Kishani opens doors to all to step into a world of opera
The “Colombo Opera Festival” from October 30 to November 10 is the brainchild of Kishani Jayasinghe, the soprano who blazed a trail for Lankan singers in the world of opera, and who is now in the process of making opera more accessible to all, not just classical music aficionados.
Kishani’s story is well known. Growing up, “I sang but never wanted to be a singer,” she smiles, “it wasn’t part of the grand plan of life!” Kishani initially pursued her LLB and LLM in International Commercial Law from the University of Nottingham in the UK.
During her schooldays she recalls not seeing much emphasis put on developing the arts but at present “it’s very encouraging that we take the arts a little more seriously especially since there is a lot more opportunity now,” she says.
While at school Kishani trained with veteran singer and teacher Mary Anne David while pursuing her other extracurricular activities. However “a sequence of accidents” led her to the doorstep of Pamela Cook, the founder of the internationally acclaimed all girls’ choir ‘Cantamus’ known for developing female voices.
Signing up to sing in a recital at a summer school programme while at Nottingham it was there that the only non music major present, Kishani, was discovered by the head of the London Conservatoire who gave her Pamela’s number. Their eventual meeting led to Pamela taking an immediate liking to Kishani’s voice however warning her that a singer’s life was a lot of work.
“Pam built my voice from top to bottom with precision,” she says. Her energy and enthusiasm taught Kishani to have “the confidence to deliver anything vocally in the quality that I want”. For opera it is critical for a singer’s vocal foundation to be extremely strong in order for them to gain the confidence to diversify.
The turning point for her making a serious career move to singing came after Kishani had an evening out with friends. “There was such a battering of my voice because of the night prior I couldn’t sing at all that morning,” she shares.
Guiltily entering Pam’s classroom her words still ring in Kishani’s ears. “Don’t waste your money and my time,” she said, “If you choose to go the distance I will help you get there and I think you will do something extraordinary with your life, but if you choose not to that’s fine, and I will instead hold such wonderful memories of a student who I thought had great potential.” “At that moment I went to pieces and cried my heart out,” Kishani remembers- by that time she had spent almost a year working with Pamela and she didn’t want to let her down.
Fast forward to the present and Kishani has worked with some of the biggest companies and on renowned stages all over the world. However, starting a family created a space for making another conscious decision to move back to the country in 2016 to raise her children.
Ever grateful for the opportunities she was given in her field, Kishani wants to bring the same for others of her own nation. “I was very passionate to come back with a purpose apart from raising my kids and doing a job here,”she shares adding “I felt there was another journey.”
Although the doors of opportunity opened for Kishani in the UK she recalls her passion for opera being nurtured at home, from the Sunday lunches with opera playing in the background at her grandmother’s home to listening to one of her first operas of Premasiri Khemadasa’s Manasa Vila.
“There’s always been an interest in opera in the country, she comments. “My parents listened to it, Mary Anne David was skilled in it, but we haven’t really had a culture of opera in Sri Lanka because of the perception of it being for the very elite.” By bringing the festival to Colombo, Kishani hopes to open doors for others.
Countries like China, South Korea and Japan heavily invest in their classical singers and Kishani is adamant that by creating an atmosphere and appreciation of opera in Sri Lanka the country will benefit.
The festival will feature a variety of events, one being a gala concert featuring some of Kishani’s colleagues from the Royal Opera House. “It’s a real glorious mix!” she delightedly shares. The Gala concert on November 6 at the Nelum Pokuna Theatre will feature Haoyin Xue (Chinese Tenor), Monika-Evelin Liiv (Estonian Mezzo-soprano), and Krzysztof Szumansk (Polish Baritone), Kishani representing Sri Lanka as the Soprano accompanied by Maestro David Gowland on piano.
The gala concert is aimed at giving local audiences “a feel of what opera is like,” Kishani shares, further envisioning possibly inviting students to come watch the performances. “The idea here is accessibility,” she says, “I want to break down the idea that opera is for the elite and invite people from all over the country who enjoy this type of music.”
Kishani who also guest lectures at the University of the Visual & Performing Arts has met numerous students from all over the country who have a “depth to their voice”. “They come from the most remote parts of the country and you can’t imagine how they ended taking Western Classical music but they fall into my class and I think ‘oh my goodness where did you come from?’” she says enthusiastically.
As a professional opera singer Kishani shares, “you have to sing on the trot -with no mics, no amplifications and no sound enhancements– all you hear is the raw voice. If you want to make it lighter, brighter, bigger, smaller, darker, higher you have to learn how to technically do that with your voice” – the ability to master this takes some singers 10 years of training.
With an emphasis on training and education, Kishani will be bringing down her own mentor David Gowland, the Artistic Director of the Royal Opera House’s Jette Parker Young Artists Programme to hold master classes as part of the festival. “As an opera singer you have to create the most delicate sound as fine as a hair but you have to make it this massive sound that carries over an orchestra without any amplification.” Good teachers are then crucial instruments to one’s journey.
Gowland, a talent scout for opera musicians tours the world as he is “passionate about seeing what’s out there with the young voices,” Kishani states. The master classes will be open to those of the age category 18 to 30 years and will be free of charge taking place from November 7 to 10 followed by a free concert by the students on November 10 at the Russian Cultural Centre.
“I have no time for musical politics,” Kishani shares adding “I don’t like having this closed system of picking only select students so for the festival anyone who wants to apply can- it will all be a very simple process.” Applications will be circulated around choirs, singing classes, schools, media etc.
“What David is looking for is just the voice,” she says, confirming that he is aware that most of those who will apply would have no prior knowledge or experience in opera. Throughout the festival he will have Q and A sessions with participants to further enhance their understanding of the art form. “This will be a once-in-a lifetime opportunity to work with a world class coach for free,” she adds.
“Please make it a priority to attend the concerts and participate in the master classes so that we can continue doing initiatives like this in the future,” is her appeal.
Look out for updates on the Facebook page @kishanijayasinghe(soprano). Advance ticket bookings of the gala concert can be made towards the end of August by contacting 0718867071.