The 33rd Macao International Music Festival (MIMF), organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC), concluded successfully with the closing concert “The Yellow River Cantata” on 30 October. This edition of the Festival was held from 4 to 30 October, gathering internationally acclaimed musicians from around the world to share the beauty of music with the general public. This edition of the MIMF offered 17 programmes in a total of 22 excellent performances, with the overall ticketing sales rate reaching 95%, and over 800 people participating in 14 outreach activities in eight categories. The annual musical feast was well-received by music aficionados.
The MIMF seeks to expose the performances to a larger number of audiences. The concerts The Yellow River Cantata and Serenade of Strings were broadcast live on the “Radio The Greater Bay” station operated by the China Media Group; the concert The Vienna Philharmonic was broadcast by the China Media Group and by the European Broadcasting Union, allowing more spectators from the Greater Bay Area and even around the world to enjoy the atmosphere of Macao’s artistic and cultural events. The consular corps accredited in Hong Kong and Macao participated in a cultural visit to Macao and the Festival, experiencing Macao’s multiculturalism. The Cultural Affairs Bureau has also promoted the 33rd MIMF in the Greater Bay Area, allowing the audience to have a deeper understanding of this cultural brand and encouraging a wider coverage by media and art critics from home and abroad. In addition, “The Charm of Musical Instruments” prize game was well-received by the public and attracted nearly 7,400 participants. The results of the lucky draw will be announced on 7 November on the Festival’s website, the respective page on Facebook and on IC’s WeChat account “ICmacao”.
The grand opening The Magic Flute, a two-act opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, featured a perfect blend of film animation and live singing, leading the audience into a magical fantasy world. The Vienna Philharmonic joined hands with conductor Andrés Orozco-Estrada and pianist Wang Yuja to present two enchanting concerts, arousing waves of applause from the audience. Two young local music stars, Choi Hio Lam (guzheng and erhu) and Fang Teng (erhu), jointly performed in the concert Bravo Macao! earning wide acclaim. Young local violin prodigy Sophia Su teamed up with the Sejong Soloists to present the concert Serenade of Strings. Multi-instrumentalist Peter Broderick unfolded his extraordinary musical skills at the Taipa Houses Amphitheatre. In ‘Pontos nos Is’, prominent Portuguese ensemble “Os Quatro e Meia” presented the most beautiful Portuguese songs that sophisticatedly combine pop-rock and Fado music. In the concert Manding Griot, female African kora virtuoso Sona Jobarteh staged various traditional African tunes in an innovative style, arousing enthusiasm in the audience. The concert When the East Meets the West in Music by the Macao Chinese Orchestra featured a repertoire of Chinese and Western classics. In celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and the 20th anniversary of Macao’s Handover to China, the concert The Yellow River Cantata presented the signature piece with majestic momentum and tenacity as a wonderful closing tribute.
A number of concerts were staged in world heritage sites, including Aquilonis, Folk Songs, Dorian Wind Quintet, Dorian Wind Quintet and Billy Childs and A Musical Affair held at the Dom Pedro V Theatre and Melodies from Jiangnan at the Mandarin’s House, bringing a genuine artistic experience that allowed the audience to enjoy Chinese and Western works while appreciating the beauty of traditional architecture.
The activities of the 33rd MIMF Outreach Programme, including talks, pre-show and post-show talks, Meet-the-Artist sessions, masterclasses, workshops, community activities and schools sessions, have received an enthusiastic response from the public, offering the diverse experience. The “Street Piano Programme” was well-received by the public and is extended until 29 December at the following locations: Sir Robert Ho Tung Library (from 1 to 26 November), Taipa Houses (from 1 to 14 November), the leisure area on Rua Quatro do Bairro Iao Hon (from 15 November to 29 December) and Areia Preta Urban Park (from 27 November to 29 December).
This edition of the MIMF was supported by the Macao Government Tourism Office, TDM - Teledifusão de Macau, Air Macau, Sands Resorts Macao, and had Cotai Water Jet as its official ferry company. Next year the Festival will continue to offer remarkable performances to the public.