Arts
It was exciting and cool, say young stars
The first-ever live streamed concert from the Lionel Wendt took place last Saturday (February 27) with beautiful performances by the young performers who were the stars of this, the third edition of the ‘Young Musicians at the Wendt’ concert organised by the Lionel Wendt Memorial Fund (LWMF). After a theatrical drought due to the pandemic, it was a much needed reprieve for lovers of the performing arts. Kudos to the organisers for taking on the challenge of livestreaming the concert and accomplishing it in style.
Cellist Mithahasini Ratnayake who performed a duet of Cesar Cui’s Orientale from Kaleidoscope Op.50 No.9 with fellow cellist Arnelli Nissangaratchchi accompanied by pianist Anagi Gunasekera said performing the cello at this concert was a challenging yet exciting experience. It is with pride that she tell us that although the two weeks spent preparing for the concert was gruelling, it was worth it.
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- Darshana Amarasinghe
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- Karryn Perera. Pix by Indika Handuwala
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- Dunithi DIas
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- Dylan Jayasundara
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- On trumpet: Dulith Perera and Dylan Jayasundara; on alto saxophone: Ineshka de Mel and on trombone: Nelara Hangawatte
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- Vocalist: Shenuk Wijesinghe
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- On cello: Mithahasini Ratnayake and Arnelli Nissangaratchchi and on piano: Anagi Gunasekera
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- Nimshi Wanniarachchi
“Normally when you are performing, you see a sea of people but instead we just saw a few faces and a lot of cameras. The vibe was just different but cool,” she laughs. Congratulating her fellow performers for pulling off a wonderful concert and thanking the Lionel Wendt for the opportunity, Mithahasini’s first ever encounter with the Young Musicians at the Wendt got off to a great start.
Performing Joy of Spring by Clifford Brown and Max Roach, saxophonist Roshane Silva alongside pianist Savindhya Wijesekara brought to life the bebop that is considered a classic by jazz lovers worldwide. “It was a very unique experience for us to perform with young super talented musicians and also it was a great opportunity for us to present our musical inspirations,” says Roshane. Having received positive feedback from the audience as well thoroughly enjoying his performance, he adds that they are grateful to have been able to perform at the Wendt and expressed his gratitude to the organisers as well.
Playing Mozart’s 1st movement of Sonata for Violin and Piano in G Major, K.301 – with pianist Nimshi Wanniarachchi, violinist Darshana Amarasinghe says that it was quite an experience to perform live for an online audience as most concerts these days are pre-recorded and then streamed.
“I have performed for an online concert before but this was different as it was classical chamber music that was being played and the audience was not just limited to the Lionel Wendt’s seating capacity but to all those who tuned in online,” Darshana said, thanking his teachers Ashoka Pushpakumara, Lionel Bandara, Sulara Nanayakkara and Ursula Nelius for helping him prepare for the concert and the LWMF for the opportunity.
There is a great need for concerts that create a platform for musicians to showcase their individual talent such as this one, he adds.
Adding variety to the usual programme of a Young Musicians at the Wendt concert, the ballet performance by students from DanceWorld –Shyomie Kulatunga, Liana Lawrence, Tanalia Rekawa, Krsana Bakshani, Hasali Fernando and Ashenka Sumanapala choreographed by Sureka Gunawardena Buell was a great addition. Dancing the night away to a medley of Mozart, Chopin and Gershwin, it was a lovely finish to the Lionel Wendt’s first live-streamed concert.