Acclaimed Portuguese guitarist Marta Pereira da Costa, famous for breaking a centuries-old tradition to become the first woman to play the Portuguese guitar professionally in fado, will team up with popular Goan sitarist Ustad Chhote Rahimat Khan at a concert in Goa soon.
The concert, organised by Communicare Trust with the Consulate General of Portugal in Goa and Camões – Centro de Língua Portuguesa, will be held at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao, on September 24, where Marta Pereira da Costa will perform with Goa’s sitar maestro Ustad Chhote Rahimat Khan, a sixth-generation exponent of the Dharwad Gharana, celebrating the musical traditions of Portugal and India.
Joining her are João José Pita Junior on seven-string guitar and Carlos Miguel Antunes on percussion, presenting a contemporary take on Portugal’s iconic fado infused with jazz, Cape Verdean morna, Brazilian choro and world music. Her accolades include the Instrumentalist Award from the Amália Rodrigues Foundation, a Warner Music Portugal album, performances at the Kennedy Center and Lincoln Center, an NPR Tiny Desk feature with over a million views and the Best Instrumental Award at the 2025 IPMA Awards.
Opening the evening will be Ustad Chhote Rahimat Khan, showcasing India’s traditional string instruments. The concert will culminate in a joint performance between Costa and Khan, bringing Portuguese fado and Indian classical music together on one stage.
The evening doubles as a fundraiser for Communicare Trust, with proceeds supporting five ongoing community programmes: Stories from Here and Beyond IV, an India-Portugal-Brazil children’s storytelling collaboration; Kalakriti II, a book-making initiative with Bookworm libraries; From Seed to Grain, a farming skills programme for differently abled youth at Little Angels home; the Little Angels Bakery, a livelihood project under construction in Chorao and Cantaram for the Community, reviving classic Konkani music for Goan youth.
Nalini Elvino de Sousa, Founder, Communicare Trust, said, “Music has always been a bridge between people, and this concert is exactly that — two extraordinary traditions, Portuguese fado and Indian classical strings, coming together on one stage in Goa. Every donation pass bought is also a contribution to a child’s storybook, a young farmer’s future, or a family’s bakery dream. We’re grateful to the Consulate General of Portugal and all our partners for helping us bring this evening to life.”
Ahead of Portuguese guitarist Marta Pereira da Costa’s September 24 fundraiser concert at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao, the Consulate General of Portugal in Goa and Communicare Trust will host three outreach events connecting Goa’s creative community with Portuguese culture through music. The programme includes a Zoom interaction with Portuguese language students on August 18, a poetry event at Camões – Centro de Língua Portuguesa, Panaji on August 22, and a mime competition at Carpe Diem, Majorda, on August 28, offering students, poets and artistes an opportunity to engage with Costa’s artistry before her performance with Ustad Chhote Rahimat Khan.
The concert is sponsored by the Consulate General of Portugal, alongside Camões — Centro de Língua Portuguesa, the Goa government’s Directorate of Art & Culture, Fortune Miramar, Real Group of Companies, Padaria Prazeres, Machado & Sons, and Victor Hospital.
Donation passes will be available at Furtados Music and Pedro Fernandes & Co. outlets in Panaji and Margao (cash only) as well as online.
