School choirs in the limelight with the Brothers
View(s):The Songs They Love’ turned out to be the songs the audience also loved as the De Lanerolle Brothers took the stage at the Lionel Wendt on Thursday, August 3 with two sold-out back to back shows, of an hour’s duration each. All in one evening.
This time it was not the Brothers – Rohan and Ishan – alone. Sharing the spotlight at the show were four school choirs: the senior choirs of Royal College, Visakha Vidyalaya, Ladies’ College and the intermediate choir of Bishop’s College. And it was a treat indeed to see the young voices sing with such verve and aplomb on the big stage.
Royal College. Pix by Akila Jayawardena
The choice of music was carefully paced, with lighter moments interspersed with the more powerful emotionally charged numbers. The young choristers of Visakha Vidyalaya (seen on our Magazine cover), for instance, had the audience absolutely mesmerized with their rendition of ‘Come on Up’. The anthem about American abolitionist and activist Harriet Tubman, with the lines ‘She said her name was Harriet Tubman, and she drove for the underground railroad’ was delivered with all its dramatic moments wonderfully highlighted with the sibilant sounds of the railway, the stage in half darkness for good effect.
The Visakhian choir is directed by Rohan de Lanerolle (he took over from the late Vinod Senadhira) who also highlighted their involvement with these different school choirs over the years, from being judges at their respective choral competitions and working with them on other projects, even during the pandemic.
Ladies’ College
Also delivering a dramatic performance was the only boys’ school represented – the Royal College choir – ‘their arch rivals’, Rohan quipped (the Brothers being from the school by the sea) who chose ‘Deliver Us’ from the musical ‘The Prince of Egypt’. The Bishopians, appropriately clad in their school colour purple, presented the much loved ‘Tomorrow’ from Annie, another popular musical, with touching innocence, bringing smiles to the audience.
Ladies College directed by Anushka Abhayaratne were the last of the school choirs to perform and their choice ‘Let the River Run’ was performed with their usual finesse.
Bishop’s College Intermediate choir in action with Ishan and Rohan de Lanerolle.
The Brothers included many of their favourite numbers, starting off the show with ‘Because You’re Mine’ and weaving little anecdotes about the songs they had chosen from their own personal fund of memories, with their shared banter creating a close connection with the audience. ‘My Prayer’ – which they have consistently performed over most of their shows was dedicated to people loved and lost.
They also delivered one number on their own; Rohan showing his versatility with the lighthearted ‘By Strauss ’ – a Gershwin take on the Strauss waltz and Ishan delivering his signature ‘Ol’ Man River’ – very much an audience favourite, with all the emotional depth the classic demands.
Neranjan de Silva on keyboard and Surekha Amerasinghe at the piano were an integral part of a well choreographed evening which ended on a high with all the choirs joining the Brothers on stage for the rousing ‘Anthem’ from Chess.
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