After many months, the Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka (SOSL) returns to the stage with a symphonic classical music concert at the Lionel Wendt Theatre. Conducted by the SOSL’s Resident Conductor, Dushyanthi Perera, the programme will feature the SOSL’s Principal Cellist, Tamara Holsinger as solo cellist in Max Bruch’s Kol Nidrei. Both Dushyanthi and Tamara [...]
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Conducted by the SOSL’s Resident Conductor, Dushyanthi Perera, the programme will feature the SOSL’s Principal Cellist, Tamara Holsinger as solo cellist in Max Bruch’s Kol Nidrei. Both Dushyanthi and Tamara have established their reputations as being the leading cellists in the country, although the former has laid down her cello bow to take up the conductor’s baton, excelling in that role too.
Kol Nidrei (which means All Vows in Aramaic) was composed by Max Bruch while living in the UK. Drawing on two traditional Jewish melodies Bruch wrote this piece as an offering to the Jewish community calling it an “Adagio on Two Hebrew Melodies for Cello and Orchestra”. Composing during the Romantic Era, Bruch broke from rigid structures and created a piece full of emotional themes, which is supposedly Bruch’s second most performed, after his violin concerto.
The concert will commence with Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 03 for nine string instruments covering the high, middle and low ranges, and harpsichord (keyboard). The Brandenburg Concertos are often cited as the finest of the Baroque Era.
Arthur Rubenstein described Chopin’s ‘Military Polonaise’ as a “symbol of Polish glory”. It is written that during the Nazi invasion in 1939 this piece was played daily, over the radio, to boost Polish peoples’ morale. Vibrant and bold this is one of Chopin’s best known pieces.
The highlight of the evening’s programme will be performed in the second half of the concert. Dvorak’s Symphony No. 09, popularly known as “From the New World” was written during the Czech composer’s time in America. Inspired by native American music and music of the African-American community, Dvorak himself wrote “I have simply written original themes embodying the peculiarities of Negro and Indian music and, using these themes as subjects, have developed them with all the resources of modern rhythm, harmony, counterpoint, and orchestral colour.”
Yet, to European audiences the 9th Symphony sounded very similar to Dvorak’s Bohemian music as it is likely to have encompassed some feelings of homesickness as well. Regardless of its roots, it is a work of many magical moments.
Tickets and box plan at the Lionel Wendt Theatre.
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Print Edition – The Sunday Times, Sri Lanka
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