The Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka will present a concert by well-known classical virtuosos on March 15 at the Ladies’ College, Hall, Colombo.
Pianist Shani Diluka needs no introduction to Sri Lankan audiences. Described as “an extraordinary interpreter who masterfully optimises her dual cultures of east and west, while championing a wide repertoire that always stands true to the rigorous standards of the great thinkers of music”, Shani Diluka will be joined by violinist Gabriel Le Magadure and the Austrian cellist Valentin Erben.
The SOSL will once again come under the baton of the Resident Conductor of the Tokyo Wind Symphony Orchestra, Keiko Kobayashi. A regular guest conductor with a popular following in Sri Lanka, Kobayashi will skillfully bring out the nuances of the unique characteristic of the three composers Beethoven, Rossini and Arnold.
The program will comprise Gioachino Rossini’s Overture to the Barber of Seville, the English composer Sir Malcolm Arnold’s Suite for Orchestra, The Inn of the Sixth Happiness, the score for which he won the Ivor Novello Award in 1958, and Beethoven’s Triple Concerto for Violin, Cello and Piano. At the Concerto’s premiere in Vienna in 1808, Beethoven who was the pianist described the composition as “really something new” and it has remained popular even now.
Internationally renowned Shani Dulika’s playing has often been referred to as ‘Revelatory’, ‘Depth of sound’ and ‘Soaring virtuosity’. Shani is a prodigy of the Princess Grace of Monaco program for gifted children, specializing at the Academy Prince Rainier III.
Winner of the International ARD cello competition in Munich, Austrian Cellist Valentin Erben studied under Andre Navarra at the Conservatoire in Paris. Sri Lanka will be fortunate to watch Valentin play Matteo Goffriller’s famous cello which has been played by Pierre Fournier and Yoyo Ma on loan from the Merito String Instruments Trust GmbH.
Hailed by international critics as an outstanding musician violinist Gabriel Le Magadure performs often with Shani Dulika and Valentin Erben as a chamber musician and soloist. He has performed at some of the world’s most prestigious music halls, including, New York’s Carnegie Hall, Berlin’s Philharmonic, London’s Wigmore Hall, Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw and Vienna’s Musikverein.
Box plan opened yesterday February 18.