Inaugurated by Ambassador of Portugal to India, Luis Filipe Castro Mendes, the programme was a delightful interlude with a special kind of singing peculiar to Portugal. Sonia was ably accompanied by Dinesh Khundrakakpam on the traditional 12-string Portuguese guitar and Felix Anto on the classical guitar. Both were former students of the BSM. She held the attention of the audience, consisting of a distinguished mix of high- placed officials and music lovers spellbound.
The sad Portuguese lyrics sung in a rich contralto that rose and fell, spoke of love, passion and betrayal. Sonia did intersperse the melancholic love songs with some upbeat ones. So there was an interesting and delightful variation to the whole performance.
“Fado has two distinct styles. In Lisbon, it is the personal and emotional song of individuals, usually sung in a small setting. It began as urban folk music, evolving from the songs of sailors far from home.After all, Portugal is a seafaring nation with sailors leaving their loved ones behind for months or even years at a time,” she explained. “The Coimbra style is entirely different style and is sung mainly by men,” she added.
Singing about unrequited love, forbidden love, lost love and the pain of being alone in a big city where the bright lights shed a cold light on a lonely heart, Sonia took her audience on a musical odyssey to the shores of Portugal.
“Fado is the music that most aptly expresses the Portuguese tendency to saudade, a bitter-sweet longing that is best emoted through song,” said Luis Mendes, who was delighted with the show.
“It is the soul of the Portuguese people and a music based in the feelings of life, like sadness, happiness, melancholy, passion and lost love. I have seen Sonia evolve as a Fado singer over the years, growing from strength to strength,” he added.
The concert ended on a high note with the Fadista and musicians receiving a standing ovation and returning for several encores.
Her last song Adios, which means farewell, was sung in both Konkani and Portuguese with members of the audience joining in.
DHNS
