombo on January 9 at the Lionel Wendt Theatre when she sings for the Displaced Children of Sri Lanka.

Profile photograph: Ken Howard, USA

Her last performance at home in 2009 held local audiences spellbound at the sold out charity concert organised by the Sunera Foundation in aid of Differently Abled Children. “I have been incredibly blessed in my life, especially having had an extremely loving, supportive and fun filled childhood. This is why I always try to do something to help children who are less fortunate using my own talents and gifts. To be able to make an actual difference in a young life is an extraordinary thing and it enables me in some small way to give something back at home,” says Kishani who endeavours to support charitable causes related to children as often as possible in her homeland.

I have had the pleasure of following Kishani’s exciting career develop and blossom whilst she was still a student at the Royal Academy and then as a Young Artist at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden. What started out as an extraordinary talent and natural affinity for the stage, has developed into beautifully crafted artistry with a true gift for performance and a natural sensitivity that captures even the most seasoned connoisseur of music. Each performance of this rich, honey and copper-hued soprano is truly a treat for the ears and eyes. To quote Rupert Christiansen of the Daily Telegraph on Kishani: there’s a gorgeous voice in embryo here, charged with the crushed velvet, vintage portand Jersey creaminess of the young Kiri Te Kanawa”. I most recently witnessed her vocal prowess as the Soprano soloist in Verdi’s Requiem in the UK. As one reviewer commented, “young soprano Kishani Jayasinghe confirmed previous judgements, and indeed exceeded all expectations. In the final Libera Me she had that blend of power, beauty and range without which Verdi ultimately fails: hers was a performance to treasure.”

Upon completing her tenure as a Jette Parker Young Artist at the Royal Opera House, Kishani has spread her wings from Europe to America and is currently venturing into Asia. She made her European debut in John Corigliano’s Ghosts of Versailles at the Wexford International Opera Festival as Rosina, a role premiered by one of Kishani’s “all time favourite sopranos”, celebrated lyric soprano Renee Fleming. Soon after that Kishani had the opportunity to sing the much loved and coveted role of Mimi in Puccini’s La Boheme at the Opera House in Verona. She has gone on to sing the role with Glyndebourne Touring Opera and is set to return there next season to sing Verdi’s tragic heroine Violetta in La Traviata.
In addition to the romantic and lush repertoire of Puccini and Verdi, Kishani also has great love for Mozart’s heroines. She sang her first Countess in the Marriage of Figaro in a traditional John Cox production with Garsington Opera and made her American debut as Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni with the Opera Theatre of St. Louise.

Since her performance for Prince Charles’ 60th birthday celebrations at Buckingham Palace, she has been presented to Queen Elizabeth II at St James Palace as a Commonwealth Representative for the Arts. A fitting choice, having been a South Asian pioneer in this field. Evident also in Kishani being adjudged Asian Woman of Achievement for Art and Culture in the UK; Zonta Woman of Achievement for the Creative and Performing Arts; Associate Award recipient from the Royal Academy of Music in London; Alumni Laureate Award winner from the University of Nottingham UK and Platinum Award Winner for the Performing Arts from her alma mater, Visakha Vidyalaya. She has won International Vocal Competitions in Italy, Spain, Finland, Turkey, Holland and France and was the only South Asian representative throughout.

It is always a pleasure to interview young artists at the beginning of their careers and watch with anticipation how things unfold. Nothing in life is certain, and life as a performing artist knows no certainty except that every performance has to be your best performance. Great artistry is a combination of countless hours of tireless work honing and perfecting a skill which keeps growing and changing as the artist does; of being able to deliver the same brilliance and beauty with every appearance; it means having nerves of steel to have nothing but your voice between yourself and a few thousand eyes and ears and having the nobility of spirit, strength of heart and true courage to bare your soul through your singing.

It is a rare occurrence to see all these factors combine so seamlessly and mature so gracefully in a young artist and yet in Kishani Jayasinghe it has all come to fruition so deliciously that her concert for the Displaced Children of Sri Lanka is bound to be a veritable feast.
-Lisa Blake