“Gloria in Excelsis Deo” sang out “The Revelations” as they started their concert on Sunday, 8th December 2013 in the auditorium of St.Joseph’s College.

The compere was Kumar de Silva who presented the choir but it was not clear as the hall was vast.  In fact, there were  some members of the audience who walked out as they could not hear what was being said or sung.

However, to those who had good seats, they could follow.  Directed by Sanjeev Jayaratnam, The Revelations sang
“Walking in a Winter Wonderland” and their harmony was evident.

Then came the children of the “Revelations Academy” and they all trooped on stage to sing
“You’d better watch out…Cause Santa Claus is coming to town”.

Sanjeev invited the audience to sing along “Merry Christmas”. “We put in months of practice for this show, so you can practice repeating “Merry Christmas” he said.

Then the children came back on stage to ask for a special gift for Christmas; “Only a hippopotamus will do” to the amusement of the audience.

Then the ladies of the Academy choir came on stage to sing a song ‘dedicated to unattached ladies’ but once again the sound was not clear.
“The Revelations” came back on stage, having changed into white long sleeved shirts, to sing a Christmas Medley arranged by Asanka, which included “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”, “Joy to the World”, “O Little Town of Bethlehem”, “Away in a Manger”, “The First Noell” and culminating in “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”.

Then came the “Methodist College Choir” which won in China the first Platinum Medal for Choral Music.  They harmonized “Yes, My Lord” followed by “Oh what a wonderful child” with clapping and singing and ending on a high note.

Sanjeev then introduced the members of “The Revolutions” and Priyan de Livera, the Manager of the group.
Those who were celeb rating their birthdays on that day were invited on stage and gifts were given after singing, “A Partridge in a  Pear Tree” with the choir singing seconds as well.

Then came the singing of “White Christmas” by The Revelations with simulated snowfall in the background.
A Mozart number immortalized by Stevie Wonder was then sung by the Seniors of the Revelations Academy who came back on stage holding glasses of wine as they sang "This is the Season to be jolly, hold up the holly and put up the stocking…"

The three Best Juniors as judged by the British Federation in Sri Lanka then came on stage. They were part of the Thomian Choir as trained by Russell Bartholomeusz. After singing solo, the other children joined them and all sang, "Someday at Christmas time…”

This was followed by a Medley of Christmas carols sung in Sinhala starting with “Jesu bilinda” (Long time ago in Bethlehem).

The show ended with the Revelations singing ”O Holy Night“ and as an Encore, they sang a Gaelic Blessing followed by “Feliz Navidad” wishing everyone “A Merry Christmas”.


Comments from the audience:

Shanela de Livera

“The show was fantastic. The vocals were right in order and very clear.”

Nilanthi Fernando

“Excellent show.  All the choirs sang really well and beyond expectations”.

Ranee de Silva

“The show was really really fantastic.”

Savitri de ALwis

“It was brilliant.  The harmony was great and the texture of the voices was fantastic.  There was a good contrast from the majors to the minors.”

Windya Peiris

“The Revelations were awesome as always.  Also as a past  Methodist chorister, I am so proud of our choir.”

Rebecca Perera

“The show was very good, sound everything although it’s a big hall.  My children took part.”



 

By Sirohmi Gunesekera
Photos by Kithsiri de Mel