There’s no going back after ‘singing stole his heart and soul’
Joshua Surendraraj talks to up and coming tenor Emesh Wijewardena
Singing creates a sense of euphoria. But, the melody doesn’t stop here. A performing artist doesn’t perform for himself alone, rather it’s also for an audience. And this sense of euphoria comes into fruition when the audience feels the same emotion and energy felt by the singer.
This is the simple philosophy followed by Emesh Wijewardena, the talented young tenor who is fast making a name for himself in local music circles. Performing at the
Lionel Wendt’s Young Musicians concert recently, Emesh had the audience enrapt with his performance.
Some of his noteworthy performances abroad include at Caltagirone, Sicily (2018), Basilica della Maria Maggiore, Rome (2012), Fish Mongers Hall London (2012) and Cape Town, South Africa (2018).
Emesh shared some highlights of his musical journey, yet unfolding. He started studying piano and music theory at the age of nine but once singing “stole his heart and soul,” he was invested in it. As a boy he sang soprano in the St Joseph’s College (SJC) choir.
“I am strongly convinced that my days in the school choir laid the basic foundation for everything I have achieved thus far,” he says. Emesh is especially grateful to choir director Francis de Almeida and former Rector of SJC Rev. Fr. Sylvester Ranasinghe, and all his teachers. “They’ve all taught me to be resilient and to never give up on your dreams.”
Following his school career, Emesh read for his LLB from the University of London at the Royal Institute, Colombo. He travels to Sicily, Italy, thrice a year to study Voice and Operatic Performance with Italian Tenor and Bel Canto specialist Maestro Salvatore Fisichella.
Like any musician, Emesh has several musical idols who inspire him. These include his maestro Salvatore Fisichella, Enrico Caruso, Giacomo Lauri-Volpi, Antonietta Stella and Maria Callas to name a few.
As our conversation moves on to his public performances, Emesh explains that to get up on stage and perform a challenging operatic aria with no amplification is not an easy task.
This is more so when a tenor would have to hit those high notes “the ‘money notes” which the audience eagerly awaits. “We have to astutely work certain aspects of the voice at a laryngeal level in order to perfectly execute the high notes at a theatrical volume and also regulate it from a fortissimo to a pianissimo (very loud to very soft) melodiously,” he says.
But, Emesh has had several memorable performances, his favourite being the time he played the lead role in his debut opera L’elisir D’amore in Caltagirone, Sicily under the baton of Maestro Jonathan Santagada for the Mediterranean Opera Festival, 2018.
It was a wonderful opportunity and the chance to meet many talented people, but Emesh also felt under a bit of pressure because it was the first time he sang in front of an orchestra. Nevertheless, he feels blessed to have great coaches and mentors such as Maestro Jack Li Vigni and Maestro Carlos Conde and also Maestro Peter Crockford, who helped him throughout the process.
Outside the spotlight, Emesh loves to share his passion and knowledge of music. But there are also moments where he enjoys his solitude. This gives him the chance to focus on how he could improve as a person.
Quite the bibliophile, Emesh loves to read anything which nourishes his knowledge and life as a whole.
His other love is cooking and he is inspired by the likes of Gordon Ramsay, Marco Pierre White and Chef Publis.
Making it in the industry as a young musician is not all sunshine and rainbows for sure, Emesh tells us. More so when you’re trying to balance a career in law at the same time.
And as his career progresses, Emesh looks to continue to perform in Sri Lanka and also in concerts and opera festivals etc, under the guidance of Maestro Fisichella.
Follow Emesh on social media for more updates on his upcoming events.
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