The Macao Orchestra (OM, from its Portuguese acronym), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, will present the romantic “Valentine’s Day Concert – Love in Spring” on 26 February, at 8pm, at the Macao Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium. Various exceptional performances will also be held during the same month, seeking to spread music across the city.
As the original conductor, Christoph Poppen, and violinist, Mayumi Kanagawa, of the “Valentine’s Day Concert – Love in Spring” are unable to visit Macao due to the pandemic, the concert will be conducted by Jing Huan, Principal Conductor of the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra, who will join hands with the Macao Orchestra and young violinist Mengla Huang, winner of the Premio Paganini International Violin Competition in 2002, to present Korngold’s famous work, the Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35. Korngold, an Austrian-American composer of film music, was one of the most important and influential composers in the history of Hollywood. The masterpiece comprises three movements, each revolving around the soundtracks of different films, namely Another Dawn, Anthony Adverse and The Prince and the Pauper, seeking to express a sentiment towards a beloved one through familiar enchanting melodies. The concert will also feature Schumann’s Symphony No. 1 in B-flat Major, Op. 38, “Spring”, the first symphony written by the romantic composer after his marriage to his wife, Clara. The work is described as the spring in Schumann’s life as it is filled with the purity and happiness of a romantic relationship. Tickets for the concert are priced at MOP250, MOP200 and MOP150, with various discounts packages. Tickets will be available from 20 January through the Macau Ticketing Website at www.macauticket.com or at its outlets. Ticketing hotline: 2855 5555.
The Macao Orchestra will also present a number of intriguing performances, including the concert “Classical Express” dedicated to OM Young Friends and conducted by OM Assistant Conductor Francis Kan, who will guide the young audience into the world of classical music through vivid and interesting interactions. The concert will be held on 6 February, at 8pm, at the Macao Cultural Centre Small Auditorium. Admission to the concert will be made with free tickets. Limited tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis from 12pm on 20 January for registration through the OM’s website at www.icm.gov.mo/om, or the official WeChat account “MacaoOrchestra”.
The concert “Music in Art Museum”, a popular programme among art and culture aficionados, will be presented on the first Saturday after the Chinese New Year’s holiday (20 February), at 2:30pm, in the exhibition “Rebirth in the Spring Breeze: Art Exhibition of He Duoling” at the Macao Museum of Art. During the performance, OM will perform works by Shostakovich, He Duoling’s favourite composer. On the same day at 5:15pm, the concert “Music in Library” will be held at the Taipa Library, featuring a programme of light-hearted works by Mozart and Boccherini as well as interactive games, thereby sharing the joy of music with young music aficionados. Admission to both concerts is free and no reservation is required.
Due to the impact of the global pandemic, and to the fact that overseas artists will not be able to visit Macao, the concert “Melodious Flute – A Tribute to Mozart”, originally scheduled to be held on 5 February, will be cancelled. The Macao Orchestra will strictly follow the relevant guidelines of the Health Bureau and implement appropriate measures for all performances and activities, and continue to present high-quality classical music performances. For more information and updates on the concerts, please visit the OM website and its official WeChat account. For enquiries, please contact the Macao Orchestra’s hotline at 2853 0782 during office hours.