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Friday, 28 November 2014 01:03 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Sarah Hannan
Decorative façades, the misty breeze and the illuminated walkways of the city are few of the telltale signs that the festivities of the season are ready to kick-off.
This December, the Chamber Music Society of Colombo (CMSC), along with the Colombo Philharmonic Choir, presents the fun-filled ‘Holiday Season Gala Concert’ at the Lionel Wendt Theatre on Friday 5 December from 7:30 p.m. on wards. The Premier Sponsor Fairway Holdings will be the generous supporter of the Society.
The Colombo Philharmonic Choir the oldest choir in the country and three distinguished guest soloists – sopranos Dhanushi Wijeyakulasuriya and Anagi Perera, and mezzo soprano Peshali Yapa – will join the Orchestra of the Chamber Music Society of Colombo.
The conductor for the evening will be Manilal Weerakoon of the Colombo Philharmonic Choir. The audience can expect a fun-filled concert yet steeped in the classical tradition. This is the ideal concert for classical music aficionados to let their hair down.
Speaking about the concert, Chamber Music Society of Colombo Artistic Director Lakshman Joseph de Saram stated: “The first half will include Vivaldi’s Gloria and will feature glory in its entirety. In the second half the audience will be able to wrap themselves around with ‘The Toy Symphony’ and eight beautiful carols which are perennial favourites that will give the audience an option to sing-along if they feel inclined. The enjoyable list of carols includes Little Town of Bethlehem, Silent Night, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, Come All Ye Faithful, Angels We Have Heard on High, Joy to the World, Deck the Halls and We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”
He further noted that ‘The Toy Symphony’ is a quirky little piece which was attributed to Leopold Mozart (Wolfgang’s father) which is disputed to be of a confusing array of celebrity composers, but one cannot dispute its enjoyment.
“It is a very tongue-in-cheek kind of piece which uses little sound-making implements such as the sound of a nightingale, the sound of a wave, a toy drum, a toy trumpet… so the composer incorporates all these elements. People who are listening will have a grin on their face right throughout the piece.”
It is something children could look forward to and relate to. Though the orchestra will not be having any children performing, in most parts of the world the toy instruments are performed by children.
The CMSC’s core audience which has been faithfully attending its performances over the years had requested a fun concert to herald in the season and this concert is a little gift for that audience.
“With this concert we are going to the brink as much a classical organisation could. The Christmas carols are only possible in a Christmas concert. We found a niche of people who are very loyal and our following comes up to 450 enthusiasts. This is the first time we are opening it up for a bigger audience and their friends as well, because this concert was inspired by the needs of our audiences,” de Saram elaborated.
“Over the ages classical music has only appealed to a very small number. It is not diminishing, nor is it increasing. Great art throughout the ages has always had that percentage. It is like fast food and fine food. As classical musicians we will never expect to have thousands of people flocking in for our concerts. But Colombo has its aficionados for classical music and it is the same percentage as in any other big city around the world.
“If you take New York, which has a population of nine million, it has the same percentage of the audience for a classical music concert as opposed to a Broadway production, and it is the same as Colombo. Though the classical music audience is ageing, there will always be a young musician who aspires and appreciates great art and you will also see young people attending our concerts,” he added.
