Goa has been abuzz with the honeyed sounds of Western Classical music sending audiences home satisfied and asking for more. The Pro Musica Concert at Kala Academy featuring the rising stars – Andrea Fernandes(piano), Joanne D’Mello(voice) and Sanya Cotta(violin) – rightly made Goa proud of its daughters who are bringing the Goan musical tradition to the fore. The Goa State String Orchestra (GSSO) with its all-Mozart Concert in the warm acoustic of the Panjim Church was an encouraging achievement, a tribute to the love and commitment of The Music Lovers’ Society, the conductor, Nauzer Dharuwala and the mix of young and old, professional and amateur members. The piano concerto with a delicately phrased performance by Margarita Miranda was a delight. The unusual violin–viola duo recital featuring Sanya Cotta and Sabine Ehlscheidt on Thursday at the Cotta ‘Ocean Heights’ residence took the musical riches of Goa to a new height.

The round, glass fronted, performing arena, open to stars and the lush vegetation tumbling to the Arabian Sea, cosily enhanced the warm mellow tones of the violin and viola in the hands of two young passionate lovers of their music making. The stringed instruments took on the characters of two voices, now singing together, relishing their subtle tonal differences, now asserting their individuality, now accompanying each other, taking turns stepping out with the solo melody, now echoing each other, interweaving the rich textures into a broad sonic palette. The shades of the musical spectrum that were conjured up by these young artistes with their infinite variety were an aural feast. Amazement sat on the audience’s faces. Such musical grandeur emerging from two instruments was a treasured experience.

Rolla, a composer not within the usual groove of programming, made a very welcome opening where the audience was immersed in the rich possibilities of the two instruments. The strong assured playing immediately established the excellence of the performances. The Passacaglia, John Halvorsen’s variations on a theme by Handel enabled the girls to display their virtuosic flair and brought the recital to a stunning finish. The four Mozart duos K487 were gentler refreshing mood setters that constituted the central core of the evening. Many in the audience were captured by the vibrancy of the viola, particularly warm toned in the hands of violinist turned viola player Sabine. Sanya with her smaller-bodied violin responded with matching power, maintaining an exhilarating balance. Visually, the tall statuesque Sabine and the smaller wide-eyed Sanya, both wearing similar designed kurtas, rust and red respectively, echoed the differences and the oneness.

Praisies flowed freely as did the refreshments. Both girls have completed their first year studies at the Musichochschule, Nuremberg. They are returning to Germany on Saturday to continue their second year studies which will focus on chamber music. They will continue performing as a duo. One can only hold one’s breath to hear them again – live or even on record – on completion of their second year studies and at the end of the four year course.