Having established themselves as the epitome of Sri Lankan pop are the two lively and colorful individuals who need no introduction – Bathiya and Santush. Being the agents of change revolutionizing the Sri Lankan music industry, they are once again ready to venture into a new dimension. This time, Opera music will be the challenge that they will take head-on. “Actually we started off our musical training at MaryAnne David’s with Broadway, Jazz and Opera, so we have roots in this genre of music”, says Bathiya and Santush. “This will take us back over the years, into the space of time we spent before we shifted into pop culture.”
The setting for this grand episode in the history of our music arena, will take place at the backdrop of the equally historical Royal College of Colombo. The majestic architecture will provide the perfect atmosphere for ‘Floreat’ – the concert that will feature Bathiya and Santush and their latest revolution.
The concert will also coincide with the 120th Anniversary of the Royal College Union as well as the 175th Anniversary of the College, symbolizing the grandeur of the setting. “We want to bring out the essence of a show that will relate to ‘Yanni at the Acropolis’ – the masterpiece performed in Greece, with the orchestra playing in the open air, thus we knew that the Royal College compound was the perfect setting,” they mention. The lighting has also been arranged such that it will evoke memories of ‘Yanni at the Acropolis’. “It will be a unique experience to the audience as well as to us”
The world renowned opera singer Olga Sosnovskaya, Merited Artiste of the Russian Federation to Sri Lanka will be coming down to join the duo in song. The Russian Cultural Centre had been the liaison between this meeting, and is indeed glad to present a professional Opera singer performing for the first time on our shores. Sosnovskaya has been acclaimed for pronouncing her dramatically rich and smooth voice with the strong stage presence and power she emits, and will add a wonderful touch of class to the concert. Sosnovskaya’s presence will reverberate the majestic halls of the College compound and mark the birth of something truly magical.
Along with Sosnovskaya, Reenie Mansata – a popular Indian pop artiste with the credit of being the first artist to properly fuse the musical influences of East and West on a hindi sung project, will be performing at ‘Floreat’. “Reeni is all about energy and passion and her performances are amazing”, says Bathiya and Santush, “She’ll be beautiful on stage”, they add with a chirpy smile. Having renowned artistes to back them on this venture will certain boost the already confident duo to conquer this summit, like all the summits they have conquered in the past.
“The concert will have many segments to it”, they add. “It will start off with our classic “Wasanthaye”, the music of which was originally composed by the great musician Bach. This rendition will be symbolic of our connection with contemporary and classic music”. Soundarie David and her choir will join in on this act to create a perfect blend. “This is the kind of music we used to do for a good 6 to 7 years of our musical career before exploring other facets of the industry, and we wanted to reminisce those days”. Bathiya and Santush will once again reiterate the fact that they can take on the challenge of any form of music, and produce an outcome to soothe the musical soul of their listeners.
“Music has always been about new ideas and new explorations”, they state. “If musicians stuck to one theme of music the industry will be stagnant and will not move forward”. They mention that the concert will be one of their biggest experiments, and that it will create the best platform to test the waters and dive into a new world of music.
The greatest hits of BNS will be featured at the concert, and it will ensure that the audiences will get to enjoy the best out of the best of BNS. “When we perform on stage, the energy and the action will not be missing, it comes naturally to us and by performing the best of our songs we’ll make sure that we deliver that energy to the audience”. Centigradz will be featured on show, and they will perform an array of cultural and folk music of Sri Lankan, keeping up the spice of our heritage. Ashanti De Alwis, Randhir Withana and Umaria Sinhawansa will also take stage at ‘Floreat’. Dushyanth Weeraman and his dance troupe will also feature their skills on show to add colour and flamboyance to the evening.
Moving on from their greatest hits, to the performances by our local stars, and the duets and acts by the international artistes, BNS will perform operatic music and contemporaries that range from classics out of the film ‘My Fair Lady’, as well as songs from ‘The Marriage of Figaro’, to a beautiful rendition of ‘Can you feel the love tonight’. Much more awaits the enthusiastic Sri Lankan audiences at ‘Floreat’, on the 8th of January at the Royal College, as the most dynamic duo of our music take on yet another challenge at the helm and prepare themselves to take the audiences to an out-of-this-world musical experience.
Tickets are available at the RCU office and leading Keels super outlets. For Ticket Queries call 072 7909908 or 072 7423424 |
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