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Arts

Songs of devotion at Wolvendaal
"It is to be an evening of aesthetic beauty and devotion," smiles Deloraine Brohier, the President of the Sri Lanka Netherlands Association. The Association has organised an evening of music to be held this Wednesday, January 7, at 7 p.m. at the Wolvendaal Church in Colombo.

The Sri Lanka Netherlands Association, which was established three years ago will have renowned Sri Lankan-born soprano Gayathrie Peiris singing for them. "It seemed to be the ideal opportunity and we invited her to perform at the Church," says Ms. Brohier.

Though the idea of holding a recital at the church is a relatively new one, the Sri Lanka Netherlands Association is confident of its success. "As a child I remember listening to such recitals in the Netherlands. It was an accepted form of expression - for this type of music is full of devotion."

The Wolvendaal Church built in 1749 is one of Colombo's most historic churches. The site for the church was chosen by the Dutch Governor outside the walls of the city. "This grand old edifice remains as it was originally built - as a memorial to the oldest Dutch institution in Sri Lanka, the Dutch Reformed Church." Wolvendaal is the Dutch rendering of a Portuguese name for the locality, which translated means, the "Dale of Wolves".

"If I was unable to sing, I'd be a very miserable person," laughs Gayathrie Peiris who is stopping by in Sri Lanka for a working holiday before making her way to Australia.

Gayathrie began her vocal training under Mrs. Mary Anne David. In 1991 she went to the Royal Academy of Music in London where she graduated with a Royal Academy Bachelor of Music Diploma. She furthered her operatic training at the Mayer Lisman Opera Centre, London.

Gayathrie's range includes a wide repertoire of popular music. She has sung lead roles in musicals such as Annie, Oklahoma, Hello Dolly and West Side Story. And her operatic roles include Orfeo in Orfeo ed Euridice, Romeo in I Capuletti ed I Montecchi and Rosina in Il Barbier di Siviglia.

"My most treasured performance was at an international festival held in Wales where we performed in front of an audience of 8000," she says. Where does she see herself in a few years? "Singing is an art.So I really cannot say. It's a fulfilling profession - and it is such an achievement to please the audience."

What kind of music will the evening include? "Mainly devotional and inspirational music as well as some operatic pieces,” says Gayathrie. Her husband, William Patrick will accompany her as always. Entrance is by programme priced at Rs. 300. The proceeds of the sale are towards covering the cost of the evening and the repair of the church organ. -RHG

Broadway songs and dance
Veteran director Jith Pieris is back with 'A Night In Tinsel Town', a grand musical to be staged on January 16 and 18 at Bishop's College auditorium at 7.30 p.m.

A Night In Tinsel Town presents orchestral music, individual artistes playing a variety of instruments, five dance items and songs by groups and individuals and a dramatized item.

Young performers who have achieved merit in different fields will be the stars of the show which highlights the Broadway theme. This production will be in aid of SUROL (Society for the Upliftment and Rehabilitation of Leprosy patients).

Lankan dance duo in Kerala
A brother and sister duo from Sri Lanka appeared on the Kerala stage, performing at Guruvayoor. Sashikala Subramaniam, a student of Holy Family Convent, Bambalapitiya under the tutelage of Kalasuri Smt. Vasugi Jegatheeswaran together with Suresh - APU University, Cambridge under the guidance of Smt. Pushkala Gopal and Shri Unnikrishnan of Mudralaya, London performed in Kerala, on December 31.

Giving form to thoughts with tender shades
"Owls" introduced me to Daisy Dias-Abeyesinghe Campbell.
"Strange shared passion" would you say? Well, yes ... one has to be intrigued by these beautiful birds. When "Owls" introduced me to Daisy, it was through their beauty captured on canvas. My mind goes back a few years when the Alliance française de Kandy at 412, Peradeniya Road hosted Daisy for her exhibition ...
Now, from Owls to Images.

A self taught artist whose palette of colours attracts, touches and gives life to a myriad of subjects. Tender shades that give form to a thought.

Rare artistic talent that transforms a flight of stairs, a range of hills, pine trees or the Ehela tree at the entrance to Belvédère into uniquely beautiful creations. With the gentle murmur of the Mahaweli waters providing the backdrop to her passion, Daisy was working on her newest tableau. I watched as the canvas came to life and forms started to appear, colours mingled with each other making real a thought ... and with such ease, definite brush strokes... the passionate artist at work. I marvel at the harmony of shades, blues and whites built into this creation, it holds my attention, 'la mer'... hear the waves as they touch the reef. Real!

Daisy will call her next exhibition "Images". How very appropriate. The Alliance française de Kandy moves into its own home at 642 Peradeniya Road this January taking with it so many fond images of the past and opening its doors to many more. "Images" is the very first exhibition our new Alliance française will host in January 2004 and what better way to capture this significant moment than through the "Images" brought to life by this artist friend.
"Images" ... symphonie des images. -Kush Herat

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