35th Macao International Music Festival continues this week with concerts by The King’s Singers, Long Yu and Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Macao Chinese Orchestra, and with a show inspired by Astor Piazzolla’s Tango Opera María de Buenos Aires 

Date of publication: 29/09/2023
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The 35th Macao International Music Festival (MIMF), organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau, under the theme “Melodic Reconnections”, features 16 eclectic programmes and 14 outreach activities, bringing together international maestros and rising stars to provide music aficionados with an unforgettable musical feast with impressive and refreshing musical performances. 

After the grand opening with the opera in two acts The Barber of Seville, by Gioachino Rossini, a production by the Royal Danish Theatre, the event continues this week with several concerts, namely the concert “Long Yu and Shanghai Symphony Orchestra”, featuring one of the most renowned orchestras in Asia, in which works by Rimsky-Korsakov, Rachmaninoff, Mozart and Bernstein will be presented. Programme highlights include the Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, op. 43 by Rachmaninoff , performed by pianist Zee Zee, and the Violin Concerto No. 5 in A Major K. 219 “Turkish” by Mozart, performed by violinist Liu Ming, under the baton of maestro Long Yu, acclaimed as “the most powerful figure in China’s  classical music scene”, a concert to take place on October 13th, Friday, at the Macao Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium, at 8:00 pm.

On the same day, the Festival presents the concert “Tom and Will” by the renowned English a cappella chamber choir The King’s Singers, a concert that commemorates the 400th anniversary of the death of the great British Renaissance composers Thomas Weelkes and William Byrd; the concert will be held at the Macao Cultural Centre Small Auditorium, at 8:00 pm. The programme, presented in the unique style of The King’s Singers, includes songs and madrigals, a musical mix full of drama and narrative emotion. On October 14th, Saturday, the same choral ensemble presents a concert entitled “Legacies”, featuring, amongst others, several works by Vaughan Williams, Ligeti, Hisaishi, some of them commissioned, and a collection of soundtracks from Walt Disney films, crossing the ages with their clean and harmonious voices.

The Macao Chinese Orchestra, for its part, will present the “Night of Macao” concert on October 14th, under the baton of maestro Liu Shun, at the Macao Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium, at 8:00 pm. This fabulous Chinese musical feast includes, among other works, the Erhu Concerto Relieved in Dream by Liu Changyuan, Postcard of Macao by Wang Chenwei and also a commissioned work.

On October 14th and 15th, the Festival presents a show inspired by the only tango opera composed by the great Argentine composer Astor Piazzolla, María de Buenos Aires, directed and choreographed by the internationally recognized Hong Kong choreographer Helen Lai and with the participation of dancers from the City Contemporary Dance Company, also from Hong Kong, including two opera singers, and with the collaboration of young conductor Vivian Ip, to be held at The Parisian Theatre, at 8:00 pm. Hovering the fine line between life and death, fantasy and reality, this is a surrealistic homage to the eternal charm of tango.

In addition, in celebration of this edition of the Macao International Music Festival, the organiser specially launched a variety of souvenirs dedicated to the theme of the festival, including a power bank, a memo pad, a notebook, a waterproof bag and a thermo bottle with strap, as well as discount packages. The souvenirs are for sale during the performance period at the Macao Cultural Centre and the Mandarin’s House. Furthermore, prize games will continue to be launched on the page of the 35th Macao International Music Festival on Facebook, and all are welcome to participate and stand a chance to win fabulous prizes.

For more information about the programmes, ticket purchases and discounts, please check the 35th Macao International Music Festival Booklet (the PDF version can be downloaded at www.icm.gov.mo/fimm), follow the respective page on Facebook (search “Macao International Music Festival”), or subscribe to IC’s official WeChat account (IC_Art_Macao). Ticketing hotline and enquiries: 2855 5555; ticketing website: www.macauticket.com.