The 30th Macao International Music Festival (MIMF), organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau, will be held from 1 to 30 October. In celebration of its Pearl Jubilee, top-level musicians and ensembles from Russia, the Unites States, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Portugal, Mongolia, Taiwan, Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao, will offer 20 programmes and a total of 27 excellent performances. This edition of the MIMF is themed “Glorious 30 ‧ The Sinophone Rhapsodies”. Aside from the usual renowned classics, this year the MIMF specially presents several works of ethnic appeal. The 30th MIMF also features the “Macao International Music Festival Forum” and the 30th Macao International Music Festival Special Commemorative Edition will be launched on this occasion. IC will also hold a press conference in Guangdong Province, thereby widening the promotion of the Festival’s international charm.
Opera in three acts Turandot opens the curtain; Charlie Chaplin’s classic film scores screened with live music
The Festival kicks off with its own production, joining hands with internationally renowned Italian stage director Giancarlo del Monaco and acclaimed set and costume designer William Orlandi to present Giacomo Puccini’s opera in three acts Turandot, which narrates the story of the romance of life and death between Chinese Princess Turandot and Prince Calaf of Tartary.
Renowned American conductor Timothy Brock leads the Macao Orchestra on the live accompaniment of the silent films “City Lights” and “The Gold Rush” by comedy genius Charlie Chaplin, bringing to a close the MIMF’s pearl jubilee at Park of Dr. Carlos d’Assumpção under a starry sky.
First chamber opera A Dream of Fragrancy; magnificent works of ethnic appeal
In order to mark the 400th anniversary of the death of the great playwright, Tang Xianzu, the Festival has specially produced the chamber opera A Dream of Fragrancy, created local professionals, an adaptation of Tang Xianzu’s travelling experience to Macao in 1591.
The Berlin Philharmonic String Quintet joins hands with huqin master Xu Ke in the concert Quintessence Night, Magic Bow; The China Philharmonic Orchestra cooperates with local pianist Kuok-Wai Lio to perform several music genres; Mongolian State Morin Khuur Ensemble accompanies the morin khuur with the throat singing technique khoomei, whereby one singer produces two notes simultaneously, introducing the music of this traditional instrument, classified as national intangible cultural heritage. Distinguished pipa master Zhang Hong Yan will share with the audience stories of the pipa; outstanding musicians from the Macao Chinese Orchestra, the Guangdong National Orchestra, the Taipei Youth Chinese Orchestra and the Hong Kong Yao Yuen Chinese Music Association take to the stage to jointly present the concert Joyous Harmony, allowing the audience to enjoy the beauty of national music.
Internationally renowned artists; top-notch musicians in the spotlight
Brilliant classical music conductor Valery Gergiev leads the world famous Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra in the performance of Russian masters Prokofiev and Shostakovitch’s classical works. Extraordinary early music conductor William Christie steers the ensemble Les Arts Florissants in a concert featuring period musical instruments and vocal music. British group Colin Currie Group makes its debut in Asia with a minimalist concert featuring percussion works by iconic composer Steve Reich.
Mount Fortress hosts the hypnotising fado of Portugal’s new rising star Carminho; brilliant contemporary jazz trumpeter Roy Hargrove will play several works by jazz giant Miles Davis, and a jazz concert brought by musicians from the Cross-strait four regions, namely Red Groove Project, Eugene Pao’s band, Minyen Hsieh and Hon Chong Chau, who will offer six hours of jazz music.
Promising classical violinist Ray Chen and the MIMF’s first artistic director and remarkable Portuguese pianist, Adriano Jordão, will take to the Dom Pedro V Theatre stage to present solo concerts. The Coro Perosi and Coro Dolce Voce de Macau join hands in the concert Gloria, showcasing the talent of local choirs. In order to encourage local talents, this edition of the Festival continues to offer the concerts Bravo Macao!, allowing promising local musicians to shine on stage.
Tickets on sale from 7 August
Tickets will be on sale from 10am on 7 August 2016 (Sunday) at the Macau Ticketing Network and telephone and online bookings are available from 12pm on the same day. On the first day of ticket sales, ticket purchases are limited to a maximum of 10 tickets per performance per person. Early bird discounts of 30% will be offered when buying tickets between 7 and 14 August, and a 20% discount will be offered when buying tickets between 15 and 21 August. Holders of BOC Multi-Currency Credit Card or BOC Card may also enjoy a 30% discounts on tickets for Turandot - Opera in Three Acts by Puccini, A Dream of Fragrancy - Chamber Opera Premiere, From Russia, with Classics - Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra or The Russian Legends - Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra . A 20% discount will be offered in the purchase of tickets for all other shows for holders of the designated credit card or bank card. A 50% discount will be offered for holders of Macao Senior Citizen Card or Disability Assessment Registration Card (each card holder is allowed to purchase one discounted ticket per performance only). For every ticket purchase over MOP1,000 (net price calculated after discounts), purchasers will receive a “buy 1 get 1 free” voucher for Cotai Water Jet ferry tickets. For every ticket purchase over MOP500 (net price calculated after discounts), purchasers will receive one 30% F&B coupon which can be redeemed when dining at selected restaurants in The Venetian® Macao.
This edition of the MIMF counts with the support of the Macao Government Tourism Office, TDM – Teledifusão de Macao, Air Macau, Air Macau, The Venetian® Macao, and has Cotai Water Jet as official ferry company. For more details on the programme and offers, please access the Festival’s website at www.icm.gov.mo/fimm. For enquiries, please call IC through tel. no. 8399 6699, during office hours. Ticketing hotlines: 2855 5555 (Macao), 2380 5083 (Hong Kong), 139 269 11111 (Mainland China). Ticketing website: www.macauticket.com.
The press conference of the 30th MIMF was held on 28 July, at 3:30pm at the Tourism Activities Centre. The press conference was attended by the President of Cultural Affairs Bureau, Ung Vai Meng; the Acting Director of the Macao Government Tourism Office, Tse Heng Sai; the Vice-President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Leung Hio Ming; the Vice President of Corporate Communications & Community Affairs of Venetian Macau Ltd., Winnie Wong; the President Assistant of the Bank of China Macau Branch, Jiang Kuiwei; the Cotai Water Jet Executive Director of Finance and Operations, Wong Ying Kit Alex; the Programme Producer of Social Culture and Economic Programme Department, TDM, Ltd., Raymond Cheang; the Head of the Department of the Cultural Events of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Kent Ieong Chi Kin and the Head of the Division of Performing Arts of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Paula Lei.