The orchestra was set up by the Cultural
Institute of Macau in 1987 and currently consists of 34 musicians.
It performs regularly with frequent concerts in Macau and also an
annual foreign tour in a tradition that began in December 1988 with
its first visit to Portugal. Since then it has performed several more
times in Portugal, and also in Belgium, Bombay and Goa.
Locally, the Orchestra has been involved in a variety of events
including the concert given to mark the Return of Macau to China and
at the Ceremony marking the Establishment of the Special
Administrative Region of Macau.
Its repertoire covers a range of musical genres from traditional
Chinese melodies to contemporary Chinese compositions. It premiered
“Hard Separation” by He Zhan Hao, in a performance conducted by
the composer himself, and other premieres include “Impressions of
Mount Tai Hang” by Liu Wen Jin, “Spring River” by Xu Jin Xin,
“Fantasy for Portuguese Guitar” by Kuan Nai Ching, and “Macau
Rhapsody” by Simao Barreto.
