Sunday Times 2
Classical music and bean bags: Harmonic Conspiracies are back
View(s):When Harmonic Conspiracies last performed together in August 2016, they got the kind of positive feedback they never expected. The highlight? Kids plonked on beanbags paying complete attention to the classical pieces being performed on the informal “stage”. And so, the band will be back, this time “Travelling through musical times of Baroque and Contemporary” with Sri Lanka’s renowned jazz pianist Harsha Markalande.
Harmonic Conspiracies is a group of young classical musicians based in Colombo who make up the face of our regular concert rounds. Rehearsal conversation, they say, centred on their frustration with how classical music is seen as boring, difficult to understand and more suited for the elderly. Being young themselves, and seeing no one else do something to address the issue, they decided to do it themselves. The point of the Harmonic Conspiracies series is to take classical music outside its regular setting to different audiences and definitely more relaxed situations. Hence the bean bags.
The group comprises Johann Peiris, Nilupul Silva, Thivanthi Perera, Zainamb Wahid, Sulara Nanayakkara, and Saranga Cooray. Guest performers on March 26 will include Tehani Tissera, Amasha Tissera, Nuran Gomez, Randhini Fernando, Madhira Vidanapathirana and Nishantha Warnakulasuriya.
The programme will consist of works from Baroque composers such as Bach, Handel, Vivaldi and move on to medleys, mash-ups of Adele, Beyonce and more. Harmonic Conspiracies III will take place on Sunday, March26 at the Sooriya Village, from 6.30 p.m. onwards.