The 32nd Macao International Music Festival (MIMF), organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC), was concluded on 28 October. As usual, this one-month long annual musical feast gathered several internationally renowned musicians and ensembles in Macao. The Festival also introduced new ideas and innovation, creating a number of joyful moments. The overall ticketing sales rate of this edition reached 95%, a highly satisfactory result that relied on the public’s enthusiastic support and participation.
This edition of the MIMF was themed “Enjoy – The Moment in music” offering 16 programmes in a total of 22 performances, as well as a total of 23 outreach activities in six categories, inviting the audience to enjoy the moment and feel the joy and fulfilment music brings. On the occasion of the 170th anniversary of the death of composer Gaetano Donizetti, the Festival kicked off with the opera L'Elisir d'Amore, offering the audience a feast of music. The performances by the Macao Orchestra, the Coro Lirico Siciliano and of several other musicians were highly appreciated by the audience. The 32nd MIMF invited the Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT) to create the special drink “L’Elisir d’Amore”, combining delicious gastronomy with culture and art in order to create a festive atmosphere.
The concert Bravo Macao! by local young musicians took to the stage successfully. The performance by percussionists Hoi Lei Lei and Raymond Vong was highly praised. The Macao Orchestra joined hands with the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra to present Anton Bruckner’s Symphony No. 8; the Macao Chinese Orchestra collaborated with Guo Yazhi, a legend of the suona, to present the concert Nostalgic Lane. The Festival also explored new performance venues, such as Navy Yard No. 2, where the concert Electronic Sparks by EVADE from Macao and FM3 from Beijing was held, the first performance held at the Macau Contemporary Art Centre - Navy Yard No. 2 since its inauguration. The 32nd MIMF closed with the concerts Christian Thielemann and Staatskapelle Dresden, held in two consecutive evenings, featuring romantic works by Schumann. These sold-out and highly acclaimed concerts won a rapturous applause. In addition, several art critics gave their high praise to this edition’s programmes and released positive reviews.
A number of concerts were staged in world heritage sites, including Hagen Quartet, Il Signor Bruschino, Queen of Muses, Tenebrae Responsories and Los Romero held at the Dom Pedro V Theatre, exuding Macao’s unique blend of Chinese and Western culture in a combination of music and historical sites. The concert Portugal Meets Spain by Portuguese ensemble Sangre Ibérico at the Mandarin’s House combined fado and rumba flamenco, presenting melodious music in a golden autumn evening. The Guangdong National Orchestra presented the concert Cantonese Rhyme along the Silk Road taking the audience on an epic journey across the maritime silk road filled with the beautiful sceneries of magnificent sea views.
The 32nd MIMF programmes were very well-received, and its 23 outreach activities were also highly sought, attracting over 500 people who participated in talks, pre-show talks, backstage tours, master classes, meet-the-artists and workshops, which enriched the cultural lives of residents. The Cultural Affairs Bureau has also actively promoted the 32nd MIMF through new media and launched a prize game on its webpage, which attracted more than 4,400 participants. The results of the lucky draw have been announced on the Festival’s website, the respective page on Facebook and on IC’s WeChat account.
In addition, a number of programmes were broadcast live on the China National Radio including Nostalgic Lane by the Macao Chinese Orchestra and Camerata Salzburg and Renaud Capuçon, allowing more spectators to enjoy the performances. The consular corps accredited in Hong Kong and Macao also participated in a cultural visit to Macao and the Festival. Media and art critics at home and abroad also made extensive reports and in-depth analysis of the Festival, such as Music Weekly from Beijing, Yangcheng Evening News, China Central Television in Macao, Guangdong Radio and Television (GRT), TVB, Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK), Metro Radio.
This edition of the MIMF was supported by the Macao Government Tourism Office, TDM – Teledifusão de Macao, Air Macau, the Sands Resorts Macao, and had Cotai Water Jet as its official ferry company, including acknowledgements to the Institute for Tourism Studies. Next year the Festival will continue to offer remarkable performances to the public.