Someone once said “Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life”, anyone present at the British School of Colombo Auditorium last Saturday would’ve borne testament to that, had the music not washed the dust of everyday lives from our souls, it definitely provided that haven of escapism that many yearn for.
Champagne Toast hosted by The Creative Arts foundation put on display a selection of the finest musical talent available to us here in the Pearl of the Indian Ocean, a promise of great things in the horizons for music aficionados. Variety being the key theme of operation the concert brought together an unmatched variety of performers each excelling in their respective disciplines on a stage fit for Royal courts.
The curtain raising act, Audacity, an all girl band from Ladies’ College Colombo held audiences with their signature rendition of Jet’s popular track “Are you gonna be my girl” The Audacity lead singer reminiscent of a local Taylor Swift with an inclination to rock music from what it seems belted out a rather impressive cover of the track. The violins incorporated in their act were a twist worth witnessing, seeing as they blended so well into the rocky themes they performed.
Aside from the audacity of it all, the song selection portrayed a fine attitude that would do well to represent the fairer gender in the local music scene seeing their unique sound and mix of alternative rock numbers in their repertoire such as Aero Smith’s “Don’t wanna miss a thing” and Britney Spears’ “I love rock ‘n roll”.
The crowd seemed to take to the act quite well even joining in to clap along with the tune.
The top hat-tap routine which followed paved way for another spectacular act in the form of “Cabaret” by Trudi, the outrageous lyrics and humor sat well with the audience as did the well honed finesse of vocal skill displayed when belting out the strong pitched notes.
The vocal quality spoke volumes of the adult contemporary talent in the country. The flute act that followed was a soothing affair of musical therapy evident in the calm that settled over the audience as they devoured each note to escape the soulful flutist’s instrument, some with closed eyes and others with open jaws.
The musical genius of the night wasn’t set to take any breathing space, seeing the act that followed came in the form of Choro Calibre, the award winning ensemble opening to the thrilled audience with Gregorian Chants, a sullen rendition complete with vocal excellence of the highest calibre.
The breathtaking performance was quickly followed by Dhanushi, enchanting the stage with “Ave Maria” the legendary choral marvel which have captured and held hearts throughout history. Dhanushi made a fine case in displaying her prowess as a vocalist of the highest standards, landing gracefully on the required notes with effortless poise.
Menaka Children’s Choir took to stage with a well rehearsed excerpt from “Oliver” the musical. Should onlookers have expected an age appropriate compromise on quality of performance, they were in for a promising disappointment. The young performers portrayed a very convincing musical act in well rehearsed union, drawing a well deserved round of thundering applause from the crowd.
Choro Calibre made a comeback on stage for the first time of the night with their Abba and Dance medleys, brilliant performances in their own right, later completing their act with a popular Sinhala track showcasing their versatility and dynamism.
Vocal enigma the second choral group on the Champagne Toast stage made a gave away a lively performance of a distinct Abba medley composed of popular tracks such as “Money money money” and “Mama mia” While two young violinists lit up the stage with their instrumental cover of Coldplay’s “Viva la vida”.
A highlight performance by Gehan giving life to the “Barber of Seville” with a highly energized satirical enactment drew appreciative feedback from the audience setting the stage for Shenelle to steal the show with her collection of Golden Oldies, concluding the highly successful show in fine fashion. Champagne Toast is a night worth remembering for anyone who appreciates good music.
By Dilshan Senaratne
Pics by Waruna Wanniarachchi
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