Messiah returns
Lalanath de Silva back for Messiah
George Friedric Handel’s music lives on 259 years after the renowned composer’s death. On May 10 the choral group OKTAVE, under the baton of Dr. Lalanath de Silva, will present Part 2 and 3 of one of Handel’s greatest compositions, the Messiah at St. Mary’s Church, Bambalapitiya.
The Messiah will be performed with soloists Anagi Perera (Soprano), Trevis de Silva (Tenor), Peshali Yapa (Mezzo Soprano) and Laknath Seneviratne (Baritone). The choir will be backed by a talented group of handpicked instrumentalists along with organist Neranjan de Silva and Shanthi Dias on the continuo.
There is no entrance fee, the concert being supported by the Deva Surya Sena Trust Fund . A voluntary contribution can be made during the dedication if one wishes.
It’s been over two decades since the Messiah was performed in Sri Lanka and this performance was divided into two concerts. Part one, which was presented on December 21 last year, celebrated the prophecy of the birth of Jesus Christ, in time for Christmas.
Part 2 which exalts the Messiah’s sacrifice for humankind and Part 3, the final section which proclaims his Resurrection will be presented on Thursday, May 10. The date holds much significance as it marks the day of Ascension of Jesus Christ.
Reinventing the music of the Baroque period, the Messiah was originally composed as an Easter offering. At present Handel’s Messiah has become a staple in the Christmas repertoire. Although the composition became one of Handel’s most famous, its modest presentation and underlying messages made the composer anxious about the initial reception of the London crowd –leading him to instead hold the premiere of the Messiah in Dublin, Ireland in 1742.
OKTAVE at practice: Coming together for the love of singing
Currently, leading organist and founder of OKTAVE Neranjan de Silva and renowned composer/conductor Dr. Lalanath de Silva, who have been spearheading the Messiah concerts are excitedly anticipating the reception to Part 2 and 3. The one hour and 10 minute performance, Neranjan reveals features 22 instrumentalists and 25 vocalists. In Part 2 and 3 the audience can bask in the powerful choruses of “Hallelujah” and “Worthy is the Lamb” as Handel’s Messiah unfolds.
OKTAVE, founded in 2009 has come a long way from its beginnings as an intimate group of eight choristers. Now home to over 20 members, the choristers are from diverse professional and personal backgrounds – “extremely busy people who have come together for their love of singing,” Neranjan says.
A majority of the musicians have been handpicked by Neranjan,“I’m a bit fussy with the standards of musicians I want singing in our group.”
“It is not a heavy composition,” Neranjan clarifies, however adding that their chosen Messiah arrangement makes it “taxing for the voices.” Lalanath who lives overseas arrived in Sri Lanka on May 1 and is at intense practice with the choir. In this arrangement Neranjan and Lalanath have taken off choruses which they feel weren’t essential to the performance. This oratorio, will be “an opera without the props of lighting, costumes and acting,” says Lalanath.
Lalanath wears many hats; an acclaimed composer and conductor he is also an experienced public interest and environmental litigator. Joining the Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka (SOSL) in 1974 as a flautist and later taking on the role of deputy conductor in 1991, he has shared the stage with the SOSL’s famed conductor Dr. Earle de Fonseka on many occasions. Appointed as a conductor of the SOSL in 2000 he held the position for two years before his work took him overseas.
Neranjan de Silva
The initial reception to Part one of the Messiah “was astounding” Lalanath shares, chuckling “I never expected a packed church!” The crowd’s enthusiasm and appreciation of the music struck a chord with the conductor as he recalls the vast representation of communities in the audience.
One lady had travelled from Polgahawela by train to see their performance. Lalanath further recalls a cancer patient who was wheeled in to the church as she was adamant to make it to the production.
The reception took the choir too by surprise. Over 20 people joined in the chorus, some even having printed the lyrics in advance, Neranjan adds. “It became a Messiah sing-a-long of sorts,” Lalanath laughs.
Given the recent political and social climate of the country, a significant line from Part 2 of the Messiah “Why do the nations so furiously rage together?” coupled with the vigorous almost violent supporting instrumentals, allows the performers to bring the words to life for a relatable piece – making Handel “a true music painter” in Lalanath’s words.
The choir itself is made up of individuals from diverse religions and ethnic backgrounds as Neranjan elaborates, “People come for the beauty of the music” adding the standard audience for performances of this nature are those with an unquenchable thirst for knowledge of unknown subjects and pulled by the magnetism of a musical appeal.
When the Messiah was performed last in the country Lalanath then in his early 20’s was a flautist in the SOSL. Although he was present at every practice “Handel doesn’t use the flute or recorder in the Messiah’s instrumentals so there was no part for me to play” and his place in the audience allowed him to feel the message of music making it “an impactful and inspirational” performance, he reminisces. Taking on the baton in the current Messiah performance, he is able to truly appreciate the special memories of the past.
Each part of the Messiah is significant with the performers and audience uplifted by the emotion resonating through the music and lyrics – a testament to Handel’s mastery. Save the date- May 10, at 6.30 p.m. at St. Mary’s Church.