Manohar Rai Sardessai's Poems Add Regional Literary Fervour to Christmas Concert at Museum of Goa

International opera singer and composer Oscar Castellino performs during Concerto de Natal at the Museum of Goa, Pilerne.

~ Some of Sardessai’s poems which were performed to music at the Concerto De Natal are Ball Jesus Zolmolo, Mari Matek Ballok Zala and Jinnen Mhaka Sogle Dile. 

Words from iconic Goan poet Manohar Rai Sardessai-written carols added a touch of indigenous vintage to the Concerto De Natal, a concert held at the Museum of Goa (MOG) that honoured Goa’s multicultural roots while embracing the spirit of Christmas. 

The event featured the release of a brand-new Christmas carols composed by international opera singer and composer Oscar Castellino to poems by Sardessai, in collaboration with the latter's son Umesh. 

Singer Chelsea D’Silva (left) and composer–musician Umesh Sardessai (right) perform during Concerto de Natal at the Museum of Goa, Pilerne.

Some of Sardessai’s poems that were performed to music at the concert Concerto De Natal are Ball Jesus Zolmolo, Mari Matek Ballok Zala and Jinnen Mhaka Sogle Dile, along with his son’s poem Ailim Natalam. The carols were presented after blending Konkani and Portuguese music with popular English and French carols, presented in a concert format. 

“Featuring  new Christmas carols composed to the poetry of the late Manohar Rai Sardessai lent the concert a deep cultural resonance. Alongside original Konkani compositions for violin and ghumot, and traditional carols in Portuguese, English, French and German, the work grounded the evening in a distinctly Goan sensibility. Reimagining Sardessai’s poetry through music honoured his legacy while also reflecting a spirit of creative renewal,” according to Nilankur Das, curator of the Concerto De Natal. 

Singer Chelsea D’Silva (right) performs on stage along with Nahil Flores during Concerto de Natal at the Museum of Goa, Pilerne.

Members of the audience during Concerto de Natal, an evening of music and celebration held at the Museum of Goa, Pilerne.

The Concerto De Natal brought together a distinguished group of musicians, including Oscar Castellino; Chelsea D'Silva, a versatile vocalist known for her expressive range across languages; Jason Quadros, a pianist, arranger and educator; Nahil Flores, a percussionist rooted in the Goan  ghumot and Senon de Souza, a violinist whose work spans multiple musical genres.

The ensemble performed music inspired by the literary legacy of the Sahitya Akademi award-winning poet, Sardessai, with compositions by Micael Martins, Gabriel Pais, Castellino and classical composer Adolphe Adam.