Arts
Classical and Cool reaches out to prisoners’ children
View(s):‘Classical and Cool’ sees baritone Gehan Cooray performing at the Lionel Wendt Theatre on January 9 at 7.30 p.m, shortly before he returns to Los Angeles where he is currently based. He will be singing for the Friends of Prisoners’ Children (FOPC) at their annual fundraiser.
Dinushka Jayawickreme
Proceeds from this concert will go to the Friends of Prisoners’ Children charity, the brainchild of Rev. Sr. Mary Immaculate and Priyanthi Dissanayake. They launched the charity in 2005, when they realized that the children of prisoners are stigmatized and ostracized by society.
Many give up school due to this and the lack of financial means. The FOPC now provides an annual scholarship of Rs. 18,000 per child to over 260 children through donations from generous sponsors and fundraisers such as this.
The children are also emotionally strengthened by knowing that there are people to support them. “We have had graduates and accountants from these children who are now contributing to society,” said an organizer.
The concert this year, in keeping with Gehan’s musically diverse repertoire, will feature operatic arias by Rossini, Gounod and Handel, classical art songs by Schubert and Tosti as well as popular favourites from Broadway musicals and Hollywood films such as “I Got You Under My Skin”, “People”, “I’ll Be Seeing You”, “Sunrise Sunset”, “Over the Rainbow” and “On the Street Where You Live” to name a few. Gehan will sing not only in Italian, French, Latin and English, but also in Sinhala, ensuring that everyone in the audience has something very special to look forward to.
Gehan Cooray
The guest artist at the concert will be soprano Dinushka Jayawickreme. Menaka de Fonseka Sahabandu will accompany them at the piano, along with Neomal De Alwis and Soundarie David, all of whom have collaborated with both Gehan and Dinushka for years.
Tickets are priced at Rs. 3000, 2000, 1000, 500 (balcony) and the box plan is available at Jetwing Colombo 7 down Ward Place. Please contact Sithara at 0777287815 for more information.