Great music, applause and an audience going wild: Dilip’s show had it all
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Impressive:Dilip Seneviratne. Pic by M.A. Pushpa Kumara
Obviously a fan of Elton John, Dilip’s rendition of Elton’s Piano Man, included him deftly playing the piano, the mouth organ and singing into the microphone. Nice.
Dilip started his own narration with a tribute to his beloved music teacher, the late Mrs. Marie Livera. A screen dropped down from the ceiling with a photo of the two of them together while he played his jazzed up version of Chopin’s Piano Concerto. There were audible sighs from the audience.
Having started his musical journey at the tender age of six, he had to give up his lessons because he did not own a piano, which restricted his practices. In stepped Mano Chanmugan, a renowned concert pianist himself and good friend of the family, who gifted Dilip with his first piano, which kickstarted his journey once more. More sighs from the audience.
In showing his gratitude, Dilip helped Mano on stage, thanked him warmly and then invited him to accompany him on the piano. Together they played a duet. Loud applause from the audience.
From there his musical journey brought in various musicians in the local scene. Up came Damian Wickramatilleka, and while Dilip pounded the ivory keys, Damian sang a delightful rendition of the Glenn Fry, Don Henley classic “Desperado”, made famous by the Eagles. More applause from the audience.
Next came Kevin Almeida who belted out a stunning rendition of “Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word”, another Elton John classic. The audience went wild.
Having discovered his talent for singing, and encouraged by fellow musicians and siblings, Dilip is voice trained by the songstress Shenelle Fernando. She came on stage, shared perfectly choreographed banter with Dilip and broke out into a fabulous rendition of Peter Cetera’s “Glory of Love”, a perfect song to show their synergy. The audience showed their appreciation, quite loudly.
The highlight of the evening was when 11-year-old Ariana walked shyly on stage. Ariana is Dilip’s older child and already a budding songstress with one of the most hauntingly beautiful voices I have heard. She was confident, composed and delightfully cheeky with her repartee to Dilip’s introduction. Then she sang her father’s favourite song “Over The Rainbow”, as her own personal tribute to him. The audience applauded, thunderously.
She was followed by her eight-year-old brother Aaron who perched on the piano stool, and together, father and son played the duet, Chopsticks. Obviously Dilip’s musical genes run strong in his children. The audience responded aptly.
Dilip then backed Gananath Dasanayake singing his all-time favourite, “New York New York”. Their performance of Duke Ellington’s “Take the A Train” was upbeat and fantastic. The audience went wild.
For the next segment of the concert, they were joined by the band members of En Route, Shobi Perera and Charith Fernando, with guest performances by “Malla’ Pathum Fernando and Royle de Andrews. It was a toe-tapping, hand-clapping segment, and lots of happy music.
When little Ariana came back on stage with Shenelle and Gananath for more renditions, the crowd naturally cried out for more. The final segment of Dilip’s Journey was a medley of rock and roll music that had the audience on their feet.
Last but not least, with all the proceeds from Dilip’s concert to be donated to the Sri Lanka Cancer Society, a 14-year-old cancer survivor came on stage and placed a bouquet of flowers in Dilip’s hands. The audience dabbed their eyes.
The show was entertainment through and through, if a tad too long. We hope Dilip’s musical journey continues to thrive.
M.W.