Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Iconic Goan poet Manohar Rai Sardessai will be at the heart of this year’s Concerto De Natal, as his poetry is reimagined in song at a Christmas concert celebrating Goa’s multicultural heritage. The event blends Konkani and Portuguese compositions with beloved English and French carols, presented in a festive concert format that highlights the region’s diverse musical traditions.
The concert will be held at 7 pm on December 14 at the Museum of Goa (MOG), Pilerne, and will feature the release of a new Christmas carol composed by Oscar Castellino, set to one of Sardessai’s poems, as a tribute to the celebrated writer. Also debuting is an original collaboration between Castellino and Sardessai’s son, Umesh.
Among the poems being musically interpreted at the concert are Ball Jesus Zolmolo, Mari Matek Ballok Zala, and Jinnen Mhaka Sogle Dile. Umesh Sardessai’s poem Ailim Natalam will also be part of the programme.
“Featuring a brand-new Christmas carol set to the poetry of the late Manohar Rai Sardessai brings a deep cultural resonance to the concert,” said Nilankur Das, curator of Concerto De Natal. “Alongside original Konkani pieces for violin and ghumot, and classic carols in Portuguese, English, French, and German, his work anchors the evening in a distinctly Goan spirit. Presenting Sardessai’s poetry in a new musical form honours his legacy while embracing innovation.”
Das added that the tribute expands genre boundaries and creates “a cultural gift for the future” from the Museum of Goa.
The concert features a distinguished line-up of musicians including Oscar Castellino, internationally acclaimed opera singer and composer; Chelsea D’Silva, a multilingual vocalist known for her soulful tone; Jason Quadros, pianist, arranger and educator; Nahil Flores, percussionist known for blending tradition and rhythm through the ghumot; and Senon de Souza, a versatile violinist spanning several genres.
Together, the musicians will present works inspired by Sardessai’s literary legacy, along with compositions by Micael Martins, Gabriel Pais, Castellino, and classical composer Adolphe Adam.
