Music is an integral part of Goan culture, and the Serendipity Arts Festival 2024 will enforce this reality by blending tradition and modernity in the soulful melodies of Sempre Fado: Antigo e Novo.
Curated by Zubin Balaporia, this evocative performance will celebrate the fado like never before, with an ensemble of exceptional artists, mainstage at the Arena at Nagalli Hills Ground on December 18.
Fadista Nadia Rebelo says that the performance this year will be a showcase of traditional fado music in an amalgamation with different non-traditional instruments.
“This will also showcase our very own Goan path within the Portuguese heritage music, showing it as part of our Goan and Indian ways. Apart from the traditional Portuguese guitar and classical guitar, we will also have drums, percussion, keyboard, a string quartet, saxophones and much more,” says Nadia who will be heading the act.
Apart from the traditional Portuguese guitar and classical guitar, we will also have drums, percussion, keyboard, a string quartet, saxophones and much more.
Nadia Rebelo, Fadista
The event Sempre Fado: Antigo e Novo has a list of great performers like Zubin Balaporia (music director and keyboards), Sherwyn Correia (vocals), Nadia Rebelo (vocals), Omar de Loiola Pereira (guitar), Franz Schubert Cotta (Portuguese guitar), Gino Banks (drums), Avishek Dey (bass), Shikhar Naad (percussion), Jarryd Frans Braz Rodrigues (saxophone), Nastya (violin), Dielle Braganza (violin), Viaan Pereira (cello) and Prayash Biswakarma (violin).
Other individuals bringing their expertise to the event are Rajiv Kenkre (sound engineer), Ground Control (lighting design), Sameer Patwardhan (sound and music production manager) and Jayprakash Gupta (assistant and rehearsal coordinator).
Nadia says, “The ensemble is going to be very special. To have a troupe like this to back me up for a fado performance will be something very different and interesting to the audience to witness.”
The event will also have legendary saxophonist Braz Gonsalves, who will be joining for a performance. “Sharing the stage with Braz Gonsalves for the first time will be very special to me,” says Nadia.
She adds, “I will also be sharing the stage with Zubin Balaporia again this year. Last time I performed with Zubin along with Zakir Hussain in a concert, which I will never forget.”
Anticipating a marvellous performance, Nadia hopes to find a much-diversified crowd, expecting people from all over India as well as foreign countries.
“There will be people who know about the fado and are looking to see how we do it in Goa, as well as those who are coming to find out about it and have a whole new experience,” says Nadia, as she gets ready for her rehearsal in Panjim.
The programme promises to be one of splendid entertainment for lovers of the fado and will present a new experience to those intrigued by it.