Lanka-Vietnam sounds of harmony in Hanoi
Lalanath conducts Vietnam’s ‘The Sun Symphony Orchestra
The Sri Lankan Embassy in Vietnam led by Ambassador Hasanthi Dissanayake hosted a “Sri Lankan Vietnam Friendship Concert” on June 23 at the Music Academy Hall in Hanoi, Vietnam to celebrate Sri Lanka’s 70 years of Independence and fruitful years of diplomatic relations with Vietnam.
Internationally renowned pianist Rohan De Silva and Opera singer Tharanga Gunatilleke performed at the concert along with Vietnam’s ‘The Sun Symphony Orchestra’.
Rohan performed Beethoven’s 1st Piano Concerto in C Major with the orchestra whilst among Tharanga’s choices was an aria from Premasiri Khemadasa’s opera “Agni”. She was joined by Vietnamese singer Tuan Anh for a Vietnamese song and the duet from “La Boheme”.
French conductor Olivier Ochanine with Rohan De Silva
Dr. Lalanath de Silva conducted the two countries’ national anthems followed by the Overture from his work “The Dancers”, which premiered in Colombo at the Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka’s 60th anniversary concert. The rest of the concert was conducted by the Sun Symphony orchestra’s prize winning French conductor Olivier Ochanine.
The initial vision behind the concert was to get “Rohan and Tharanga to perform an intimate chamber concert” Lalanath shares however adding that the support of Ambassador Hasanthi Dissanayake allowed them to receive the generous assistance of the Sun Symphony.
A big issue in the local music industry Lalanath comments is the “lack of documentation of music,” adding, “music must be reproducible to keep it alive”. The Agni opera was only documented in oriental notation and the “score was very sparse” Lalanath states. Thus with approval of the Khemadasa Foundation Lalanath was able to find the transcription of the western notation of the opera aria and “enhanced the music to fit the orchestra without changing the notation.”
This concert marked the first time Lalanath has conducted his ballet- like composition “The Dancers”.
“The concert brought together world renowned Sri Lankan and Vietnamese musicians depicting the highest levels of musical professionalism,” Ambassador Hasanthi Dissanayake said.
Tharanga in performance