Classical music evening with Russia’s Dmitry Miachin and Sri Lanka’s Kishani Jayasinghe

The Russian Centre in Colombo together with the Colombo Opera Company presents, ‘Classical Music in Colombo’. As a concluding seasonal note for the year, two world-renowned artistes, Dmitry Miachin from Russia and Kishani Jayasinghe from Sri Lanka will be performing at the event, for a classical music experience of a different calibre for local audiences to witness.

Dmitry Miachin and Kishani Jayasinghe; both young and blooming in their musical careers will be in the spotlight at the centre stage of the Lionel Wendt Theatre on 1 November.

Artist Dmitry Miachin’s childhood had been one of music, with a parental background of musicians and choristers which moulded his future in the same form of art. His very first achievement as a pianist came at the age of nine, when he became a laureate of the regional competition of young pianists. His performances had never been bound by the borders of his motherland, and have now expanded into new horizons as he shares his gift in music with fans all over the world. As a graduate of the Piano Faculty of the N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov Saint Petersburg Music College, his achievements in this form of art include performances at The Great Hall of the St. Petersburg Philharmonic, the Small Hall of the of St. Petersburg Philharmonic, St. Petersburg State Academic Chapel, Small Hall of Glazunov St. Petersburg State Conservatory, the Great Hall of the Moscow State Conservatory, Smolny Cathedral (St. Petersburg), K. Bayseitova National Theater (Astana, Kazakhstan), Sunport Hall Takamatsu (Japan), Sheremetev Palace, the concert hall of the Kazan Kremlin.

Dmitry is a graduate of the piano faculty of the N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov Saint Petersburg State Conservatory (class of Professor Ekaterina Murina, People’s Artist of the USSR). Furthermore he is a member of the Interregional Union of Concert Figures, Honorary Director of the International Arts Center ‘Wings’ (Beijing), five-time scholarship holder of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, author of two studio albums of original compositions and classic music, permanent participant of concert programs at the Small Hall and Great Hall of the Philharmonia of St. Petersburg, partner of the company ‘Petersburg Seasons’.

Dmitry’s solo concerts were held in major venues in Russia and the world, including Austria, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Japan, China, Sri Lanka, Lebanon, Turkey, Bulgaria, Georgia. Dmitrii was also recognised as the best accompanist at international competitions named after Rachmaninoff, Elena Obraztsova, Zara Dolukhanova, Jose Carreras Grand Prix. In addition Dmitrii is also the official ambassador of the elite cosmetic company Phyt’s (France) in St. Petersburg.

Kishani Jayasinghe was born and raised in Colombo. Sri Lankan British full lyric operatic soprano, Kishani Jayasinghe, is often referred to as a Jewel in the South Asian music crown. She is a pioneer of Opera in South Asia and has the distinction of being the first South Asian soprano to sing as a soloist at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden and being the only Alumni from the Region on their Jette Parker Young Artist programme.

Kishani has performed for Queen Elizabeth II, at Buckingham Palace for Prince Charles’ 60th birthday celebrations, for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Malta and for numerous high-profile performances around the world. She has double master degrees in Law and Music and is currently the Deputy Director programs at the SAARC Cultural Centre, where she works towards fostering cultural understanding through the Arts in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Blessed with “a gorgeous voice charged with the crushed velvet, vintage port and Jersey creaminess of the young Kiri teKanawa” (Rupert Christiansen, The Daily Telegraph UK) Kishani has a growing reputation as Asia’s Golden Voiced Soprano. Whilst opera is her great love, she is equally at home on the concert and recital stage. Her voice an instrument of supreme beauty, Kishani’s unassuming nature and artistic integrity leaves her a firm favourite amongst all who watch and listen to her. Her ability to communicate intimately with her audience on a Concert or Operatic Stage with sincerity, grace and generosity, is her hallmark.

