The Macao Orchestra (OM, from the Portuguese acronym), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, will start its 2017-18 Concert Season, themed “Along with the musical joy”, in September. In addition to a number of internationally renowned musicians, OM also will also visit many local art nooks, leading the integration of several art sectors and developing diversified creative thinking. Tickets for the concerts will be on sale from 18 July at the Macau Ticketing Network, and an early bird 40% discount will be available, subject to certain criteria, between 18 July and 31 August.
The new concert season features over 50 extraordinary programmes and marks the 10th year Lu Jia takes on the role of OM’s Music Director and Principal Conductor and continues to reveal the beauty of music to its fans. The launch of the Macao Orchestra 2017-18 Concert Season was held on 17 July, at 3pm, at the Mandarin Oriental Macau Ocean Room, and was attended by the Vice President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao S.A.R. Government, Kent Ieong Chi Kin; Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Macao Orchestra, Lu Jia; General Manager of Mandarin Oriental Macau, Jill Goh; General Manager of Public Relations Division of Air Macau Company Limited, Zhao Hong; Director of Personal Banking Department of Bank of China (Macau Branch), Wong Kit I; Acting Head of the Department of Performing Arts Development of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao S.A.R. Government, Paula Lei; Director of the Macao Conservatory of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao S.A.R. Government, Chao Chiu Veng Chong; General Manager of the Macao Orchestra, Rebecca Chou; Composer of the local opera A Fragrant Dream, Liu Chenchen; Assistant Conductor of the Macao Orchestra, Francis Kan; Concertmaster of the Macao Orchestra, Paolo Morena.
World’s top musicians and shining stars in Macao
Some of the most awaited concerts of the season include “Kyung Wha Chung and the Macao Orchestra”, bringing together internationally acclaimed violinist Kyung Wha Chung and OM in Beethoven’s Violin Concerto in D Major; successive concerts by renowned Italian cellist Mario Brunello, winner of the gold medal in the International Tchaikovsky Cello Competition, by Austrian pianist Stefan Vladar, considered a master performer of Beethoven, and by the graceful South Korean-German violinist Clara Jumi Kang, which will certainly dazzle the audience with its high quality. Marking the 100th anniversary of Leonard Bernstein’s birth, local young conductor Lio Kuokman, who has come to prominence in the international circles, was invited to present the concert “Lio Kuokman and the Macao Orchestra”. Additionally, OM’s season closing concert, "Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9” will be an important milestone, a “precedent that gathers great classics and brings on romanticism”, and one the season’s highlights.
A varied programme and great classical masterpieces
OM strives to offer the public different types of concerts. The series “Weekend Music Party” comprises three themed innovative and amusing concerts, namely “Travel with Music”, “Baby's First Musical Experience” and “World Cup Cheers”; "Valentine's Day Concert - The Phantom of Love" performs on the eve of Valentine’s Day filled with moving pieces; the concert “Heroes: A Video Game Symphony” featuring music from popular video games; chamber music concerts, still a particular choice of classical music fans; the “Children’s Day Concert - The Symphonic Magical Fairyland”, a musical for children presented by OM in collaboration with the Big Mouse Kids Drama Group; and several concerts dedicated to promote the arts in the community, such as “When Music Speaks”, “Love Music, Enjoy Art” and “Science and Music Festival”, among others, which allow parents and children to easily get close with classical music. Furthermore, this year OM takes part in three opera productions in the Macao International Music Festival, that opera enthusiasts must not miss.
Various discounts as a reward for music fans’ support
Tickets for the concert season will be on sale from 10am on 18 July (Tuesday) at the Macau Ticketing Network. Ticket sales for the concerts “ Valentine's Day Concert - The Phantom of Love”, “Heroes: A Video Game Symphony” and programmes of the Macao International Music Festival and the Macao Arts Festival will be announced at a later stage. For updated information, please visit OM’s official website or the Macau Ticketing Network website. 40% early bird discounts are available from 18 July to 31 August, when two or more persons purchase tickets for two different concerts at the same time, or on tickets for all concerts for purchases with the Macao Orchestra Friends Card. A 30% discount will be offered from 1 September onwards. Purchasers of 10 or more tickets for the same concert (including tickets of different prices), and holders of BOC Credit Card or BOC card will receive a 30% discount on tickets for special programmes, as well as a 20% discount on tickets for all other non-special programmes. A 20% discount on tickets for all shows is also available for purchases with the Macao Teacher Card, MasterCard, Visa Card or UnionPay Card from ICBC (Macau), BCM Bank or OCBC Wing Hang. A 50% discount will be also offered to holders of valid full-time Student Card, Macao Senior Citizen Card or Disability Assessment Registration Card. Air Macau customers can enjoy a 20% discount on ticket purchases at the ticketing outlets by presenting the respective boarding pass (flight code NX) within 7 days upon their arrival in Macao. For more information, please refer to OM’s concert season booklet.
Macao Orchestra’s 2017-18 Concert Season counts with the support of Air Macau, Mandarin Oriental Macau and Bank of China (Macau Branch) as its special bank partner. The new 2017-2018 Concert Season programme can be obtained at the Macau Ticketing Network outlets for free. The electronic version can be downloaded on OM’s website www.icm.gov.mo/om. For more information and enquiries, please contact OM through tel. 2853 0782, during office hours. 24-hours ticketing hotline: 2855 5555; online ticket reservation is available at www.macauticket.com.