Classical Virtuosos take centre stage at March SOSL Concert

A stellar line up of classical virtuosos will perform scintillating scores by some of the world’s most renowned composers. 

On Wednesday 15 March at the Ladies College Hall, the Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka comes under the baton of prize-winning conductor and Chief Conductor of the Japan Wind Ensemble and Resident Conductor of the Tokyo Wind Symphony Orchestra Keiko Kobayashi.  

A regular guest conductor with a popular following in Sri Lanka, Kobayashi will skilfully bring out the musical nuances that encompass the unique characteristics of the three composers Beethoven, Rossini and Arnold.

The hallmark feature of composer Gioachino Rossini, who gained the moniker The Italian Mozart, of repetitive phrases built to a dramatic crescendo, is well exampled in the Overture to the Barber of Seville, which forms the ideal beginning to the multi-hued power-packed pieces that comprise the evening’s program.  Tackling English composer Sir Malcolm Arnold’s Suite for Orchestra, ‘The Inn of the Sixth Happiness’ pushes the strings to new boundaries. Composer of over 130 films scores, considered some of the finest composed for the silver screen, Arnold is best known for his Oscar-winning film score The Bridge on the River Kwai. The score of the ‘Inn of the Sixth Happiness’ won him the Ivor Novello Award in 1958.

Ludwig Van Beethoven’s Triple Concerto for Violin, Cello and Piano places the spotlight firmly on the three guest artistes performing with the SOSL, Shani Diluka, Gabriel Le Magadure and Valentin Erben. This concerto is alleged to have had its first sketches in Vienna with Beethoven himself being the pianist at its Viennese premier in 1808. Beethoven had described this particular composition as ‘really something new’ as the combination of piano, violin and cello had not been tried before. Beethoven skilfully wove the interplay of the three instruments into a concerto style, creating a piece of aural entertainment and delight.

Pianist Shani Diluka has been described as an ‘extraordinary interpreter’ who masterfully optimises her dual cultures of east and west, while championing a wide repertoire that always stands true to the rigorous standards of the great thinkers of music. Her playing has often been referred to as ‘Revelatory’, ‘Depth of sound’ and ‘Soaring virtuosity’. Internationally renowned, performing in some of the most prestigious international festivals and concert halls, Shani is a prodigy of the Princess Grace of Monaco program for gifted children, specialising at the Academy Prince Rainier III.

Austrian Cellist Valentin Erben, a winner of the International ARD cello competition ARD in Munich and a Premier Prix for Cello and Chamber Music, enthusiastically pursued his love for music under André Navarra at the Conservatoire in Paris and Jean Hubeau and Joseph Calvet, Walter Reichardt at the Munich Academy of Music and Tobias Kühne, a former student of Navarra.  A co-founder of the Alban Berg Quartet and a member of the Lucern Festival Orchestra, Sri Lanka will be fortunate to watch Valentin play Matteo Goffriller’s famous cello, which has been played by Pierre Fournier and Yoyo Ma, on loan from the Merito String Instruments Trust GmbH.

Hailed by international critics as an outstanding musician full of sensitivity possessing a warm deep sound and an exceptional capacity to listen, Ebène Quartet violinist Gabriel Le Magadure performs often with Shani Diluka and Valentin Erben as a chamber musician and soloist. His prowess is well evidenced with the numerous accolades collated throughout his career. Gabriel Le Magadure has performed at some of the world’s most prestigious music halls including New York’s Carnegie Hall, Berlin’s Philarmonie, London’s Wigmore Hall, Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, Vienna’s Musikverein. 

People’s Bank is the Principal Sponsor for this outstanding concert which promises to be a unique ‘not to be missed’ treat for music lovers. Tickets and box plan will be available from Tickets.lk from 18 February 2017.