PANAJI
More than just music and dance, the Monte Music Festival is a cultural event that brings artists from Portugal and different parts of India to Goa every year. Celebrated for the past 24 years, the festival began in 2002 after the restoration of the 16th century Chapel of Our Lady of the Mount by Fundação Oriente. The aim of the festival is to encourage dialogue between Western and Indian classical performing arts through high-quality performances by multi-talented artists, who also showcase the culture and heritage of their regions. This year, the Monte Music Festival will be held on January 30, 31 and February 1 at the scenic courtyard of the Chapel of Our Lady of the Mount. The event is open to all music lovers.
“We started this festival 24 years ago with Cidade de Goa to maintain the beautiful ties between Portugal and Goa. We bring Portuguese musicians and artists along with Goan artists. The show is not only for the Goans but to showcase the Indian and foreign tourists what these ties truly are and how important it is to maintain these ties between Portugal and India, specifically Goa through culture, music and dance. We have been bringing international artists to Goa ever since,” states Dr Paulo Jorge Da Silva Gomes, Director of Fundação Oriente while speaking to The Goan.
Highlighting the efforts taken to bring top artists from Portugal, Dr Gomes says, “Sometimes it’s possible, sometimes it’s not. Last year we brought the superstar Cuca Roseta. In 2023 there was international pianist Artur Pizarro. Last year, prominent Portuguese guitarist Ricardo J Martins delivered a great show along with the sitarist Asad Khan.”
Speaking about the importance of local talent, he adds, “We are bringing the best that Portugal has and of course, the best of Indian and Goan musicians year after year. Local Goan artists also contribute to the festival and it’s an honour to have them here. We have, in every single edition, the musicians from Goa. Sonia Shirsat along with six Goan musicians will open the festival. It doesn’t make sense to have a Monte Music Festival without Goan musicians. For us it’s a question of honour and pleasure, as well. We not only have Goan musicians but we have them sing in Konkani too; the language of Goa. For us this is very important. There have been international Portuguese artists invited two-three years ago,” says the director.
Dr Gomes points out that the festival focuses not only on music, but also on the experience. “The festival brings all musicians together. We maintain the quality of the musicians, take care of the people, and the venue, which is one of the most beautiful landscapes of the world with a view of two islands, a bird sanctuary, and the sunset with music is something special. This is what makes Goa very special, not only in India, but across the globe,” he observes.
Having lived and worked in Goa since June 2022, Dr Gomes shares his happiness about being here. “I am quite happy here with so many enthusiastic events. Last year we celebrated 30 years in Goa. The Fundacao Oriente has been here since 1995,” he recalls.
According to him, the Monte Music Festival is unique to Goa. “Sometimes we take a day to go to another State, like we did three years ago to Mumbai, last year to Delhi. Next year we are celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Monte Music Festival, and we will take artists to some other place, not Mumbai or Delhi but to another State,” he announces.
Explaining the larger vision of the festival, Dr Gomes says, “Monte Music Festival is in Goa because of the place, the concept and and the wish to allow people to come from abroad and from other States of India to just attend the festival. So despite the music and musicians, we are also promoting Goa, not only the culture or the music but Goa itself. One of the main aims of the festival is to combine all of it. And we are doing it successfully.”
