NT BUZZ
Started in 2002, after the restoration of the charming 16th-century Chapel of Our Lady of the Mount by Fundação Oriente, the Monte Music Festival aims to foster a dialogue between Western and Indian classical performing arts.
Now in its 24th edition, the festival will begin on January 30 this year at the idyllic courtyard of the Chapel of Our Lady of the Mount which overlooks the Mandovi River, a bird sanctuary, and the UNESCO heritage site of Old Goa.
It will once again bring together artists from Goa, different regions of India and Portugal for some scintillating performances which also showcase the culture and heritage of their regions.
The festival will open with a celebration of the historical ties between Goa and Portugual with ‘Kaleidoscope – A symphony of colours in sound’, by Sonia Shirsat and friends. The noted Goan singer, accompanied by five Goan musicians, will be performing songs in Portuguese
and Konkani.
This will be followed by ‘Changing Horizons’, by Ao Naga Choir. This performance celebrates the living traditions of Northeast India. Rooted in Naga cultural traditions, the choir proudly represents its heritage through traditional attire, indigenous soundscapes, and performances that embody the spirit and legacy of
its forebears.
The second day will begin with a performance by ‘Roots’. Led by Grammy-recognised sitar maestro Asad Khan, ‘Roots’ is a musical collective that brings alive the melodies buried in India’s cultural soil. From the folk traditions of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Assam, and Bengal, Khan reimagines forgotten dhuns, taranas, dohas, and wedding heets – each rooted in the moods of Indian life: love, longing, rain, harvest, celebration, and farewell.
In celebration of the centenary of Carlos Paredes, an emblematic figures of Portuguese culture and universal ambassador of the Portuguese guitar, André Varandas and Bruno Costa created 100 Paredes. At the festival, 100 Paredes will perform along with the Stuti Choral & String Ensemble, directed by Parversh Java, and orchestral arrangements by Brazilian composer Rodrigo Morte.
On the third day, Mitali-Raul and her troupe will present ‘Samanvaya – Harmony’; a confluence of music and movement, Odissi and Bharatanatyam, tradition and innovation, rhythm and expression, heritage and contemporary.
The festival will wrap up with a performance by Ricardo Ribeiro, a noted name in Portugal’s contemporary fado scene, who forging his path in the middle ground between traditional fado and the future of the style.
Entry to the festival is free. No passes are required.
