After a successful show in Margao, the Allegro Musical Academy is bringing its concert to Panaji. The show will be a mix of ballroom dancing, Indian classical dancing, polyphonic singing, and children singing
DIANA FERNANDES
The members of the group that make the Crescendo Musical Concert are not professionals, but put together sound like a professional group. They say it is all the work of Fr. Peter Cardoso and they are now all set to organise their second show Crescendo Musical Concert at Kala Academy, Panaji after a successful show in Margao earlier this year.
The concert has come together after over 10 months of rehearsals and composition. It brings together 73 members as part of the polyphonic choral singing group comprising alto, tenor, bass, and sopranos and 20 artists as part of the orchestra.
The orchestra incorporates aspects of Indian classical dance like Bharatnatyam which was composed on the Raaga and the movements of the raga along with the musical elements of the tabla. There are western dances also incorporated like ballroom dance, tango, cha-cha, twist and waltz. This was incorporated because there are people in Goa who like these aspects of Portuguese and western culture also.
Though the musical academy held similar programmes in the past, COVID-19 had put a halt to the concerts. The inspiration to restart the concert came about because of the enthusiasm of members at the academy.
Speaking about the concert, Fr. Peter Cardoso says, “There was a lot of enthusiasm to revive this concert. At the same time, their talents too could also come to light.”
The initial idea of this concert came about through Broadway shows in Manhattan, New York. “I thought why not have something along the lines in our state. We will of course not be able to reach that level but want to do something along these lines. They bring about so many things whether music, dance, theatre, costume, stage, sound. I was inspired by that and tried something along those lines,” says Fr. Cardoso.
Incorporating Goan culture into the show is another important aspect. “No one should forget our culture. Only when we give such an importance will the world know us and our legacy,” says Fr. Cardoso.
Alloysius Coelho do Amaral who is part of the group says this concert has been one of the best experiences he’s had. “I love singing. But we don’t get too many chances to perform. This close knit group has felt like a family,” he says.
Amaral recalls how Fr. Cardoso would himself write each part, sit them down and trained us separately. “He would first put the entire group together, make us sing one by one and once we sing he would make us sing it separately. Only once we perfected each part individually would we come together and sing and we were shocked at how our voices are combined,” he says.
Lira Melo who sings alto has been with the group since 2016 and also calls it a family. “I used to sing parallel seconds for mass and on other occasions, but when I joined the group and with the training I received, I found that I could sing with the group and it was such a good feeling. We got such good reviews that it just helped me to continue singing.”
Another singer Sandra D’Mello says, “I had joined the group just before the pandemic. So the recent Margao show was my first concert with the group. We have been so used to singing voices in school and college and through this I got an opportunity to learn professional singing with the help of father. That was a great experience for me. There was a lot of learning.”
Kai Da Costa who works in the background to bring the concert to life says, “Working with over 100 artistes of various ages for a concert as a stage manager is both a rewarding and complex task.”
He adds that it requires meticulous planning, clear communication, and adaptability. “Coordinating rehearsals, managing quick transitions, and ensuring everyone is in the right place at the right time—especially when dealing with a diverse group ranging from children to seniors—demanded patience and strong organisational skills, all while maintaining a calm and supportive environment backstage.”
The Crescendo Musical Concert will be held on May 9, 7 pm at Kala Academy, Panaji. Details: 9922509504 / 9822101782
