Adding a special layer of resonance to the programme will be selections from the Golden Age of Broadway, including works by Cole Porter, whom Cooray discovered had once stayed at the Galle Face Hotel
In a fitting tribute to his roots, Gehan will be accompanied on piano by Menaka de Fonseka Sahabandu, his former teacher and one of Sri Lanka’s foremost classical musicians
This June, Colombo’s heritage-rich Galle Face Hotel will play host to a resplendent celebration of music, artistry, and culinary finesse as internationally acclaimed Sri Lankan-American operatic baritone, actor, and award-winning filmmaker Gehan A. Cooray returns to his city of birth for a pair of rare, intimate performances.
Titled, ‘An Opera Dinner with Gehan Cooray,’ the two exclusive soirées on Friday the 6th and Saturday the 7th of June will unfold at the hotel’s iconic 1864 Limited Edition dining room. These evenings promise a seamless synthesis of classical operatic grandeur and gourmet excellence, presented in a setting imbued with timeless elegance. For Colombo’s connoisseurs of culture, this promises to be more than an evening out; it is poised to be a transformative experience.
Cooray, who resides in New York and has made waves across the American and international classical music scene, was personally invited by Suresh Abbas, the Galle Face Hotel’s newly appointed General Manager. Abbas, a seasoned hotelier whose career spans prestigious stints in London, was quick to recognize the calibre and charisma that Gehan brings to the global stage and felt compelled to bring him home.
“Gehan is a national treasure,” Abbas states. “He’s one of the very few truly trained operatic baritones Sri Lanka has produced; his mastery of vocal technique, language, and dramatic expression is rare even by international standards.”
The invitation aligns with Cooray’s own serendipitous return to Sri Lanka to celebrate his grandmother’s 90th birthday, an occasion that ultimately gave rise to what is now one of Colombo’s most anticipated cultural events of the season.
The programme for the two nights is as carefully curated as the guest list. Guests will be treated to a sweeping repertoire that ranges from the powerful operatic arias of Bizet, Rossini, and the lesser-performed Ambroise Thomas, to exquisite Italian and German, lieder by Paolo Tosti and Franz Schubert. Cooray’s performances are not just about sound; they are fully embodied portrayals of character and emotion, honed through years of theatrical training and operatic study.
This nuanced artistry was evident when he performed the dream baritone roles of Figaro, Count Almaviva, and Escamillo in a spectacular production of Carmen at the Miami Classical Music Festival, earning rave reviews for his ability to both sing and act with equal conviction. “Opera was always meant to be enacted as much as it is sung,” Gehan affirms.
His facility with multiple European languages, another rare asset, is not just praised by his music directors, but has earned accolades from members of the United Nations and diplomatic circles who witnessed his solo concert at Carnegie Hall in New York.
Adding a special layer of resonance to the programme will be selections from the Golden Age of Broadway, including works by Cole Porter, whom Cooray discovered had once stayed at the Galle Face Hotel. This historical link only deepens the sense of connection Gehan feels to the space he will be performing in.
Renowned New York theatre and film director Carl Andress recently likened Cooray’s voice to that of Alfred Drake, the legendary Broadway baritone who originated iconic roles in Oklahoma!, Kiss Me, Kate, and The King and I. “It’s one of the greatest compliments I’ve ever received,” Cooray notes with quiet humility.
In a fitting tribute to his roots, Gehan will be accompanied on piano by Menaka de Fonseka Sahabandu, his former teacher and one of Sri Lanka’s foremost classical musicians. Her contribution to Colombo’s operatic and vocal music landscape has spanned decades, and their reunion on stage promises to be an emotional and powerful one.
“To bring this calibre of operatic performance to Colombo, within such an intimate and beautifully curated setting, is incredibly important to me,” Cooray says. “At a time when popular music dominates, we must preserve and promote the classical arts. This is as much a tribute to our past as it is a beacon for our artistic future.”
Indeed, while most operatic performances require a traditional theatre or concert hall, what makes this event so unique is the immersive experience it offers. Guests won’t be merely watching from a distance, they’ll be enveloped in the atmosphere, dining just feet away from the performance.
Adding to the evening’s splendour is a gourmet three-course dinner crafted by the hotel’s award-winning Culinary Director, Rukmal Samarasekara. Each course will be accompanied by premium wine pairings, elevating the entire evening into a holistic celebration of the senses. Tickets are priced at Rs. 22,500 per guest, and due to limited seating, early reservations are highly recommended. For bookings, guests can call +94-742-601-641.
For those who appreciate classical music, world-class performance, and fine dining in a heritage setting, ‘An Opera Dinner with Gehan Cooray’ is a rare gem. As one American reviewer once wrote of Cooray, he is “a baritone of exceptional polish and expressive subtlety,” and as Abbas reflects, “We are honoured to host a Sri Lankan artist who has made such a profound impact internationally.”
For Gehan, the Galle Face Hotel is more than just a performance venue. “It is the most beautiful hotel on Sri Lanka’s Western Coast,” he says. “And this event is not just a concert, it’s an experience of beauty, elegance, and emotional resonance that I hope lingers in the hearts of everyone present.”
As Colombo prepares to welcome this singular artist, it is clear that ‘An Opera Dinner with Gehan Cooray’ will not only be an unforgettable night, it will be a milestone in the city’s cultural calendar, where music, memory, and meaning converge in perfect harmony.
