Indian-American
pianist Lara Saldanha received her Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance and Bachelor of Arts
in Economics from Northwestern University, studying with Alan Chow. She is
currently pursuing a Master of Music at The New School’s Mannes School of Music
in New York City, studying with Vladimir Valjarević. She will be performing her
second concert in Goa for the Child’s Play India Foundation.
“I’m very excited to be returning to Goa
to perform for the second time. I’m particularly thrilled to be supporting the
Child’s Play Foundation. It’s always a privilege to get a concert engagement,
but all the more rewarding when that concert will benefit a cause that I truly
believe in – access to music education for all,” says Lara.
She will be playing Johann Sebastian
Bach’s ‘French Suite no. 2’ in C minor, Franz Josef Haydn’s Sonata in E-flat
major Hob. XVI/49, Clara Schumann’s Sonata in G minor, and two of Olivier
Messiaen’s Préludes – ‘La colombe’ (the dove) and ‘Un reflet dans le vent’ (a
reflection in the wind.) “I’m particularly excited to share Clara Schumann’s
sonata. I’ve been fascinated by Schumann since I was a child. Most people know
her as the wife of the great composer Robert Schumann, but she was an equally
fascinating person in her own right. She was a concert pianist and was actually
better known than him in their time! Between her constant performing and the
prejudices against female composers at the time, she didn’t write a huge amount
of music. What she did write is quite lovely. There’s such a clear voice, and
it’s a joy to dig into the life and work of this brilliant and utterly unique
woman,” she explains.
Lara met the director of Child’s Play, Dr Luis Dias, while
performing in Goa last year. She shares her experience with Child’s Play: “He
invited me to visit the program, so I sat in on a couple of classes. I believe
every child should have access to music education. It’s a challenge that exists
in all parts of the world, so I was so happy to find that there is someone who
is tackling it head-on in my ancestral state.”
Originally from Goa, all four of Lara’s grandparents are from
Goa – both grandfathers are from Saligao, one grandmother grew up in Assnora,
and the other, in Benaulim. “One of my grandmothers lives in Saligao and one in
Mumbai currently, so those are the two places that I’ve been visiting since I
was a child. These visits are my opportunity to spend time with my extended
family. My grandmother is the most wonderful cook. She asks us what we want her
to make, weeks in advance, and the results are invariably spectacular,” she
says.
Through her visits to Goa, Lara plays keen attention to the way
Western Classical music is growing in the state: “When I visited last year, I
discovered that Goa has quite a lot of music infrastructure and potential –some
beautiful concert halls, pianos and educational facilities. What Dr Luis has
told me is missing are teachers. Children can’t learn to play music from a book
or an instrument alone, no matter how smart or talented they are. It’s not an
easy problem to solve, and I wouldn’t presume to suggest solutions having not
grown up in Goa, but I’m working on learning more in order to help as much as I
can.”
After her concert in Goa, Lara will be heading to Pune for the Poona
Music Society on January 17 and then back to New York City, where she will be
giving her Master’s degree graduation recital on February 11, 2018.
The
Piano recital by Lara Saldanha, a benefit concert for the charity of Child’s
Play India Foundation will be held at Institute Menezes Braganza, Panjim on
January 14, 2018 at 6pm. Donation passes available at Furtados Music stores,
and also at the concert
