‘Mathakayan’, a recital by Dmitri Gunatilake pays tribute to Sinhala classics, through the ages, that will forever be songs that remind us of ‘home’.
Dmitri Gunatilake who started her musical career at the age of 13, is a lawyer and vocal trainer and a LTCL holder of Trinity College, London.
 Dmitri Gunatilake |
A former student of Bishops College, Dmitri has played lead roles in productions such as ‘The Sound of Music’, ‘Evita’, and ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ and been nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the National Youth Drama Competition in 2018. Having held her own recitals in 2015, 2016, and 2019, and in April 2022, Dmitri was also the soloist for the Young Soloist Concert organised by the Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka in 2017.
‘Mathakayan’ is a labour of love and the realisation of a dream of many years for Dmitri. While her voice and soul come from her roots in her classical Western training, her heart has always beaten to the rhythm of the Sinhala classics; the folk songs, like ‘Pal Kavi and Olu Pipeela’ that tell a story from a far off nook in the land, the uplifting pop of the late nineteenth century like ‘Lassana Lokaye’, and of course the baila, and modern pop-rock, like ‘Nadee Ganga’, that can make even the most tired feet run to the dance floor.
This recital is a dream come true for Dmitri and her close friend and accompanist for the evening, Mariam Wadood, who fantasised about doing a show that paid tribute to the Sinhala songs of their heart for many years.
They are joined by guest artist, Minesh Dissanayake, and are aided by the talents of Charith Fernando on drums, Shalintha Rodrigo on Bass, Ajith Kodikara on Sri Lanka flute, and Tiyanie Sahabandu on violin.
The one and a half hour show is a tribute to the songs of the land which we all call home; songs that remind us of childhood, family, and love.
It will be held at 7.15 pm on October 15 at the Women’s International Club, Colombo 7.