The Grand Finale of Reach Light was held on Friday, November 2, at the Peoples’ Church, Narahenpita. Reach Light is a unique event by the Reach Team (www.reachbeyondlimits.com) as an alternative to the regular music competitions. Over the past several weeks 25 young people competed with each other at the preliminaries, culminating in the grand finale. The five talented finalists were Romany Arrowsmith, Shehan Wanigasekera, Ranshan Gomez, Franco Gunasekara and Jeremy Mc Shane.

These young people aspiring to win, first auditioned before a panel of judges. Each week two winners were selected from those competing to make it to the semi-finals. The winners emerged on points awarded by the judges and votes cast by the audience. Few made it to the final round, but despite the cliché, everyone truly was a winner in the end.

Well known personalities in the music industry contributed to the success of Reach Light by presiding as judges and added to the quality of the competition by performing as guest artists. The panel of judges at the Grand Finale were Noeline Honter, Maxie Rosairo and Piyal Perera. They unanimously congratulated the participants and the Reach Team for their successful efforts and stated that they would be happy to be involved in such an event in the future.

Most of the participants were accompanied by the Reach Band, though some had their own bands. Being a gospel music competition, Reach Light was filled with varied styles of music which enriched the audience and participants with its simplicity. The five finalists had distinctly different styles. Romany Arrowsmith, won the final round with her song My Redeemer Lives (by Nicole C. Mullen) which was magnificently sung.

Reach Light was the kind of event that a parent would feel comfortable knowing their children participated in as it was organised and held within the premises of a church and offered nothing but the best in terms of quality and opportunity. Those who stood up to the challenge obviously reaped tremendous benefits in terms of exposure to the music industry and learnt that there is a clean and wholesome way to thrive in the world of music.

They learnt new techniques and gained experience, and were able to avail themselves of numerous once-in-a-life-time opportunities such as moving amongst the stars. This event was open to the public.

The prizes awarded at the Grand Finale included a choice of a musical instrument plus a Mp4 player and the enviable opportunity of having one’s own single being recorded courtesy Hit Factory. The awards were sponsored by Yamaha and Bass. In addition each finalist received a Mp3 player and every participant received a complimentary copy of Natasha Ratnayake’s latest album.

In empathy with Dorian Gray

A fictional character that has had profound impact on many is Oscar Wilde’s Dorian Gray. One can strongly empathise with Gray’s intense longing to cling to the glory of youth. My empathy is influenced by popular culture today, which exalts youth and physical perfection; much in the same manner that Dorian Gray exalts his. I find sharp parallels between the character of Dorian Gray and the current popular culture — his lust for youthful beauty is mirrored in the demands of today’s society, and his hedonistic lifestyle is similar to that of certain celebrities.

Dorian is an example of how life should not be led, and this example is insightful when considering certain social issues today. However, despite the fact that his erring character has revealed much about the tacit demands of society, I cannot help but possess certain affection for Dorian himself (although I am, of course, averse to what he represents). I feel that Dorian cannot be wholly condemned for the path he chooses, and to a large extent blame falls on Lord Henry for introducing him to a life of such decadent hedonism. Initially, Dorian goes astray because of attempting to emulate the ways of Lord Henry who exploits his naiveté in an entirely blasé manner. It is under the influence of Dorian’s idol that he becomes a changed character, and this can be compared to how some people attempt to mimic the behaviour of celebrities who they hold in high esteem. Yet, as illustrated by Dorian misguided idolatry can be detrimental, especially when the one being idolised can be deemed unworthy.

The deterioration of Dorian Gray perfectly demonstrates the dangers of placing physical beauty on too high a pedestal. After trading his soul for eternal beauty, Dorian falls into a pattern of dissolute living, the evils of which are depicted harshly in his portrait. "He had uttered a mad wish that he himself might remain young and the portrait grow old; that his own beauty might be untarnished, and the face on the canvas bear the burden of his passions and his sins… ." What disturbed me most about this particular extract was my realisation that Dorian’s actions cannot be considered entirely reprehensible. Many people today would readily act in the same manner and trade the impermanence of youth for the permanence of a painting, if possible. It was this aspect of Dorian’s character that had the most notable impact. His wish to never grow old is one that is almost universal, and one that is promoted by the media. We are constantly faced with images of the accepted ideals of beauty and youth, be it in Hollywood blockbusters or television advertisements.

This book, and in particular the character of Dorian himself, indirectly pose endless questions about the icons of today’s culture and the ideals imposed by society.

Symphony christmas concerts

The Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka will celebrate the season with its popular Christmas concerts in December — The Symphony Christmas Concert on December 7, at 7.30 p.m. and The Family Christmas Concert on December 9 at 7 p.m. — both conducted by Manilal Weerakoon at the Ladies’ College Hall.

