The Macao Orchestra (OM, from the Portuguese acronym), organism under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC, from the Portuguese acronym), was invited to present concerts in Europe. The ensemble was recently in Linz, in Austria, to participate in this year’s edition of the Brucknerfest Linz Festival, on behalf of China, giving two concerts in the iconic concert hall Brucknerhaus Linz. OM maintained, from beginning to end, a steady and solid performance level, successfully breaking musical barriers and showcasing to an European audience the talent and charm of Macao’s musicians, and conquering, in return, the highest praise from all sectors.
This tour is led by the Vice-President of IC, Leong Hio Ming, and is personally directed by OM’s Music Director and Principal Conductor, Lü Jia, who also conducted the Linz Bruckner Orchestra in the opening concert of the Austrian festival. The festival opening concert counted with the presence of the President of Austria, Mr. Hans Fischer, of the Chinese Ambassador to Austria, Mr. Zhao Bin, and of high-ranking governmental dignitaries. After the concert, the President of Austria praised Maestro Lü Jia and his extraordinary interpretation skills of European music. Leong Hio Ming and Lü Jia, among others, exchanged ideas on OM’s tour as well as the ensemble’s future development.
OM presented two concerts at the referred music festival alongside Chinese musicians of the new generation, such as piano’s rising star Zhang Haochen, sheng instrumentalist Wu Wei and promising 15-year-old Macao violinist, Sophia Feinga Su, introducing the musical achievements of contemporary China. The Orchestra moved the audience thanks to its remarkable interpretation techniques, conquering a lasting and enthusiastic applause as well as a standing ovation from a large number of European spectators, well known for their levels of rigour and demand. The Director of Brucknerfest Linz, Hans-Joachim Frey, praised OM’s outstanding performance in both concerts, organizing a banquet for the musicians, while the staff from the Chinese Embassy in Austria commended the ensemble for its magnificent technique, thereby honouring the country. Likewise, the local media applauded OM’s technical strength, putting the ensemble on a par with top-notch orchestras, giving the Orchestra the highest ratings.
During this visit, OM’s delegation, including the Vice-President of IC, Leong Hio Ming, Maestro Lü Jia and all the musicians were received by the Mayor of Linz, Mr. Klaus Luger, at the town’s City Hall. During this meeting, the Mayor expressed his thanks to OM for its visit and concerts of outstanding quality, thereby contributing for the understanding of the achievements of contemporary China in the cultural and musical fields as well as to the establishment of a friendship bridge between the two countries. Leong Hio Ming, in turn, thanked the local government for the invitation and offered a relief painting depicting the Ruins of St. Paul as a souvenir.
OM is currently in the Austrian city of Erl, where it presented a concert on 17 September as a part of the Tiroler Festspiele Erl, followed by performances at the Tonhalle Zürich, in Switzerland on 18 September; the Liszt Ferenc Zeneművészeti Egyetem, in Budapest, Hungary on 20 September; and at the MuTh - Konzertsaal der Wiener Sängerknaben on 21 September OM, returning to Vienna and bringing this tour to a close.