The future of our classical music is in good hands
The young performers
To commemorate the 120th anniversary of Lionel Wendt’s birth, the trustees of the Lionel Wendt Memorial Fund are organising a series of events throughout 2020. This programme of events was launched on Friday, January 17 with a tribute to Lionel Wendt’s first love -music.
The concert was the second one of its kind showcasing the talent of several young Sri Lankan musicians playing a mix of instruments across a wide genre of music.
While all maintained a high standard of musicianship, I need to single out the tenor Emesh Wijewardene and pianists Jehani Gamalatge and Anagi Gunesekera.
What was most pleasing was the variety of instruments played by the soloists, e.g. the flute by Sanuja Goonetilleke, the bassoon by Uthsara Malaweera Aratchi, the double bass by Andrea Leitan, the classical guitar by Rushane Fernando and the saxophone by Akeel Vitarana, not to mention the violins and viola.
A special word about the popular Arioso by J.S. Bach played on the double bass by Andrea Leitan. I have never heard it played by a double bass, so hats off to Andrea, who attempted it and succeeded.
Emesh Wijewardene has a powerful tenor voice suitable for opera and operetta. He has a great future ahead of him.
The concert ended with a feet tapping Jazz Suite for bassoon, piano and string bass by Ken Cooper, a talented guitarist singer and one of the best liked and respected musicians in the Diablo Valley area. I only wished they had got our solo saxophonist Akeel Vitarana and possibly the guitarist, Rushane Fernando to join in and make our day complete.
If this country can produce musicians of this quality, the future of Western classical music in Sri Lanka is assured. We must not forget the music teachers who have inspired their students to achieve this standard of excellence.