Top of the bill at The Family Concert are christmas songs for the audience to sing along with the orchestra and combined choirs — The Menaka Singers, Past Choristers of St. Benedict’s College and Friends — 45 young voices in all. They include White Christmas, Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer and O Come All Ye Faithful.

The Family Christmas Concert will also feature Johann Strauss’s famous waltzes — Tales From The Vienna Woods contrasted with Waldteufel’s exotic Espana Waltz. There will be a medley on Richard Rogers’evergreen Sound Of Music followed by In The Mood and Rock Around The Clock. Christmas music will include Leroy Anderson’s A Christmas Medley and his catchy Bugler’s Holiday, Winter Wonderland and Let It Snow and a concluding piece will be Mel Torme’s ever-popular The Christmas Song.

SOSL will celebrate the 150th Anniversary of Edward Elgar in 2007, performing two of his most popular works at the Symphony Christmas Concert — the heart-rending Cello Concerto in which the soloist will be Dushy Perera and the stirring Pomp and Circumstance March No. 2. The concert will begin with Rossini’s sparkling Overture To The Thieving Magpie and it will conclude with Christmas music including Pola and Wyle’s It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year and the delightful carols What Child Is This and In Dulci Jubilo.

The Symphony Christmas Concert and the Family Christmas Concert are in aid of the Sunera Foundation. Tickets are available at Titus Stores, Liberty Plaza.

Dayananda Gunawardena’s Gajaman Puwatha at the John de Silva Theatre on November 26

The famed Sinhala drama Gajaman Puwatha by Dayananda Gunawardena will go on the boards at the John De Silva Theatre, Colombo on November 26 at 3.30 p.m. and 6.45 p.m. The main objectives of this exercise are to raise funds for the revival of the works of the late Dayananda Gunawardena currently not in production and to expand the services of the Nalu Kirthi Sabha Theatre Group which was formed by Gunawardena way back in the 1970s.

The first theatre production in Sri Lanka to adopt the docu drama style, Gajaman Puwatha will feature Rathmalie Gunasekera as Gajaman Nona, while Nissanka Diddeniya acts as Elapatha Mudali. The support cast includes Neil Alles, Chandrasoma Binduhewa, Chandra Kaluaarachchi, Rathnasheela Perera, Wasantha Gunawardena and Indika Jayasinghe. The music and dance compositions are by Rohana Beddage. Other creations which are currently in production of Gunawardena are the popular Nari Bena, Jasaya Saha Lenchina, Kamare Pore, Gajaman Puwatha and Madhura Javanika.

Arts round-up

Alliance Française celebrates 40 years of service in Kandy with a photographic exhibition "Paris, the Other Half" by Janaka Samarakoon. A former student of Alliance Française de Kandy, Samarakoon has been in France since 2002. He has participated in several group exhibitions in Paris. Last year, during the Cézanne exhibition that was organised by the Alliance Française de Kandy to celebrate the 100th death anniversary of the French painter, Paul Cézanne, he exhibited a series of photographic landscapes of Cézanne’s native Aix-en-Provence. The photographic exhibition Paris, The Other Half will be declared open by His Excellency, Michel Lummaux, Ambassador of France in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, on Friday, November 23, at 6.30 p.m. The exhibition continues till November 30.

Mage Kathawa

Mithuruwela, the Cancer Support Network is a registered non-profit organisation involved in bringing greater awareness and understanding of cancer, its early detection, and treatment to people living with cancer, and their caregivers.

As part of its information activities Mithuruwela produced a DVD on Henry Jayasena’s experience with cancer to aid and encourage other patients and their care givers. This DVD, titled Mage Kathawa was handed over to the National Cancer Institute, on October 26 at the NCI Auditorium, Maharagama. 

Vijitha Yapa Publications have released their desk calendar for the Year 2008. The beautiful photos include those of well known tourist sites as well as festivals. It is an ideal gift to be given to loved ones, friends and clients and costs Rs. 295. The purpose of bringing out the diary at an early date is to facilitate those who want to send it by sea mail or through friends travelling overseas. A unique feature of the calendar is that each picture is detachable and can be used as a picture post card. The diary is enclosed in an attractive box so that no separate packing is necessary.  

The photographs are by Vijitha and Lalana Yapa. Vijitha Yapa is a journalist whose photographs have appeared in  prestigious publications including Asiaweek, the International Herald Tribune, the Financial Times and  The Times (London). His photograph of a former President of Sri Lanka was used as the cover picture of the Far Eastern Economic Review. He is the author of four books.

Mad About Money

The highly successful, internationally ac-claimed English Theatre from India — Mad About Money produced by Ashwin Gidwani and directed by Mahesh Dattani was presented for the first time in Colombo last week.

The play had been staged in Mumbai Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Dubai. It was held at the Cinnamon Grand Ballroom on November 14 and 15.

Mad About Money is a hilarious comedy about the patriarch of a rich family who wants to control the family even after his death and makes his mistress the administrator of his will. All proceeds were in aid of Rotary Community Service projects.