Sunday Times 2
Making the audience happy
It was the World Choir Games in 2012 that put Norwegian youth group Defrost on the maps. For one in the audience, watching them perform, she knew “it was something special”. Soundarie David Rodrigo remembers thinking that Sri Lanka needed to see the talented youth choir.
Celebrating 10 years this year with Soul Sounds, the award winning female choir under her direction Soundarie felt “a collaboration concert was definitely on the cards”. Soul Sounds has 10 celebratory performances this year and ‘Imagine,’ a concert featuring Defrost will go on the boards at the Lionel Wendt tomorrow, July 28.
Norwegian youth choir 'Defrost' arrived in Colombo on Friday. Pic by Ranjith Perera
A purely experimental effort between two leading choral directors in Norway, the choir was formed to take part in the World Choir Games of 2012 in Cincinnati, USA. Following their success there, the group despite going through minor changes, is currently known as Defrost under the direction of Professor Thomas Caplin. “We won two gold medals” he shares – a feat they achieved by auditioning over 70 youth, of which only 27 ended up at the prestigious games.
While musical perfection is what they strive for, Professor Caplin says the 14-21 year olds who are mostly school and college students meet up twice a week- and work on a “good citizen context” as he terms it. Working together on the premise of respect, solidarity, loyalty and tolerance, the choir is as ardent about the values of co-existence as it is about their music.
Having only heard about choirs in Sri Lanka, Prof. Caplin had a chance to see and hear Soul Sounds when he visited the country following the Choir Games. “I did some work in connection with the Colombo Music Festival two years ago,” he says. While Defrost’s tone production and accapella arrangements in the ‘popular music’ category of the Choir Games left Soundarie captivated, Prof. Caplin describes his first experience of Soul Sounds as having “a breathtaking sound and musicianship.”
“I would say our styles are different,” Soundarie says. Souls Sounds enjoys singing gospel music while Defrost is focused more along the lines of accapella, a combination which should be both interesting and entertaining.
Planning to delight the Sri Lankan audience with songs that will showcase their diverse repertoire, the programme will range from classical to pop. Working together, Soundarie and Prof. Caplin have a line-up they are confident will “make sure the audience will be happy!”
| IN AID OF THE UNITY MISSION TRUST
‘Imagine’ is in aid of the Unity Mission Trust (UMT) who promote reconciliation and self development among the youth of the North and Eastern parts of the country. Considering themselves blessed over the past ten years, Soundarie feels “it is only correct that we give back through singing.” Since Soul Sounds along with Professor Caplin have previously worked with children from the North, UMT and the inspiring work they do was an obvious choice. Motivated by the UMT’s commitment in reaching out to children of the North and East Soundarie had no hesitation in naming them beneficiaries of the concert. “I didn’t know about the UMT until this collaboration” says Professor Caplin, who says he feels grateful to be introduced to the “beautiful and important work they do”. ‘Imagine’ the concert will be on Monday, July 28 at the Lionel Wendt Theatre at 7.30 p.m.. Tickets priced at Rs. 3000, 2000 and 1000 for reserved seats and Rs. 500 for unreserved balcony seats can be purchased at the Wendt. |