“Ubi Caritas” : A celebration of the works that have shaped the Philharmonic Choir
On Sunday, March 22, at 7 p.m., the Colombo Philharmonic Choir will present “Ubi Caritas: An Evening of Enduring Classics from Our Archives” at the Chapel of the Hope of the World, Ladies’ College, Colombo 7. The recital promises a reflective and uplifting journey through some of the most beloved works that have held a cherished place in the choir’s repertoire across its 70-year history.
Rather than focusing on a single thematic idea, this programme draws from the choir’s own musical memory, revisiting works that generations of choristers have sung and held dear, offering the audience an opportunity to hear again the choral masterpieces that have become woven into the ensemble’s identity.
Journey through time:The Philharmonic Choir at practice at the Ladies’ College chapel
The evening’s selection brings together some of the most enduring works from the choral canon. Among them are the beloved chorales ‘Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring’ from Cantata BWV 147 and ‘Flocks in Pastures Green Abiding’ from Cantata No. 208. Also featured is the joyful chorus ‘The Heavens Are Telling’ from Haydn’s The Creation, alongside Mozart’s luminous motet ‘Ave verum corpus’, composed in the final year of the composer’s life.
Another highlight of the evening will be Mendelssohn’s ‘O for the Wings of a Dove’ from Hear My Prayer. The aria, one of the most recognisable soprano solos in the choral repertoire, has been performed by many of the choir’s sopranos over the decades, each bringing their own voice to its soaring lines.
These familiar classics are complemented by more recent works that have quickly become favourites among choirs around the world. Morten Lauridsen’s ‘Sure on This Shining Night’ brings a gentle radiance to the programme, while Elaine Hagenberg’s ‘Alleluia’, set to a text by St Augustine and written in a lively 7/8 metre, adds a burst of rhythmic vitality and joy.
Sacred choral works such as Bruckner’s ‘Locus Iste’, music by Palestrina and Rachmaninov, and the resonance of Duruflé further enrich the programme, creating a musical arc that stretches from Renaissance polyphony through the great Romantic choral tradition to contemporary voices. Together, these works illustrate how choral music forms a living archive, passed from one generation of singers to the next.
For conductor Harin Amirthanathan, the decision to programme these well-loved works was both artistic and deeply personal. “We often focus on exploring new repertoire and presenting programmes built around a theme,” he explains. “Yet many of us grew up singing these beautiful choral gems, which today are seldom performed or are not always sung in the way the composers intended.”
By bringing them together in one evening, he hopes to honour the shared musical heritage that shaped many choristers’ early experiences with choral singing. One work that holds particular significance for him is Handel’s ‘O Praise the Lord with One Consent’ from the Chandos Anthems, the first piece he sang with the Colombo Philharmonic Choir when he joined as an eighteen-year-old under the direction of Manilal Weerakoon. Preparing it again now as conductor has been a moment of reflection. “Working on it again has brought back many treasured memories of rehearsals, old friendships, and the many past members who sang with us and are no longer here,” Harin recalls. “Each piece in this programme carries its own story and connection to cherished memories.”
These sentiments are shared by many long-time members of the choir. Birgitte Wimaladharma recalls first performing ‘The Heavens Are Telling’ and ‘Locus Iste’ as a teenager in a church choir in Germany, long before joining the local choral community in Sri Lanka and singing the same works again under successive conductors. She also reflects on another meaningful piece, ‘Flocks in Pastures Green Abiding’, performed under the late Lylie Godridge. “He made those performances memorable by introducing the piece with interesting insights about the composer,” she recalls. “Those little facts still linger in my memory.”
For fellow chorister Neomi Muthukuda, two pieces in particular – ‘The Heavens Are Telling’ and ‘Flocks in Pastures Green Abiding’ – also evoke many memories. She first sang them under the direction of Lylie Godridge and Mary Anne David. “For me the lyrics are so meaningful and the music is heavenly,” she reflects. “I am happy to sing these again with the Colombo Philharmonic under the baton of Harin.”
The choir will once again collaborate with pianist Dilan Angunawela, whose sensitive and assured accompaniment has become an integral part of many recent performances. “Ubi Caritas” is thus an evening of continuity and a celebration of the timeless works that have shaped this choir’s journey.
Entrance is by programme (Rs 2,000), available at the door.
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