MUSICIAN SARATH KUMARASINGHE PRESENTS
ANOTHER SHOW IN TORONTO. (Picture courtesy Youtube)
A review by Soma Munasinghe
The pleasant surprise of the evening was Hallelujah, Canadian Leonard Cohen’s mega-hit, which is an apt tribute to the late singer, poet, and writer.
The melancholy strains of the esraj suited the sombre mood conveyed by the melody, and I am sure this is the first-ever rendition of that timeless classic played on esraj with an oriental touch.
The musician who sat on the stage with his esraj in a meditative pose was Toronto-based virtuoso Sarath Kumarasinghe, known as one of the best esraj players in North America, presenting another of his solo performances on the November 27 evening in Toronto.
Sarath began his ‘Sonduru Sathsara’ shows in Toronto in 2004 and staged more than a dozen performances in Canada, Sri Lanka and the US. He has also released many CDs and DVDs featuring his work.
There was more magic as the night meandered along, mesmerizing the house-full audience ready to shake off their three-year-long Covid blues.
During the first part of the show, esraj took centre stage with Sarath playing the instrument according to the style of the Bathkanda Music University in India, where he studied classical music. In the other tradition called Shanthinikethan style, the esraj is held in a freestanding ninety-degree vertical posture.
Sarath dug into his repertoire of western, Sri Lankan, Tamil, and Bollywood classics taking our memories back to the nostalgic 60s, 70s, and 80s, supported by a talented band composed of six Indians and two Sri Lankan musicians: Raman Kant, Nain Sharma, Shellar Nath, Roy Vass, Shivo Mohabeer, Sajoul Khetia, Pratap Solanki and Sarath’s son Kushan backing the band playing the flute.
Kant led the orchestra and, at one point, played the piano accordion to relive the memories of Raj Kapoor and his iconic movie Sangam.
Hindi film music is not strange to Sri Lankans though they don’t speak the language, and Sarath’s rendition of melodies from Bollywood classics appealed to the core sentiments of the audience, who, I am sure, were taken back to their time spent in Sri Lanka. That nostalgia gave us a lump in the throat, moaning for a paradise stranded in a social and economic stalemate today.
The second part of the program showcased Sarath’s excellent vocal skills. He sang three of his original songs apart from the cover songs of Sri Lankan singers, Somathilaka Jayamaha, Sisira Senarathne, Amarasiri Peiris, Edward Jayakody, Kasun Kalhara and several others.
Well-known Sri Lankan musicians H.M. Jayawardena, Darshana Wickrematunga and Rohana Weerasinghe, provided music for his original creations.
Glory Guiliani, a versatile Indian vocalist, sang several Hindi duets with Sarath, while Toronto-based Hasanthika Atapattu, Ayesha Chandraratne and Abeetha Munasiinghe assisted in duets and choral singing.
A cultural item by Keth Roo dance troupe added a touch of glamour and beauty to the evening proceedings.
Sarath learnt to play the esraj at 12 while studying at Colombo Thurstan College and later nurtured his vocal and instrumental classical music at the Bhatkhande University.
In a chat with compere Sampath Peththawadu, Sarath said he liked the esraj as it was a handy instrument to play, and since his sister had one at home, he thought he could practise more often without disrupting his studies. After he left school and began to work, esraj music became his lifelong passion despite his busy work schedule as a fully qualified Chartered accountant.
Esraj is relatively young, with a history of about 200 years compared to other Indian classical instruments, and it was widely popular during the time of Rabindranath Tagore. The instrument’s popularity declined in the 80s but clawed back due to its renewed interest, and mainstream music should appreciate the efforts of musicians like Sarath to keep it alive.
His esraj instrumental CD, released in Sri Lanka in 2001, is the first of its kind in Sri Lanka, and to date, he has released four instrumental CDs and two concert DVDs.
In 2016 Sarath was honoured by the lieutenant Governor of Ontario for his services to the community through music and art.
The show’s proceeds will go to Indira Jayasuriya Cancer Trust, which provides a lifeline to patients afflicted with the dreaded disease in Sri Lanka and many other countries. ©newstrails.com
