The production of Harriet by Hilda Paredes with Muziektheater Transparant which I premiered in October 2018 has been named as one of the best classical events of 2018 by Dutch newspaper NRC. Continue reading “‘Harriet’ listed in NRC top classical events 2018 by NRC”
How I finally became Manoj
This is the most important and difficult piece I’ve ever written.
Content warning: suicide, depression, mention of eating disorder
In the past couple of years, I have conducted the BBC Philharmonic in concert and the Concertgebouw Orchestra in rehearsals, I have won and fulfilled one of the most coveted young conductor posts in the world (the Junior Fellowship at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester), I have co-organised and officiated at the funerals of my father, my grandmother and my cousin, I’ve had a second coming out as pansexual, genderqueer and polyamorous, I’ve become somewhat of an activist regarding the damaging stigma associated with HIV and PrEP, and even managed to successfully move house several times. Yet, writing and sharing this text has, perhaps, been more challenging than any of these things. Continue reading “How I finally became Manoj”
Sonst hat mein Jesus nichts getan
As it is ‘Good Friday’, I wanted to share some brief thoughts about a specific moment in Willem Mengelberg’s recording of the Bach St. Matthew Passion. I don’t love all of the recording, but there are some amazingly beautiful moments and this is definitely my favourite.
It’s the tiny arioso Er hat uns allen wohlgetan just before the famous aria Aus Liebe will mein Heiland sterben. The moment I mean in particular happens near the end of the arioso.
Sibelius’ 5th
With Sibelius’ music, there is always something resonating that I can’t often put words to but moves me very deeply. Continue reading “Sibelius’ 5th”
From many different countries…
In 1996, at age 8, I became a pupil in Claire Burnill‘s class at the Colombo International School in Sri Lanka. I remember our first meeting: me being very shy about meeting my new teacher, she being slightly scattered because my parents and I walked into her new classroom unannounced during the summer holidays while she was busy setting up for the new academic year. Continue reading “From many different countries…”
A Saturday in December (in loving memory of Peter Kamps)
1998. A Saturday in December. 7.30 am, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
My first piano lesson with Sureka, at her house. Many more followed. She challenged me in many ways — my favourite was when after I’d had my first few piano lessons, she instructed me to accompany her flute playing from sight. She didn’t give me time to panic. Continue reading “A Saturday in December (in loving memory of Peter Kamps)”