Young Lankans star in a memorable evening of opera
Jehani Gamalathge with Menaka De Fonseka on piano
‘Funiculi Funicula’ reverberated across the Russian Cultural Centre theatre, as the entire Menaka Singers Opera Ensemble sang in harmony providing a fantastic finale to a memorable concert ‘After All It’s Opera’ on November 21.
Well loved arias from Don Giovanni, Cosi fan Tutte, The Marriage of Figaro, The Barber of Seville, The Enchantress, Un Ballo in Maschera, La Boheme, The Pearl Fishers, Elisir d’ Amore amongst others were performed by the talented young soloists Hiruni Perera, Jehani Gamalathge, Rachel Halliday, Samali Liyanage, Emesh Wijewardena, Ravindu Perera and Nishantha Warnakulasuriya.
The concert, a collaboration of the Menaka Singers Opera Ensemble and Barbara Segal Opera International took place at the Russian Cultural Centre sponsored by the Earle De Fonseka Trust with Jetwing 7 as the official hospitality sponsor.
Veteran opera singer Barbara Segal, who now makes her home in Sri Lanka, appeared on stage before every aria to explain the background, making it possible for everyone in the audience, even those unfamiliar with opera to understand the storyline. Veteran teacher and singer Menaka De Fonseka Sahabandu accompanied her students on the piano with her usual flair.
Nishantha Warnakulasuriya with Barbara Segal. Pix by Ishanka Sunimal
“It’s been a thrill for me to work with such wonderful, talented people. This country obviously has a lot of talent to offer and Barbara and Menaka De Fonseka are working regularly with these singers to train them and it’s been an absolute delight for me to be with them, to spend time with them, to get to know them. I’ve had a fantastic time and I can’t thank them enough for what they have done tonight,” said British opera singer Christopher Thornton-Holmes who was the night’s special guest performer.
Of the several arias that were performed, special mention must be made of the La ci darem la mano from Don Giovanni – a duet performed by Christopher Thornton-Holmes and Rachel Halliday where the chemistry between the duo really brought out the music.
Jehani Gamalathge showed off her vocal prowess in the aria Czardas, where she played a masquerading Hungarian countess to perfection, with her expressive movements and clear high notes.
Guest artist Christopher Thornton-Holmes and Emesh Wijewardena
Law student Emesh Wijewardena who is hoping to join a young artists programme in an Opera house in Europe was undoubtedly one of the stars of the night. Emesh who is dedicated towards making a career in opera, even travelling twice a week to Matara to have masterclasses with Barbara and taking language classes to better aid him in singing, performed Che Gelida Manina as well as the Pearl Fishers duet and O Sovae Fanciulla from La Boheme. He sang the Pearl Fishers duet with Christopher, the young Sri Lankan tenor holding his own with an opera veteran.
An audience favourite was Samali Liyanage who played the part of a princess who decides to be an opera singer, in ‘Art is calling for me’. One of the few pieces that was in English, it provided some comic relief as the singer dropped her crown, coughed right after belting out a high note and danced around the stage with aplomb.
“Why can’t we have a Sri Lankan singer everybody has heard of not just in Sri Lanka but worldwide. The only thing that is stopping them is opportunity, so my desire is to give them the opportunity,” said Barbara, summing up her efforts to bring down renowned opera singers to the island and give these promising young singers an opportunity to reach the international stage.
Rachel Halliday and Samali Liyanage