How a 200-year-old embalmed heart connects Goa, Portugal and Brazil

For Brazil, the preserved organ of Dom Pedro I signifies independence from the Portuguese. But for Goa, it meant the decline of thriving trade links.

Luis Dias

· Oct 23, 2022 · 11:30 am

Remembering the violinist-lawyer who founded the Bombay City Orchestra

Vere da Silva was a brilliant man who taught me a lot about music.

Luis Dias

· Jul 29, 2021 · 11:30 am

Why the Portuguese administrators in India tried to stop the handover of Bombay to the British

In return for the ‘seven islands’ and other privileges, England had made many promises to Lisbon, not all of which it kept.

Luis Dias

· Jun 10, 2021 · 11:30 am

When Vanraj Bhatia asked me to mail his opera DVD and resume to the world’s major opera houses

In an interview in early 2013, the great music composer professed to me his love affair with opera and shared his earnest hopes.

Luis Dias

· May 25, 2021 · 11:30 am

Tracing the overlapping lives of my great-grandfather and one of the heroes of the Bombay Plague

Dr Miguel Caetano Dias and Dr Acacio Gabriel Viegas had a lot in common, not least their zealous effort to save lives during the Bubonic plague.

Luis Dias

· Apr 28, 2021 · 11:30 am

How the legendary musician Astor Piazzolla put a touch of Bach into tango

The larger-than-life Argentine, who would have turned 100 in March, brought his early training in classical music to everything he did.

Luis Dias

· Apr 01, 2021 · 11:30 am

How classical music set the stage for jazz in Chick Corea’s life

While pushing the boundaries of jazz, the towering pianist never abandoned the world of classical music.

Luis Dias

· Mar 04, 2021 · 11:30 am

On his 250th birth anniversary, remembering Beethoven the astute businessman

The musical genius also had a flair for commerce, it turns out.

Luis Dias

· Dec 16, 2020 · 11:30 am

Gandhi Requiem: The link between a musical masterpiece and the death of the Mahatma

British composer Benjamin Britten’s famous ‘War Requiem’ was originally conceived as a requiem for Gandhi.

Luis Dias

· Oct 23, 2018 · 11:30 am

Monsoon playlist: Goa has a rain song for (almost) every emotion

The rush of first love or cloudy melancholia – find the right tune to match your mood.

Luis Dias

· Aug 09, 2017 · 03:30 pm

Dowry and arranged marriage: The first opera at Mumbai’s Opera House will remind you of Bollywood

This is the first full-length opera ever to be performed at the 105-year-old landmark.

Luis Dias

· Jul 26, 2017 · 03:30 pm

A Danish musician discovered her origins in a briefcase – they led to a holy city in Maharashtra

Maria Badstue had set aside all thoughts of her adoption from India. An invitation to conduct an opera in Mumbai made her confront her past.

Luis Dias

· Jul 21, 2017 · 11:30 am