Monte Music Festival

This is my favorite chapel in Goa, The chapel of Our Lady of the Mount, in Old Goa (popularly known as the Monte Chapel). Every year, in the first week of February, The Fundacao Oriente,  hosts a classical music festival here.

The Facade of the Chapel

The steps leading to the chapel

The view of Old Goa and the river Mandovi from the chapel

The festival has a wide fan following with both the locals and the expat community of Goa.

Stephen Bull playing a fusion of Indian and western classical music

People watching the concert from the chapel balcony

Barges on the river Mandovi

This lady was very striking and stood out from the rest of the audience

as you can see I followed her around for a bit... stalk much?

I then found this sweet old man, but just as he turned around to face me, the guy in front of me blocked my picture, so this is the best I could get.

I finally stopped stalking random strangers and took a few photos of the inside of the chapel.

The Altar

The Stoup (receptacle for holy water) carved out of stone

And here's the Musical Program if anyone is interested.

February 3 - 5, 2012
~ Schedule ~

Friday, February 3
Courtyard: 5:45pm
Inaugural followed Violin Music from 18th Century India and Europe by
Stephen Bull (Portugal)

Courtyard: 7:30pm
Goan Mando - Gavana (Goa)


Saturday, February 4
Courtyard: 6:00pm
Indian Dance: Traditional Odissi
by Jhelum Paranjape & Troupe (Smitalay, Mumbai)

Courtyard: 7:00pm
Portuguese Fada: Sonia Shirsat (Goa)

Chapel: 8:00pm
Western: Soprano Patricia Rozario (U.K.)


Sunday, February 5
Courtyard: 6:00pm
Indian: Sukhanya Ramgopal & Sthree Thaal Tharang (Percussion)
(Bangalore)

Chapel: 7:00pm
Western: Newman Choir (Mumbai), Conductor: Celeste Cordo