The choristers of Contempo and Choro Benedicte look on their upcoming concert not just as one of many concerts, but as the beginning of what they hope will be a long standing musical relationship.
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| Eshantha |
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| Krishan |
And it is by no means a typical relationship between two very different choral entities, but one which is also based on fun, setting a high standard, a passion for breaking boundaries and changing perceptions, and even a little democracy, as The Mirror Magazine found out when catching up with the choristers at one of their practices.
Unlike your typical musical production where the selection is determined mainly by the directors, the songs to be performed at September were chosen by the members of the two choirs, who put forward their suggestions and finally picked out the best numbers. If there was a concert known for a focus on diversity, this would be it.
Set to take the boards of the Lionel Wendt on September 26 and 27 from 7 pm onwards, September is not a concert which could be described as having just one theme. From “O Fortuna” by Carl Orff, to songs by the Beatles, Jackson 5, a traditional Vannama, and a song by Amaradeva, to “I’m Yours” by recent chart topper Jason Mraz, the upcoming concert - directed by Krishan Rodrigo together with Eshantha Peiris - has more than earned its tagline - a contemporary twist to music’s greatest.
“Our aim here,” declares Krishan, “is to make a mark in the local choral scene as two choirs that do things differently, and excel in what they do.”
And the two choirs - 26 past Benedictines and 26 past Bridgeteens, consist of a host of very different people. An interesting mix of bankers, IT professionals, designers, marketers, teachers and undergraduates get together for practices, and the result is a lot of fun and laughter coupled with commitment towards being the best they can be.
“For us,” comments Eshantha, “the music always comes first. The choir is the mode of expression. So the concept we’re working on here is something like here is the music; and here is the choir which will present it to you. The intention is to change the audience’s perception of typical choral music, and prove that a choir can sing many songs from different genres, and not just the expected classical music.”
The concert will also consist of performances by the choirs of St. Bridget’s Convent and St. Benedict’s College, while Choro Benedicte and Contempo will be accompanied by The Colombo Brass Ensemble and Thriloka.
Tickets for the show, priced at Rs. 1500/-, 1000/-, 750/-, 500/- and 300/- are available at Mabrock Trades, the Park Street Mews and at the Lionel Wendt from September 25- 27. The Maharajah group is the electronic media sponsors of the show, while The Sunday Times and The Daily Mirror are the print media sponsors.
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