The
first Ketevan World Sacred Music festival is
kick-starting today,
February 12.
Speaking about what’s in store for the public during the first
weekend of the festival, Rudolf Ludwig, Executive Director of the
festival, says, “The
weekend is packed with music.
Today,
February 12,
we
have Capella
Della Luce (Spain) performing
at St Monica’s
Church.
The spotlight
will then
shift to the
magnificent St Augustine ruins on February 13 when three different
concerts will take place. These are
the Goa
University Choir and ensemble, Spanish artiste Rocio de Frutos and
others presenting Jewish and Sephardic music, followed by Indian
slide guitar player Debasshish Bhattacharya from Kolkata.
February
14 will see
the Seville Chamber Choir and Baroque solists presents Bach.”
As
for the title of the festival,
Rudolf avers, “Ketevan´s
journey
inspires our festival. Queen Ketevan traversed
thousands of
kilometres
and varied cultures around the world. She began her journey in
Eastern Europe as queen of the Kingdom of Georgia. In
Iran, Ketevan died
as a martyr
after long and painful torments in the year 1624. But Ketevan’s
journey did
not end in
Iran. According to legend, in 1627,
her relics
were then
taken to India and buried in Old Goa by two Augustinian monks, who
were devout witnesses of the last years of her life. Now, the
Archaeological Survey of India is
in the process of proving that her bone relic rests
at St Augustine
Tower, Old
Goa.”
Flamenco
musician Ignacio L Monteverde,
who is an accomplished guitarist specialising
in Spanish flamenco guitar, will also be performing at the concert.
He says, “I will
be performing
with local artistes
on February 13. It’s
pleasure to perform in Goa.”
Spanish
soprano singer Rocío de Frutos, who will be performing at the
concert,
says, “This is my first visit to Goa
and it feels
great to be a part of this festival.”
David
Ruiz, a
percussionist
from Spain,
says, “I would be performing Sephardic music with local
instruments.
It’s
a rare genre
of music so it
receives
great appreciation from
people across the globe.”
These
artistes
coming for the
festival will
also be a part of masterclasses, lectures and social activities which
will be held next week. “The masterclasses,
to
be held at the
Kala Academy, will see renowned musicians offering classes to
teachers and students alike. There will also be a symposium at the
Central Library which will feature lectures by music scholar across
the world and India. Importantly, Ketevan musicians will reach out to
the local Goan community by holding
a series of small concerts in nursing homes, orphanages and village
schools around
Goa.
Institutions
like the Entertainment Society of Goa, Goa
University,
Archaeological Survey
of India,
among others,
are supporting this festival.
