Subject: Alfred Rose in Toronto
Age may have mellowed his muscles, sagged his skin somewhat, but not vitiated his voice whose resonance and phrasing still remain a delight to the ear.
Yes, the famed tiatrist from Goa, Alfred Rose who has regaled fans of the Konkani tiatr for nearly two generations now was in Toronto this week. He and his wife Rita, also a singer and performer, gave two concerts to appreciative audiences of 300 each on Sunday, July 18.
Alfred shot up on the tiatro scene in the fifties. With his melodious voice and dramatic phrasing, the young Alfred in bowtie and Mexican-style straw hat captured the hearts of Konkani tiatr lovers. He composed songs that celebrated the ordinary Goan and his lifestyle--kalchi koddi and the tailor--and sang them with panache and love that was at once engaging and enduring.
Now in his sixties, Alfred, wearing a toupee, was at his vivacious best. Still slim as ever, he moved like one born to the stage, with elan and aplomb, and enunciated his Bardez Konkani with passion and verve.
Even those in the audience with little acquaintenance with Konkani--the second generation of Canadian Goans--seemed to understand him and lustily cheered his comedy sketches interspersed through the solos and duets.
He started with a rousing rendition of his Kampala piece and held the audience in thrall with his Mandovi rendering, and a recent new composition saluting the late Princess Diana and Mother Teresa.
His much-younger wife Rita, whom I had not heard before, sang like a professional that she is, and complimented her husband well. They were ably supported by a local cast of ten singer-performers in funny skits and satirical songs.
Alfred said that he had performed all over the world--India, the Middle East, Africa, Europe--and it was a genuine miracle that he was in Canada.
He had been very sick in January, had lost a lot of blood, but God the creator had saved him for Canada, he said. Indeed, his deep faith and abiding love of Konkani permeated through much of his singing and performance in Toronto.
He and his wife have three children--the eldest son Schubert is in Arizona, U.S. They were invited to perform by the D'Costa Financial Group, whose president Francis D'Costa said he feels fortunate to live in a country that gives its citizens a chance to promote their Goan and Konkani culture.
Ben Antao
He had been very sick in January, had lost a lot of blood, but God the creator had saved him for Canada, he said. Indeed, his deep faith and abiding love of Konkani permeated through much of his singing and performance in Toronto.
He and his wife have three children--the eldest son Schubert is in Arizona, U.S. They were invited to perform by the D'Costa Financial Group, whose president Francis D'Costa said he feels fortunate to live in a country that gives its citizens a chance to promote their Goan and Konkani culture.
Ben Antao
Toronto
July 20, 1999
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Alfred Rose: A Tribute
By Ben Antao
Like many aficionados of Konkani tiatr, I too am saddened to hear the passing away of Alfred Rose, 71, whom I met in Toronto in the summer of 1999. He had told us then that he had been very sick in January of that year, had lost a lot of blood, but God the creator had saved him for Canada.
I was touched by that sentiment. At the end of the concert, he asked for requests. I was sitting close to the stage by the side, next to Francis D'Costa, the promoter, who was operating the audio-visual equipment.
When I called out Kalchi Koddi, he shot a surprised look in my direction as if somebody still remembered that song. But he chose to sing other requests.
Two weeks later, I met him at his birthday party (August 5, 1999) held at the Pride of Goa restaurant (now no more) in Mississauga, Ont. I gave him a copy of the review I had written of his concert.
Two weeks later, I met him at his birthday party (August 5, 1999) held at the Pride of Goa restaurant (now no more) in Mississauga, Ont. I gave him a copy of the review I had written of his concert.
I shook hands with him and said: "My Konkani is not as good as yours, so I've written the review in English."
"That's okay," he said smiling and accepted the envelope.
Here's the first verse of Kalchi Koddi, composed and sung by Alfred Rose.
"That's okay," he said smiling and accepted the envelope.
Here's the first verse of Kalchi Koddi, composed and sung by Alfred Rose.
Lhan astanam anv ankuddtam mhunn thonddiem
Maim maca guttlaitali aple unttien
Bhonvonk voro maca ghoddeanche gaddien
Maim moji sobit diso saddien
Pai borim passoiek vetali zoddien
Sodanch maca vaddtali kalche koddien
Kalche koddien xitui borem lagtalem
Kalche koddien xitui borem lagtalem
Kuddneant jeit zalear vodik ruchtalem
Kunddnea bogor mojean jeunk zai naslem
Nistem tonddak launk nam zalear choltalem
Pai mozo hem polloun maca mhunttalo
Kazarak puta tujea pauo poddtolo
Utram aikon jiv mozo murgottalo.
21st Oct 2003
