Great Views & Fabulous Tunes: Attend This Music Festival On A Hilltop For Free

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What Is It?

A drive past the churches of Old Goa or along the Mandovi River will take you to the very beautiful ‘Chapel Of Our Lady Of The Mount’, where the Monte Music Festival takes place every February. And the best part is that you can attend it free of cost.

Every year this beautiful location perched on a hill offers sweeping views of the Mandovi river, old Goan Churches and the Divar Island in the river. To make the most of this location and the best way to enjoy this view is by participating in the three-day music festival of western & Indian classical music. Not to mention, if you get there early, you will be able to the most beautiful sunsets one can imagine. In it’s 16th year now, this music festival is a must-visit if you are in Goa during February 2-4 this year.

Who Is It For?

Music-lovers and anyone who likes the idea of sitting on a hilltop surrounded by good vibes and great music. It’s also for those who’d like to explore hidden gems of Goa. The church {which is at the location where the festival happens} is closed most days and opens only on Sundays, but during the festival, it’s open on all three days and is a treat to visit. They do one concert inside the church every day, which with it’s amazing acoustics and simple décor is just a charming setting to enjoy some great music. The seating is limited and all are urged to collect passes from Fundacao Oriente who organises this festival to gain entry.

Why Should I Go For It?

Because the passes are free, but one still needs to collect them to gain entry to the performances taking place inside the church. The other performances usually take place outside in the courtyard and are open to all even without any passes.

This year they have internationally acclaimed Portuguese Fadistas Pedro Moutinho, accompanied by Andre Dias on guitar, Tiago Silva on the Fado guitar & Daniel Pinto on acoustic bass performing 25 poems that talk about the Fado and it’s culture. If you have never heard Fado, then you are in for a treat with these Portuguese-style of soulful music that’s hugely popular in Goa.

There is also a traditional Odissi dance recital by Mitali D’Souza and her two daughters Diya and Risa. The Aradhon Choir from Goa will be singing Konkani hymns, singer Mangka along with the Laihui Ensemble will perform traditional songs of Manipur, and a program of sacred music by the well-known choir group, The Bangalore Men, is among the performances on offer this year. Not to mention, celebrated pianist Marialena Fernandes will perform along with Barna Banfi {a saxophonist} and mezzo-soprano Mareike Jankowski on themes from Handel, Dvorak and many more. Don’t forget to carry a shawl or light coat as it will get chilly on the hill in the evenings.

Anything Else?

Check here for more details about the event as well as to collect passes for the performances inside the church. Passes can be collected from the office of Fundação Oriente.