Colombo Philharmonic Choir pays tribute to its heritage with Haydn’s ‘Nelson Mass’
View(s):The Colombo Philharmonic Choir (CPC), in association with the Chamber Music Society of Colombo (CMSC), will present Haydn’s ‘Nelson Mass’ at 7 p.m. on Sunday, November 16 at the Church of St. Michael and All Angels, Polwatte, Colombo 03.
“I chose Haydn’s Nelson Mass because its message of faith, resilience and hope in troubled times continues to speak powerfully to us today,” said Harin Amirthanathan, conductor of the CPC. “It reminds us that light and peace can still emerge from adversity.”
1959: The CPC performing the Nelson Mass
It is especially meaningful for Harin to revisit this work during the choir’s 70th anniversary season, at St. Michael’s, the same venue where the CPC performed it under the baton of the founding conductor, Gerald Cooray, in 1959.
“Reviving (the mass at St. Michael’) allows us to honour our musical heritage and celebrate seven decades of choral artistry, unity, and faith through Haydn’s timeless music.”
The mass, composed in 1798 and formally titled ‘Missa in angustiis’ or ‘Mass for troubled times’, comprises an unusual combination of strings, trumpets, timpani, organ – a reflection of the instrumental constraints Haydn faced due to the state of war in Austria at the time – and chorus with soprano, alto, tenor and bass solos.
Soloists for the evening are Anagi Perera (soprano), Peshali Yapa (alto), Vindula Perera (tenor) and Laknath Senevirathne (bass). The experience of singing the soprano solo is “both challenging and rewarding,” said Anagi, who like Joan Cooray (soprano solo for the 1959 performance), is also a former student of Methodist College.
Adding to the close and almost uncanny intertwining of the 1959 performance and that of 2025 are Srimanthaka Senanayake and Denham Pereira. Srimanthaka’s parents were founding members of the CPC, and his mother Lynn Senanayake was a part of the choir at the 1959 performance of the Nelson Mass. Srimantha was appointed first acting conductor in the late ’90s and then deputy conductor in the early 2000s before he retired from the choir, and has rejoined for this performance of the Nelson Mass at the choir’s invitation. Denham, organist for the performance, is currently choirmaster at S. Thomas College (STC), Mount Lavinia. He follows in the footsteps of his predecessor Lucian G. B. Fernando, who was also choirmaster at STC when he played the organ for CPC’s performance of the Nelson Mass in 1959.
“It is indeed very special that many past generations of the (CPC) have been a part of the whole inspirational journey of our current choir,” said Nuran Gomez, President of the choir. “I feel it shows continuity in its simplest form.” But the most important tradition that the choir continues, more important than venues or institutions or people is the repertoire itself. “We are committed to continuing it, however niche it may become in society.”
Artistic Director of the CMSC, Lakshman Joseph de Saram, appreciates and shares this “deep reverence for classical repertoire” which, he also points out, is rare. “We share a commitment…to precision and depth…and that shared seriousness is what elevates the performance to a refined musical tradition.”
The CMSC will open the evening’s programme with Vivaldi’s Sinfonia “Al Santa Sepolcro” in B-minor. The work, written for four-part strings is “a more enigmatic piece” than one is used to hearing from Vivaldi, Lakshman says. “It is not vivacious, not a stunning technically demanding piece, (and) doesn’t have his usual exuberance or flamboyance.” It is, instead, a slow, reflective work meant to evoke the passion of Christ.
The choir will join the ensemble first with Alonso Lobo’s setting of Job 30:31 “Versa est in luctum” (My harp is turned to grieving) which reflects and builds on the sentiments of the Vivaldi piece. Then, the Haydn, which evokes anguish but also turns to hope in the exalted Christ.
A special schools performance of the programme will be held at 6 p.m. on Saturday, November 15 at the Church of St. Michael and All Angels, Polwatte, Colombo 03 as part of the CPC’s outreach efforts. Student programmes are priced Rs.500 while Teachers-in-Charge walk in free on this date.
The Colombo Philharmonic Choir (CPC), in association with the Chamber Music Society of Colombo (CMSC), will present Haydn’s ‘Nelson Mass’ at 7 p.m. on Sunday, November 16, at the Church of St. Michael and All Angels, Polwatte, Colombo 03. Entrance by programme priced at Rs.2000 each. Call 0712738255 to reserve.
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