Due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, the Macao International Music Festival (MIMF) will have a different format in 2020. Themed “For a Special Year’, the MIMF presented two community concerts on 22 and 29 August, bringing music to every corner of the city. In October, three much-anticipated special concerts “A Century of Chinese Music”, “Mahler Symphony No. 1” and “Bravo Macao!” will be held to inspire people with music during the epidemic. Tickets will be on sale at the Macau Ticketing Network from 13 September with early bird and various discounts available.
On 4 October, the MIMF will present the Macao Chinese Orchestra’s concert season opening concert entitled “A Century of Chinese Music”, featuring two acclaimed plucked-string virtuosos, the prominent master of pipa, Zhang Hongyan, and accomplished contemporary guzheng soloist, Luo Jing, who will perform the pieces Blossoms on a Moonlit River in Spring and Song of the Homebound Fishermen, respectively. In the concert “Mahler Symphony No. 1” to be held on 10 October, the Macao Orchestra and the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra will present Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 to promote artistic exchanges in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, while young violinist Huali Dang will perform Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 5. Both concerts will be staged at the Macao Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium at 8pm. The concert “Bravo Macao!”, which offers a platform for young local musicians to showcase their talents, will be staged at the Dom Pedro V Theatre on 31 October, featuring percussionist Andrew Chan and saxophonist Lee Chi Pok.
In addition to the aforementioned concerts, the “Pipa Masterclass with Zhang Hongyan” will be held on 3 October at 7pm, in which the renowned pipa performer will give personal guidance on the instrument's performance techniques. Lu Jia, Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Macao Orchestra, will conduct the pre-show talk “Mahler Symphony No. 1” on 10 October, at 7pm, in which he will deconstruct three compositions featured in the concert, taking participants to the concert hall and giving them a deeper understanding of the spirit of the masterpieces. Online registration for both activities is open from 9am on 14 September through IC’s Activity Registration System (www.icm.gov.mo/eform/event). Vacancies are limited.
Tickets for the MIMF are available at the Macau Ticketing Network from 10am on 13 September (Sunday), and telephone and online bookings (local and overseas) will open simultaneously. On the first day of ticket sales, ticket purchases are limited to a maximum of 10 tickets per performance per person. Electronic consumption cards will not be accepted for MIMF ticket purchases. An early bird discount of 30%, subject to certain criteria, will be available from 13 to 20 September and a 20% discount will be offered from 21 September onwards. A 25% discount will be offered to CCM Friends, OM Friends, Friends of the Macao Chinese Orchestra and Friends of MAM on tickets purchase for any concert during the early bird period and a 20% discount from 21 September onwards. A 50% discount will also be offered to holders of Macao Senior Citizen Card or Disability Assessment Registration Card.
For more information about the programme of the Macao International Music Festival please visit the thematic website www.icm.gov.mo/fimm, IC’s official WeChat account “IC_Art_Macao” or the “Macao International Music Festival” page on Facebook. 24-hour ticketing hotlines: 2855 5555 (Macao), 2380 5083 (Hong Kong) and 139 269 11111 (Mainland China). Ticketing website: www.macauticket.com.
IC will strictly follow the related anti-epidemic guidelines of the health authorities and implement appropriate measures for cultural activities. All participants must wear face masks, undergo body temperature checks and present a valid “Macao Health Code”. IC continues to monitor closely the development of the outbreak and adjust the measures accordingly.