Acclaimed composer-pianist Dr. Tanya Ekanayaka to perform Mozartś popular concerto the ‘Elvira Madigan’ tomorrow

Internationally acclaimed composer-pianist Dr. Tanya Ekanayaka will be performing Mozart’s most popular concerto the ‘Elvira Madigan’ when she appears with the Chamber Music Society of Colombo in its season finale on Tuesday, December 5 at 7.30 p.m. at the Lionel Wendt Theatre.
“I hope everyone who loves music will enjoy this concert as it contains a blend of western classical, contemporary world and Sri Lankan music,” Tanya told the Sunday Times via email.
Classically trained and with a background in popular and South Asian music, Tanya Ekanayaka is also an improviser, musicologist, linguist and record producer.

The concert sponsored by Fairway Holdings will also feature the Sri Lankan premiere of two of Tanya’s new works for solo piano titled ‘C – Emerald Lapwing Karpet’and ‘F – Renewal & Goyam Kapuma’ which will be on her forthcoming second solo CD for solo piano performed and produced by her and due to be released worldwide by Naxos Records, the world’s largest independent record label. Also on the programme will be Bach’s Orchestral Suite No. 3 D Major, (BWV 1068), Jean- Philippe Rameau’s Ballet Suite and
Edward Elgar’s Serenade for Strings and Mozart’s Piano Concerto No 21, C Major (K467).
“The part of the programme involving the concerto and my solo works was selected collaboratively while the CMSC finalised the other orchestral works,” she said.
The CMSC is led by concert-master Lakshman Joseph de Saram. In addition to teaching at The University of Edinburgh and other music related engagements, Tanya evolved new music for her forthcoming album of works for solo piano for Naxos Records (Grand Piano). “I premiered a few of the works in London and Armenia this year and will be performing two of these works at the concert in Colombo too. Collectively, the works in the album present two concepts I’ve developed. The album was recorded a few weeks ago in Edinburgh by a wonderful Scottish recording engineer and is produced by me for Naxos Records,” she says.
One of her works titled ‘Adahas: Of Wings Of Roots’ was also featured in the Naxos Records box set titled ‘Three Centuries of Rare Keyboard Gems’ released in 2017.
Her next album is due to be released in 2018.

Tanya last performed in Sri Lanka in 2012 as concerto soloist with the Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka conducted by Keiko Kobayashi. When the invitation came from Lakshman Joseph de Saram, the concert master of The
Chamber Music Society of Colombo, “I was delighted to accept,” she says. “I will be in Sri Lanka for a few weeks as I hope to spend Christmas with my family and my three cats!” she added.
Tickets (Rs. 2,500, 2,000, 1,500 and 1,000) and box plan for Tanya’s concert are available at the Lionel Wendt Theatre.