The Macao Orchestra (OM, from the Portuguese acronym), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC, from the Portuguese acronym), embarked on a European tour from 10 to 24 September, to participate in the world renowned International Brucknerfest Linz. OM will also perform for European audiences in cities such as Erl and Vienna in Austria, Zurich in Switzerland, and Budapest in Hungary, displaying Macao’s culture and music on international stages. This tour is supported by the Macau Tourist Government Office.
In the past ten years, OM has taken on the role of Macao’s cultural ambassador. Up to last year, OM had already performed concerts in over 40 cities in more than 30 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions in China, becoming the first music ensemble to tour the whole country. In this European tour, OM takes to international stages, participating in several major performances and taking abroad four different programmes specially designed for the occasion. The Orchestra performs on 13 and 14 September at the Brucknerhaus Linz concert hall , in Austria; and on 17 September at Festspielhaus Erl, also in Austria, as part of the festival Tiroler Festspiele Erl; on 18 September at Tonhalle Zürich in Switzerland; on 20 September at the Liszt Ferenc Zeneművészeti Egyetem in Budapest, Hungary; and on 21 September OM returns to Viennafor a concert at the MuTh - Konzertsaal der Wiener Sängerknaben, performing a total of 6 concerts. Acting as Macao’s cultural ambassador, OM introduces the achievements of Macao’s cultural development as well as the city’s cultural image to European audiences.
This tour is led by the Vice-President of IC, Leong Hio Ming, and is personally directed by OM’s Music Director and Principal Conductor, Lü Jia. The International Brucknerfest Linz is named after renowned Austrian composer in 19th century, Anton Bruckner, and it is one of the three biggest music festivals in Austria today, taking place every year in Linz, the hometown of composer Anton Bruckner. This year, China was invited to participate in the Brucknerfest Linz as a guest country, while OM received an invitation to participate in the “China Focus” series of activities as the country’s representative ensemble, performing alongside soloist Chinese musicians of the new generation, such as piano’s rising star Zhang Haochen and sheng performer Wu Wei, promoting the musical achievements of contemporary China. Furthermore, in order to showcase Macao’s future musical strength, OM has invited promising 15-year-old local violinist, Sophia Feinga Su, to perform. Conductor Lü Jia will lead the Linz Bruckner Orchestra in the opening concert of the Brucknerfest Linz.
The Macao Orchestra is a small to mid-size ensemble filled with refined European style, mostly dedicated to performing traditional pieces of the German and Austrian symphonic literature. Locally, OM seeks to promote musical arts while abroad it presents itself as a feature of Macao’s cultural trademark as an international metropolis. This European tour will certainly deepen the cultural cooperation and exchange between Macao and Europe.
