The De Lanerolle Brothers pulled off yet another spectacular show in Colombo last evening, featuring international sopranos Sabina Cvilak and Helen Massey, accompanied by Sureka Amarasinghe on the piano. Held at the marquee at the Hilton Hotel, many of the capital’s classical music aficionados turned out in full force to support the De Lanerolle Brothers’ 15th anniversary production titled Reverie.

Before going on stage, Ishan De Lanerolle expressed his excitement, saying, “We are delighted to have the renowned sopranos Sabina Cvilak and Helen Massey join us for this special performance. Both artistes are internationally acclaimed and have made significant contributions to the world of opera. Sabina Cvilak is celebrated for her extensive tours with Andrea Bocelli and her performances alongside the legendary Plácido Domingo. Helen Massey, whose remarkable talent was recognised by Andrew Lloyd Webber, has captivated audiences globally with her exceptional voice. Sabina last performed in Sri Lanka 10 years ago, and Helen graced our stage 12 years ago. It is truly an honour to welcome them back for our 15th anniversary celebration. Their participation highlights the significance of this milestone for us, and we are thrilled to share their extraordinary artistry with our audience.

Our mission has always been to touch people’s hearts and souls through our music, regardless of the genre. Whether we are performing classical, Broadway, sacred, gospel, pop, Sri Lankan music, or Christmas carols, our goal is to create meaningful and memorable experiences for our audience. Music has always held a special place in our hearts. For my brother Rohan and me, it is a universal language that transcends boundaries and connects us all. This show is a testament to our passion for music and its power to bring people together. We believe the audience will take away a profound appreciation for the beauty and emotion that music can evoke.

With the extraordinary talents of Sabina Cvilak and Helen Massey, the audience will experience a rich tapestry of classical arias, musical theatre, and Broadway tunes that showcase the depth and versatility of these incredible performers. Our hope is that each person leaves the show feeling inspired, uplifted, and with a renewed love for the art of music. This celebration of our 15th anniversary is not just a concert; it is an immersive experience that honours the timeless joy and connection that music provides.”

The evening began with the brothers’ rendition of Enrico Toselli’s Serenata, showcasing their beautiful harmonization. It’s clear that the De Lanerolle Brothers are passionate about music, as their eyes light up when they perform. Inviting the international stars to the stage, Sabina and Helen performed Jacques Offenbach’s Barcarolle with great clarity and depth of feeling. Performing La ci darem la mano by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart from Don Giovanni, Rohan and Sabina did justice to this piece not only with their singing but also with their interactions on stage.

Helen Massey, a former winner of the BBC Choir Girl of the Year award, has a rich soprano voice, and her rendition of Merce dilette amiche by Giuseppe Verdi showcased her vocal talent. Another song that highlighted the siblings’ exceptional singing prowess was their rendition of Watchman, What of the Night? by Arthur Sullivan. Rohan and Ishan delivered a dramatic and captivating performance, seamlessly blending their voices with a range of vocal projections and nuanced expressions. Their ability to convey the song’s emotional depth and narrative was remarkable, with each note resonating with power and precision. Their dynamic interaction and impeccable timing brought the song to life, captivating the audience and leaving a lasting impression.

The performance was a testament to their mastery of their craft, showcasing their extraordinary talent and stage presence. Ishan delivered a virtuoso performance of Ol’ Man River by Jerome Kern from the musical Showboat, which reflects the struggles of life. The story, set on a Mississippi pleasure boat during the Jim Crow era, involves themes of alcoholism, gambling, miscegenation, and racism. The song is sung by Joe, a weary stevedore who admonishes the oblivious, implacable river yet envies its freedom—a freedom he’s unlikely to know, trapped as he is beneath the upstairs glitter of the floating Cotton Palace. He rails against his world of relentless drudgery, where black workers toil “while the white folks play.” The song itself reflects this duality; it has a beautiful, rousing tune, flowing in the opposite direction to the words, which sink deeper and darker, as though fed by tributaries of tribulation. Ishan did justice to this piece with his adapted accent and deep bass voice. It was such a pleasure to listen to Ishan’s rendition of this song.

The repertoire of songs performed included

1. Serenata - Enrico Toselli

2. Merce dilette amiche -  Giuseppe Verdi

3. O Isis und Osiris -  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

4. O mio babbino caro- Giacomo Puccini

5. Barcarolle - Jacques Offenbach

6. Bella siccome un angelo -  Gaetano Donizetti

7. La ci darem la mano - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

8. Klänge der Heimat - Johann Strauss II

9. Soave sia il vento - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

10. Watchman, what of the night? - Arthur Sullivan

11. Al Pensar en el Dueño de Mis Amores - Gerónimo Giménez

12. All I Ask of You - Andrew  Lloyd Webber

13. Ol’ Man River - Jerome Kern

14. I Could Have Danced All Night - Frederick Loewe

15. I Got Rhythm - George Gershwin

16. I Feel Pretty - Leonard Bernstein

17. Thora - Edward Elgar

18. Tonight - Leonard Bernstein

19. Mattinata - Ruggero Leoncavallo

AUDIENCE COMMENTS

Kavshali Basnayake - "It was a fantastic evening of music and the De Lanerolle brothers along with Sabina Cvilak and Helen Massey delivered excellent performances”.

Indrajith Joseph - "It was a lovely evening and a kind of experience I’ve never had in Sri Lanka before. I have attended many shows like this abroad and this was comparable. This is the 7th De Lanerolle Brothers show that I have attended and we should have more of these. They all rocked it  this evening".

Dayani de Silva - "I loved it the second half which I believe had a wider repertoire. The two ladies were excellent. They had  great voices".

Rochelle Palipanne - "It was an awesome show. I love opera and this was such an exuberant show. Kudos to the De Lanerolle Brothers for putting on shows of  this nature".

Iromie Gomes​ - "The are all blessed with such rich voices and this helped them deliver a sterling performance this evening. The De Lanerolle brothers are excellent showmen.  I have known them  since childhood".

Thilina Jayakody - "It was an awesome evening of high quality music. The music stirred many emotions with me and I feel very happy. The pianist Sureka Amarasinghe also did a splendid job".

PIX BY Nimalsiri Edirisinghe