Kishani sings in 10 languages and Romantic Opera remains closest to her heart with Mimi, Liu, Marguerite, Lëila, Tatiana, Violetta and Giulietta forming part of her core repertoire. A gifted Mozart and Strauss singer Kishani enjoys singing the long classical and luscious lines of the Countess, Fiordiligi, Donna Elvira, Ilia, Pamina, Arabella, the Four Last Songs and the Verdi Requiem with her rich yet flexible instrument.

For outstanding success in the Performing Arts, Kishani was recognised as a Commonwealth Representative for the Arts by Queen Elizabeth II and has been awarded the Asian Woman of Achievement for Art and Culture, Outstanding Young Person in the Cultural Arts, Zonta Woman of Achievement, Bunka Award Winner, and has been recognised as an outstanding Alumni by all her institutions of study, Visakha Vidyalaya, the University of Nottingham and the Royal Academy of Music. Most recently Kishani was selected as one of top 50 career and professional women in Sri Lanka and awarded the Gold Medal for the Creative Arts and Sciences.

Kishani attributes her vocal prowess and technical finesse to her long-term mentor and vocal guru the late great Pamela Cook MBE, and her exclusive teacher in Sri Lanka, Mary Anne David. Kishani has performed for Royalty and Heads of State, sung extensively in Europe, Asia and North America and has won top prizes at six International Vocal Competitions in Italy, France, Holland, Spain, Turkey and Finland. She was also Sri Lanka’s Young Musician of the Year and made her solo orchestral debut aged 14. An enthusiastic sportswoman, Kishani was the Sri Lankan Women’s national rowing champion for three consecutive years and represented Asia as Group and Music Coordinator at the International Olympic Association for 10 years.

Kishani is a recognised pioneer in the field of Western Opera in South Asia and Sri Lanka and is committed to furthering and promoting this art form in the Region through Performances, Masterclasses and Workshops in her native Colombo and other parts of Sri Lanka and Asia.

To this end, she founded ‘The Colombo Opera Company’ with Mohan Tissanayagam, which conducted the first ever ‘Colombo Opera Festival’ in 2018, in partnership with the Royal Opera House Jette Parker Young Artists Programme (ROH-JPYAP) and in association with the Chamber Music Society of Colombo, Arts Council of Sri Lanka, British Council, University of Visual and Performing Arts and Colombo Municipal Council and included the CMSC production of Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, the Gala Concert with International Opera Singers and Artists from the UK, Poland, China, Estonia and Sri Lanka at the Nelum Pokuna Theatre and Masterclasses and Q&A sessions with Maestro David Gowland, Artistic Director of the ROH-JPYAP, which was open to aspiring young students, professionals and enthusiasts of vocal music, and provided free of charge. 

In addition to her regular performances in Europe, Kishani has most recently been a pioneer operatic performer in the South Asia, including performances in Bhutan, Bangladesh, Maldives and Nepal. A great believer in helping the less fortunate, Kishani has to date raised close to one million dollars for fundraisers and charities in her native Sri Lanka and overseas. Passionate about sharing her knowledge and experience with the youth of her homeland, Kishani is also an educator and teaches Voice and Performance at the ‘Kishani Jayasinghe School of Voice’ and at the University of Visual and Performing Arts in Sri Lanka. A strong role model and powerful voice for women, Kishani is the International Goodwill Ambassador for the Asia Women’s Fund.

Fondly referred to as ‘The K Family’, Kishani and her husband Kaveenga are proud parents of two young children, Kiaan and Kitaara. Having spent nearly 20 years living and working overseas between four continents, The K family have come back home to their native Sri Lanka and she is ready to bestow the local community an inspiring night in collaboration with the Russian Music Scholar Dmitry Miachin on 1 November from 7:20 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Lionel Wendt theatre. Thereby don’t miss out on this unsurpassed opportunity to witness these two world-renown artists sing together on one stage.

Box plan is now open at the Russian Centre in Colombo, tickets priced at 5000, 4000, 3500 and balcony (unreserved) 2500. For inquiries, contact the Russian Centre in Colombo on [email protected] or call on 2685429/2685440.