After 43 years away from Goa, during which he never returned to his ancestral land even once, master cello player Alexander Mascarenhas will play a homecoming concert at Kala Academy on Friday, 7th January, 2011. The veteran musician spent his career in prestigious orchestras
all over Germany. It is a family profession, he was trained by his father, Espirito Santo Mascarenhas of Loutolim, and in turn trained his son, Oliver Mascarenhas who is also a professional cellist, and will accompany his father on stage at the Kala Academy.
Alexander Mascarenhas was born in Loutolim in 1945, and studied music
under his father and the late Maestro Antonio Figueiredo. He attended school at Don Bosco, followed by Dhempo College, and worked for a while in Panjim (at the State Bank of India) before moving to Europe
in 1967 to study the cello on a scholarship from the German government. He then devoted his career to performance and teaching music in Germany. After 43 years, his return to Goa has been emotional and unforgettable – he describes the Kala Academy as “great,” and has expressed gratitude to the government of Goa for supporting the Panjim-based centre for the arts.
Oliver Mascarenhas was born in Germany in 1971, and was trained by his
father in music from a very young age. He is considered one of the finest cello players of his generation, and has won numerous national
and international awards. At the age of just 22, he won his first audition for principal cellist at the Hanover Radiophilharmonie Orchestra, and has toured the world as a featured soloist with his 250-year-old instrument made by the legendary Italian luthier, Joseph Gaffino.
Both Mascarenhases consider this trip to Goa, and this concert at the Kala Academy, to be part of their profoundly meaningful musical journey that connects Europe and Asia, Germany and Goa. They will play several pieces written for cello by Beethoven, Ticciati, Rossini, Boccherini, Offenbach etc.
The young local musicians, Ingrid-Anne Nazareth (piano) and Ashley Rego (violin) will support. The performance. The concert will begin at 6.30 pm at Black Box, Kala Academy, it is free and seating is first-come, first-served. It is being presented by Kala Academy Goa, the Indo-German Educational and Cultural Society and Guitar Guild Goa.