Nigel Britto

During the early stages of her career, Patricia Rozario (OBE) sang draped in a sari. She wanted to assert her Indian roots. That she did, and established herself as a world-class soprano and opera singer. 

Today, her incredible voice has inspired several of the world’s leading composers, including Arvo Pärt and Sir John Tavener, to compose exclusively for her, and in 2001 it led the Queen of England to confer upon Patricia the Order of the British Empire (OBE). 

Mumbai born Patricia who hails from Assagao Bardez, says, “I grew up in Bombay and from a very early age my parents taught us to sing alone and as a group. I began taking part in a local music festival from the age of seven.” But in those years she had to live in the shadow of her elder brother. “We entered competitive music festivals and he kept winning. Then when we reached our teens, my voice began to develop, while his broke.” 

Patricia went on to London to study music. She says, “When I came to London to study singing my parents expected me to do a three year performers’ course and return home to settle down. It was my singing teacher, Walther Gruner who advised that I shouldn’t return but stay on in Europe and try to make a career.” 

Before long, her voice dazzled audiences and composers alike, bringing her a number of prizes and scholarships, including the prestigious Gold Medal at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Sir Tavener first heard her when she auditioned for his opera, ‘Mary of Egypt’. Since then, he has written over thirty works for her, making the collaboration unique in the contemporary classical music field. 

She says, “I feel it is an honour and a privilege to have music written specially for my voice but this brings with it a great responsibility to perform in the manner the composer intended.  I love it when a composer says to me ‘I want you to perform and record all my music’.” 

And that’s an offer that’s been made to Patricia several times. Known in music circles for her astonishing concert performances, Patricia says that performing live, the magic of walking onto the stage and facing an audience, is absolutely essential to her. “Singing to a live audience e m p owe r s the artist to bring the music to life and touch the hearts of listeners. When people are moved to tears by my singing or if their hair stands on end, I know I’ve done well.” She sings in various languages and her repertoire includes music in Spanish, German, Italian, French, Russian and English. She has some regrets though and not learning Indian classical music is one of them, admits Patricia who believes that Bollywood and Opera are first cousins. At the same time, opera is being promoted in India. Patricia hasn’t forgotten her roots. She loves performing in India and has done so in several cities, as well as at a Chamber Music Festival in Mumbai entitled ‘Sangat’. She reminisces, “Last year I sang at an Indo-European Conference in Goa and a European Union celebration in Delhi and I was pleased to hear ministers and diplomats say how thrilled they were to hear an Ind i a n singing European music.” 

The journey from a village in Goa to rubbing shoulders with the who’s who of world classical music hasn’t been easy. "There were difficulties and frustrations on the way,” says Patricia. “You have to be determined to keep at it come what may.” And it has been her determination that has taken her places. Patricia has appeared in recitals at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and at the BBC Promenade Concerts in Britain and in cities such as Amsterdam, Athens, Berlin, Helsinki, Hong Kong, Madrid, New York, Paris, Strasbourg, Vienna, and Zürich. Her recordings include major works by Britten, Canteloube, Casken, Haydn, Respighi, Satie, Tavener and Vaughan Williams. 

Although Patricia’s lived in England for much of her life, she hasn’t forgotten her home, returning to Goa every other year.  “I love going back because it reminds me of who I really am, the importance of family and friends and the fact that work is one aspect of our lives.” 

And when in Goa, what she does is, “Swim in the sea at least once everyday, sometimes maybe twice.” 

This article was first published in The Times of India's Goa edition on July 2, 2008.