Mendelssohn, Prokofiev and Beethoven under the baton of Keiko Kobayashi
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Keiko Kobayashi
The very first Guest Conductor Concert by the Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka for 2016 will see renowned Japanese conductor Keiko Kobayashi taking on a complex yet popular repertoire comprising works by Mendelssohn, Prokofiev and Beethoven.
The concert, on Saturday, February 20, at the Ladies’ College Hall will have the added musical delight of Shanthi Dias nee Thamber as she returns to her first love music and the familiar precincts of playing with the SOSL.
The titled soloist at this concert, she will perform Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No 5 in E-flat major, Opus 73, the Emperor.
Shanthi has proven her stature repeatedly at the ivories and will undoubtedly do justice to the majesty that resonates in this concerto, Beethoven’s last, which he penned in Vienna and dedicated to Archduke Rudolf, his patron and pupil.
Together with Shanthi, the SOSL will perform the three movements in the Concerto, Allegro in E-flat major, Adagio un poco mosso in B major and Rondo: Allegro ma non troppo in E-flat major.
Keiko has conducted the Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra, Hiroshima Symphony Orchestra, Japan Century Symphony Orchestra, Shizuoka Symphony Orchestra, New National Theatre Tokyo and the Soai Orchestra on tour in China and Italy among others.
A regular guest conductor in both Sri Lanka and India, she is the Chief Conductor of the Japan Wind Ensemble and Resident Conductor of the Tokyo Wind Symphony Orchestra.
Under Keiko’s expert ear and baton, the SOSL begins its programme with Felix Mendelssohn’s ebullient overture Ruy Blas Opus 95.
The finale will be Sergei Prokofiev’s most performed ‘drambalet’ the Romeo and Juliet Suites, with its characteristic hot and heady style, giving full expression to this great composer’s lyrical genius.
Tickets can be purchased online at takas.lk.