A Tribute to Pandith Amaradeva

                       

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'My passion is to create an opera', says Amaradeva
by Reggie Fernando, London Correspondent

Sunday Observer - Sunday, 03 August 2003

The idol of millions of Sri Lankans, both at home and abroad, Pandith Amaradeva, is to produce an opera that will surpass all such works carried out earlier in the country.

After his performance in London last Sunday, Amaradeva said: "I have reached maturity and my passion now is to do something creative - probably an opera based on one of the Jataka stories."

"I have recently completed the score for a film of Lester James Peris and Sumithra. As for the opera, I propose to create, I will need choreographers, designers and many more who will have to be the best in the land. The roles will be physically demanding and meaningful ones. The score will be mine. As you know, Swan Lake is known as Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake, because it's his music". Asked what the time frame would be for the finished product, he said that once started it would be completed in about three months. Whatever time it takes, the opera is bound to have the Amaradeva hallmark including all the ingredients that makes a Sinhala production a success - a masterly score, full of life, distinctive and deeply moving.

President Kumaratunga honours Amaradewa
[ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka] April 09, Colombo:

 President Chandrika Kumaratunga has authorised the payment of Rs. 1 million from the President's Fund to Music Maestro Pandit W.D. Amaradewa, who was awarded the 'Padma Sri' award by India. Premier Ranil Wickremasinghe had invited Mr. Amaradewa to a special honour meeting on the parliamentary premises. Several other literary organizations have also lined up felicitation meetings to honour him.

Amaradeva felicitation in Parliament complex
[ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka] April 08, Colombo:

 Parliamentarians will on Tuesday (09-04-2002) felicitate Pundit Dr. W.D. Amaradeva, who was conferred the “Padma Sri” title by India. Minister Dr. Karunasena Kodituwakku said this was the first instance that a felicitation of this nature would take place in the parliamentary complex. He said parliamentarians from both the government and the opposition would have the opportunity to convey their felicitations personally to the Sri Lankan music maestro.

27th March - Daily News

Amaradeva to sing in London

by Victor Jayanetti

The London based charity 'Hela Sarana', formed by a group of expatriates to help needy schoolchildren in Sri Lanka, has invited Pandit Amaradeva to perform in London. The live musical event will be staged on April 21 at the popular Camden Centre in London. 'Hela Sarana' was established some years ago as a charity organisation to help people living in border villages in Sri Lanka. Since then it has diversified its activities to include promoting education for underprivileged children and providing basic facilities for poorer families living in villages. The group of volunteers who dedicate their spare time for the project raise funds through frequently held functions and regular donations received from members.

Raja Meehitiya, the chief organiser, told the Daily News that it will be a great opportunity for Sinhala culture lovers to spend an evening with Pandit Amaradeva. Pandit Amaradeva was invited due to his stature in the music world and in recognition of the contribution he has made to music in Sri Lanka and Asia. 'Hela Sarana' is very proud of the recent accolades he received from the Governments of Philippines and India.

Pandit Amaradeva, who is currently in Abu Dhabi, will be accompanied by his wife Wimala Amaradeva and four other artistes. The accompanying artistes will be Jagath Wickremasinghe, Wijeratne Ranatunga, D.D. Gunasena and Nalaka Anjana Kumara.

Pandit Amaradeva's performance will be limited to only two shows, one at the Camden Centre and the second in Manchester, during his tour of England. The organisers expect the London show to be a sell-out, raising much needed funds for the charity. Similar cultural shows are very rare in London where western musical shows are in abundance. The auditorium can accommodate about 1000 people and each will be paying between Sterling Pounds 15 and Sterling Pounds 25 for the evening. The community media in England has already given much publicity to the event.

Amaradeva decorated by India
[ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka]

Jan 28 2002, Colombo: Sri Lankan music maestro Dr. W.D. Amaradeva has been conferred the decoration of Padma Sri by the President of India on the occasion of the Republic Day of India.

Sri Lankan Padma Shri winner taken by surprise
By Indo-Asian News Service Sunday January 27, 3:33 PM

Colombo, Jan 28 (IANS) Sri Lankan musician W. D. Amaradeva was taken by complete surprise on being told he was being conferred the Padma Shri award on India's Republic Day.

Attending the evening reception at India House on Saturday, Amaradeva was taken aback when High Commissioner Gopalkrishna Gandhi made the announcement and draped a rich shawl on the musician.

"I was completely surprised. I still don't know why they chose me," Amaradeva, 74, said. "I had an invitation for the Republic Day reception and an officer called me to remind me to attend saying they have chosen me for an award, but I didn't know what it was all about."

Amaradeva said he has been invited to attend a formal award ceremony in New Delhi in April.

"I believe there are others who studied at Bhathkande (Institute of Music, Lucknow). But I think I was chosen for strengthening relations between India and Sri Lanka because I have popularised Indian music here," he said.

The celebrated singer, violinist, conductor and composer who has made a mark in both classical and contemporary styles studied in Lucknow on a scholarship given by a local newspaper in 1952.

He was classified as a grade one vocalist in India. In July 2001, the Magsaysay Foundation of the Philippines lauded him for his contribution to the fine arts.

 

Pandith W.D.Amaradeva accepting the award from president of Philippines
at the 2001 Magsaysay Award Presentation Ceremony held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines on August 31.

Pandith Amaradeva awarded with prestigious Magsaysay

THE LANKA ACADEMIC- Saroj Pathirana in London, Monday 30/07/01 1330GMT.

Sri Lanka’s legendary musician Pandith W.D.Amaradeva has been awarded with the prestigious Magsaysay Award for Excellence. His services have been recognised for this years award of " Journalism, Literature and Creative Communications Arts", one of the seven award categories. The Magsaysay award has earlier been awarded to seven Sri Lankans including Fr. Mercelline Jayakody, Sarvodaya leader A.T. Ariyaratne, Prof. Ediriweera Sarachchandra, L.T.P.Manjusri, Mary Rutnam and Tarzie Vittachi. Maestro Amaradeva "has wedded the poetry of his native Sinhalese culture to Buddhist chants, North Indian ragas and Christian hymns" the Magsaysay foundation said in a statement. International figures like Mother Theresa, India’s Satyajith Rai, Jayaprakash Narayan, Ravi Shankar, Subbu Lakshmee, Indonesia’s Abdu Rahman Wahid and Japan’s legendary film director Akira Kurosova were also among the earlier winners of the award.

The international awards are given annually by the Philippines-based foundation in honor of the late President Ramon Magsaysay and the winners each receive a gold medallion and a cash prize of $50,000.

Published: Mon Jul 30 09:33:06 EDT 2001

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