From the first notes of the acclaimed carol Oh Come All Ye Faithful and the smooth harmony of the voices meant that the audience was in for an enjoyable evening of carols and Christmas music by Coro Calibre at the Taj Samudra on Friday December 21.
 General Manager Pulkesin Mohan and Ms Mohan
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Undoubtedly Shamal de Silva has to be congratulated for ensuring that Coro Calibre was not just another choir, singing the predictable harmonies and solos, but a choir with a difference since there were only eight of them giving out a performance that sounded like a choir of 20.
The large audience that was at the Taj Samudra lounge would have gone home with the melodies swinging around their heads.
The management of Taj Samudra and their wonderful hospitality in keeping with the Christmas spirit cannot go unrecognised. Oh another thought – in this age of advanced technology it was indeed refreshing to have seen children leave behind at home their Spiderman, Batman, Call of Duty, Odyssey, Scooby Doo and their cell phones to do enjoy the timeless Christmas carols and music, and singing Jingle Bells, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Mary’s Boy Child and Feliz Navidad. Speaking to the leader and keyboardist Shamal de Silva after their performance we learnt that Coro Calibre have a period of eight years behind them and every year since 2010 has been eventful for them.
Apart from Christmas carols and music what does the repertoire of the choir depend on?
“We sing semi-classical and gospel too. As a matter of fact we are having a concert of gospel music in March next year which will be held at Fatima Church and we are heavily involved in it. However that does not prevent us from performing at weddings singing in church. This month has been a heavy month for weddings and the Choir is involved in hard work.”
The music arrangements, are they ideally your own, or have you been influenced by foreign choral groups?
“The arrangements are mine. I have acquired a style of my own which I hope is enjoyed by music lovers who turn up for my concerts.
Onitha Gurugalla and the Taj team