Pera Singers in Concertaid XIV

Bridget Halpé presents her 14th concert in the Concertaid series in September/October featuring the Peradeniya Singers, the Kandy Junior Singers, several young professionals and a guest artiste – the Japanese operatic soloist Haruka Nagakubo.

Nagakubo who trained at the Verdi Conservatoire in Milan and also studied under Elena Obratsova and Renato Palumbo, has performed in concerts and operas held in Italy and Japan and also in concerts with the Veneta Philharmonic Orchestra.

The Concertaid shows have been in aid of very worthy Lankan charities – this year all proceeds will go to disabled music teachers (who are no longer able to make an income from teaching), and the Jeevanakanda Home for traumatized and abused girls at Rangala, Kandy.

Concertaid XIV will begin with an exquisite gem of polyphony stretching across the Baroque beauty of Bach, and over to more contemporary works. The music of many lands, of many styles and forms will be presented. There is a contemporary choral work from Australia for the small singers – “Cinderella dressed in Yella”. Two Zulu numbers will be performed by the Peradeniya Singers amongst other items.

The baritone soloist Harin Deekshan will perform Mozart and Rachmaninoff while Nagakubo will perform Alessandro Scarlatti, Giovanni Martini and the dramatic declamation of Giuseppe Verdi’s aria of Lady Macbeth. Franz Schubert’s piano duet, Fantasie and Giulio Caccini’s Ave Maria arranged for a sextet will also be performed.

Concertaid XIV will be presented on September 29 at 6 p.m. at Kandy Girls’ High School Hall and on October 6 at 7 p.m. at St. Paul’s Church, Kynsey Road, Colombo 8. Admission is by programme available at the door and from Mrs. Bridget Halpé tel: 081-2239113 or 0779623425.