Kiara’s debut concert in Colombo
View(s):- An evening of arias and musical theatre with Menaka de Fonseka Sahabandu
Guest artistes: Wasantha
In her debut concert, Kiara will be seen with Menaka de Fonseka Sahabandu on piano as they present “Ain’t it a Pretty Night” on Tuesday, July 16 at 7.30 p.m. at the Russian Centre No. 10, Independence Avenue, Colombo 7. Wasantha Kumara Geekiyanage (tenor) and Ravindu Perera (baritone) of the Menaka Singers Opera Ensemble will be the guest artistes at this concert.
The recital will feature a selection of opera arias, art song and musical theatre showcasing works by Mozart, Bellini, Puccini, Schumann, Bernstein and others.
Guest artistes: Ravindu
The title aria ‘Ain’t it a Pretty Night’, is from American composer Carlisle Floyd’s opera ‘Susannah’ (1955), a tragedy inspired by the Apocryphal tale of Susannah and the elders. Set in a small Appalachian town, the protagonist Susannah, a young woman, is unjustly judged and condemned as a sinner by church elders, eventually excommunicated from the place and people she loves.
Kiara moved to the UK, to read for a BA in Geography at Cambridge University, where she was also an Instrumental Award Holder for violin and led her college orchestra, the Jesus College Orchestra, in several concerts. She also composed the music score for a play titled, ‘And the Horse You Rode in on’, which was staged at Corpus Playroom in Cambridge and later at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Since achieving an MA in Music in Development at SOAS University of London, Kiara remains at SOAS undertaking a PhD in Anthropology on the topic of NHS mental health services. During the time she trained and worked as a mental health practitioner in the NHS, she organised music workshops for patients and composed soundscapes to present research findings.
Menaka de Fonseka Sahabandu
Kiara trained under Joanne Watson and Stuart MacIntyre, earning an LTCL in Singing Performance with Trinity College of Music. Singing with the choir of All Souls Langham Place for ten years, where she was appointed soprano fixer, she regularly performed in the All Souls’ flagship event ‘Prom Praise’ at the Royal Albert Hall. Most recently, she was invited as the soloist for the 2024 Christian Embassy Women’s Day Luncheon for diplomats.
Leading voice and piano teacher, Menaka De Fonseka Sahabandu needs no introduction. Founder /Director of the Menaka Sahabandu School of Music, Menaka Singers and The Menaka Singers Opera Ensemble, she is an examiner and instrumental and vocal tutor with the Australian Guild of Music Education and visiting lecturer at the University of Visual and Performing Arts
Sri Lanka.
Kiara Wickremasinghe (photographed at Lakmahal Community Library by Warren White)
Tickets for the show priced at Rs 2000 can be obtained by calling 0714811228 or 0762939234.
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