Arts
Hitting a nostalgic note for 2020
Music, in its many forms, has the power to inspire and transport its audience on a musical journey. Actor and soloist Gehan Cooray, back home from L.A. hopes to do just this with the Rotary District 3220 annual fundraiser, titled, ‘Unforgettable’.
Gehan Cooray: In Colombo for an ‘unforgettable’ concert along with Soundarie David. Pic by Indika Handuwala
Although Gehan aimed to keep his trip to Sri Lanka focused on family and reconnecting with people, he says this particular fundraiser hits close to home as his father was a past president of Rotary. The concert will feature Soundarie David on piano and a special guest performance by Rukshan Perera, both Rotarians themselves.
The concert will be held at the Bishop’s College Auditorium on Saturday, January 18, at 7.30 p.m. and all proceeds will go towards humanitarian service projects of Rotary District 3220.
This concert will mark a first for Gehan in terms of collaborators, as he hasn’t staged a concert of this scale with just one pianist before. “I really look up to Soundarie, it’s lovely to be collaborating with her because she’s so open and innovative,” he says, as he gives us a sneak peek into what the two are planning.
The concert will have two distinct halves, the first half dedicated to the operatic arias and classical pieces that Gehan is known for, the second featuring Broadway tunes and beloved favourites of yesteryear, while still keeping with Gehan’s signature classical styling.
Gehan reveals that he is keen to perform the pieces in chronological order to honour the historical standing of each piece. “I’m trying to take the audience through a journey from the earliest operas in the 18th century, all the way down to the 19th and early 20th century,” he explains.
As a lyrical baritone and a lover of the smoother bel canto style of operatic singing, he enjoys performing pieces that are more melodic rather than heavy or dramatic. He hopes to bring that love of opera to the audience and show that “opera isn’t the heavy, draining experience” people may assume it is.
The second half of the show is sure to strike a familiar chord in the audience, as it kicks off with the titular track Unforgettable, that Nat King Cole classic, though Gehan laughs as he says he remembers it best as Brooke and Ridge’s special song in Bold and the Beautiful.
“I was very flattered that they named the concert Unforgettable!” Gehan jokes, though he adds sincerely that Soundarie is certainly so.
Following Unforgettable will be more of the “old standards”, featuring songs like Fly Me to the Moon and I Will Follow Him, to Broadway greats like I Could Have Danced All Night from My Fair Lady. Gehan is keen to add “an underlying classical flavour” to the repertoire for the night, to tie the concert together.
He has a lot of memories attached to most of what he has chosen, whether it is something that he has performed before or songs he associates with loved ones like his grandmother. “From beginning to end, there will be an overarching theme of nostalgia.”
2019 was an exhilarating year for Gehan, from the completion of his classical crossover album in LA, wrapping up post production on his directorial debut ‘The Billionaire’ after a long summer in the Warner Brothers studios, to his solo concert at the prestigious Carnegie Hall that was attended by nearly 100 United Nations Ambassadors and diplomats as well as the Chief of Cabinet to the U.N Secretary General.
“I never expected all this to happen so early in my career,” Gehan admits, adding that he is grateful for the respect and support of his artistic vision that he has received from fellow creative collaborators.
2020 will see the launche of his album and the distribution of his movie at film festivals in the US as well as Sri Lanka. Despite his steadily building schedule, Gehan wants to be flexible with his time and commitments, whether it may be his acting career in LA, musical performances in New York or visits back home.
“Sometimes, you just have to let God surprise you!” Gehan smiles.
Catch Gehan’s performance at ‘Unforgettable’ on January 18 at Bishop’s College Auditorium.
Tickets are priced at Rs. 5000, Rs. 3000 and Rs. 500 for balcony.
To reserve tickets, please contact
Nithi Murugesu on +94 777 728 428,
Rtn Haroon Careem on +94 773 980 000 or Rtn Kingsley Jayalath on +94 777 560 226