In Goa, Stuti Choral Ensemble, Goa was founded by Fr Eufemiano Miranda in February 2009, as a group of singers, professionals in various fields bound together by the love for choral music. Parvesh Java had his first concert with Goa String Orchestra in March 2015 and Stuti Choral Ensemble in November 2015. Now conducted by Parvesh, Stuti Choral Ensemble and String Orchestra, has been reaching new heights. For the first time, a Goan choir will perform at the prestigious Royal Opera House in Mumbai, India's only surviving Opera House, marking a significant moment for Goan music on a national platform.
The Stuti Choral and String Ensemble will perform live at Festa De Goa on October 2 at Royal Opera House, Mumbai. They will bring Chris Perry and Lorna’s iconic ‘Lisboa’ to life in a way never heard before. Over 100 voices from the Stuti Choral Ensemble are set to breathe new life into this iconic song, transforming it from a solo sensation into a choral masterpiece. The choir will perform Konkani songs such as ‘Doriyeachea Larari’, ‘Ghanttir Ghanti (Mari Matek Ballok Zala)’, and ‘San Francisco Xaviera’, alongside sacred classical music (Brahms, Handel, Rossini, Lauridsen), showcasing the depth and variety of Goa’s musical traditions.
Fr Eufemiano Miranda, founder of Stuti says, “As a choir from Goa, including Konkani songs in our repertoire has always been a priority. After all, Stuti itself is a Konkani word, and this music is part of who we are. Before Parvesh, we had tried to perform Konkani music, but we didn’t have a conductor who could bring the level of finesse that this music demands. For a choir like ours to perform Konkani, we needed a stylized approach to the music—something that Parvesh has masterfully done.”
Speaking about the upcoming performance at the Royal Opera House, he says, “The very fact that we’ve been invited to perform at the Royal Opera House speaks volumes about the level of excellence our choir has achieved. It’s not enough to have voices—those voices must sing with precision and the perfection that a choir performance demands. Parvesh has brought that refinement to Stuti. Parvesh has managed to bring together a large number of people and musically shape them to achieve a high level of singing and performance. The credit for our quality and finesse goes entirely to him.”
Conductor of Stuti, Parvesh Java elaborates on how ‘Lisboa’ made its way into the repertoire for the performance, “At the choir’s Christmas party in 2023, I experienced the sheer thrill the choristers felt when singing the songs of Chris Perry. The seed was planted then that it would be really nice to bring these songs into our repertoire. When the invitation to take our mammoth Goan choir to Mumbai came, thanks to Asad Lalljee and Royal Opera House Mumbai, a voice went off in my head saying, “now is the time”. I chose ‘Lisboa’ because it’s catchy, it’s got a bunch of identifiable motifs that can all be replicated to create the sort of euphoria that choral music thrives on. I also chose ‘Lisboa’ because there were talks of the choir going to Lisbon in 2023, which fell through, and I thought to myself that if the choir didn’t get to go to Lisbon, Lisbon will have to come to the choir!
What were the biggest challenges in arranging Lisboa for such a large choir, given its history as a single-voice song? Also, the challenges in terms of preserving the essence of the original while giving it a fresh twist.
I wouldn’t say that I ran into too many difficulties when making the arrangement. The song, in my opinion, is pure genius. It’s rich in motivic content, develops ideas beautifully, has an addictive hook (‘Lisboa’) and extremely articulate with crisp passages, flowing passages, improvisatory flourishes, etc. My focus when arranging the song was to bring as much of this to the forefront without creating clutter, because it’s so easy sometimes to do too much. In terms of preservation of the essence, I allowed the song itself to present me with ideas as opposed to create anything new. Sometimes we, as human beings, have the ability to hear things in the music that aren’t necessarily there. They are somehow implied. Tapping into those things can be so gratifying as a listener. So I listened really closely for those things and used to them in the arrangement. I did feel compelled to add one classically styled key modulation in the middle, which felt appropriate.
Margao-based Anabelle Colaco joined Stuti in 2023 and is an Alto singer for the choir. “The best part about our performance at the Royal Opera House is that, along with Western classical music, our all-Goan choir and orchestra are showcasing the best of Goa—Mando, a Konkani pop song, and even a fado—all arranged in a classical style. I never imagined ‘Lisboa’ or a Mando could be done like this. Parvesh’s brilliant arrangements give these Goan pieces a whole new twist, putting them on the same stage as Rossini, Handel and Brahms. It’s very exciting, so many people visit Goa but never truly hear its music, and now our mammoth 100-member choir has the chance to change that,” says Anabelle.
Ravi Almeida plays the violin for the choir and has been a member of Stuti for the past six months. He says, “The orchestra is run with a high level of professionalism, which inspires every musician to give their best and fosters a deep motivation to excel. Under the guidance of our skilled conductor, Parvesh, who is always approachable and ready to help, it has been an honour to be part of this ensemble. It feels fitting that such a talented group will represent Goa in our upcoming performance in Mumbai.”
Founding member of Stuti and second violinist, Judyline Fernandes, is eager to perform at Festa De Goa. “Stuti fosters an enriching environment for everyone involved in Western classical music—be it choir members, ensemble players, or the audience. It’s an approach that deepens understanding and nurtures a shared appreciation for music, building a strong sense of community and connection,” says Judyline.
At 17, Anoushka Chatte, an Alto singer is the youngest choir member. She says, “Since joining Stuti, I’ve grown to truly appreciate classical music. In our current repertoire, I'm especially fond of ‘Lisboa’—the arrangement by Parvesh is fabulous. I can't wait for us to share these wonderful pieces of music with our audience at our upcoming concert in Bombay."
“Singing with the Stuti Choral Ensemble has been a major highlight of my life, right from its inception in 2009, thanks to Fr Miranda. Now, as we prepare for Festa de Goa, there's an incredible sense of excitement. Under Parvesh's direction, we are set for a great takeoff—with his exquisite renditions of popular Goan music alongside some of the greatest works of Western classical music,” says Patricia Sequeira, a Soprano singer and a founding member of Stuti Choral Ensemble.
The choir will perform a duet with renowned Fado singer Sonia Shirsat for ‘Cancao do Mar’ which will add a special highlight to the evening, blending choral and solo artistry. The performance is part of a Goan festival featuring prominent personalities like award-winning author Damodar Mauzo, writers Vivek Menezes, Jerry Pinto, and architect Dean D’Cruz, celebrating Goa’s cultural contributions across art, literature, and music.
Antonio Bosco Dias, a Bass singer and a founding member of Stuti Choral Ensemble, is thrilled about their upcoming concert, marking their debut at this prestigious venue. He says, “I’m especially proud of how far Stuti has come under the guidance of our conductor, Parvesh Java. We are eager to showcase our cultural heritage through music, featuring Goan classics like ‘Doreachea Larari’ and ‘Lisboa’, along with other vibrant pieces from our repertoire—all thanks to Parvesh’s expert rearrangement in the Western classical style. Mumbai, here we come!”
This concert marks a significant cultural moment, taking Goa’s rich musical heritage to Bombay and, later in December, back to Goa for repeat performances.