Category: Press Release

Macao Orchestra presents concert “Azzolini and Lu Jia” in March Registration for master class opens from today

The Macao Orchestra (OM, from the Portuguese acronym), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, presents the concert “Azzolini and Lu Jia” on Friday, 15 March, at 8pm, at the St. Dominic’s Church. Admission is free. Tickets will be distributed at the St. Dominic’s Church one hour prior to the performance. In addition to the concert, OM will specially hold a master class on 13 March, in which bassoonist Azzolini will coach the participants on bassoon solo and woodwind ensemble performance skills in person. A number of seats will also be available for observers. All music aficionados are welcome.

Under the baton of Music Director Lu Jia, the Orchestra will join hands with internationally renowned bassoonist Sergio Azzolini to present two bassoon concertos, by A. Vivaldi and C. Stamitz, and in the second part OM will perform the Symphony No.4 ‘Italian’ by Mendelssohn further extending the South European flavour of the Romantic period.

Born in Bolzano, Italy in 1967, Azzolini is famous for his extraordinary ability in interpreting musical pieces of various styles and his notable accomplishment in the performance of classical instruments, especially those featured in Baroque music. He is hailed as an authority on the interpretation of Vivaldi’s works in the field of bassoon performance. He won numerous international awards in many prestigious competitions, such as the Carl Maria von Weber Competition, the Prague Spring Competition and the ARD Competition, and has worked with various musicians and orchestras, including the Ensemble Baroque de Limoges, the Concentus Musicus Wien, Holland Baroque Society, the Händel-Festspielorchester Halle and the Accademia Bizantina, among others.

The “Master Class with Sergio Azzolini” will be held on Wednesday, 13 March, at 6:30pm, on the 2nd floor of the Auditorium of Handover Gifts Museum of Macao, in which Azzolini will personally coach the participants on bassoon solo and woodwind ensemble performance skills individually or in groups. 50 seats will be available for observers. Registration for participants being coached and for observers can be made through tel. no. 2853 0782 or via Macao Orchestra’s official WeChat account by 4 March. Successful applicants will be notified on or before 11 March for the payment which must be made at the Cultural Affairs Bureau.

Admission to the Macao Orchestra’s concert “Azzolini and Lu Jia” is free. Tickets will be distributed at St. Dominic’s Church one hour prior to the performance. Distribution is on a first-come, first-served basis and is limited to a maximum of two tickets per person. For details and enquiries about the programme, please visit Macao Orchestra’s webpage at www.icm.gov.mo/om.

Macao Orchestra presents romantic “Valentine’s Day Concert – Piano in Love”

The Macao Orchestra (OM, from the Portuguese acronym), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, presents the “Valentine’s Day Concert – Piano in Love” on Saturday, 16 February, at 8pm, at the Macao Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium. Under the baton of the prominent Macao conductor Lio Kuokman, the Macao Orchestra will join hands with renowned Chinese pianist Chen Sa to present a repertoire specially selected for Valentine’s Day, celebrating this romantic day with music aficionados. Tickets are now available through the Macau Ticketing Network.

This year marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Clara Schumann, a remarkable pianist and composer of the 19th century, highly accomplished in the fields of piano performance, music composition and criticism. Her loyalty and love to her husband Robert Schumann, and her lifelong friendship with composer Johannes Brahms have also become immortal much-told stories.

In commemoration of these three great musicians, the programme of this Valentine’s Day concert features Robert Schumann’s Overture to Genoveva, Clara Schumann’s Piano Concerto in A minor and Johannes Brahm’s Symphony No. 4 in E minor, showing how the three masters express their feelings through music.

Tickets for the “Valentine’s Day Concert – Piano in Love” are priced at MOP250, MOP200 and MOP150, with various discount packages available. 24-hour ticketing hotline: 2855 5555. Ticketing website: www.macauticket.com. For details and enquiries about the programme, please contact OM through tel. no. 2853 0782 during office hours or visit Macao Orchestra’s website at www.icm.gov.mo/om.

Macao Orchestra presented spectacular concert in collaboration with violinist Tianwa Yang and stages a chamber music concert at Dom Pedro V Theatre on Sunday

The Macao Orchestra (OM, from the Portuguese acronym), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, presented the concert “Salute to Richard Strauss – Tianwa Yang and Macao Orchestra”, part of the Shining Virtuosos series, on 19 January at the Macao Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium, featuring Edouard Lalo’s Symphonie Espagnole, in which acclaimed Chinese violinist Tianwa Yang displayed her virtuoso technique. The Orchestra also performed two classical symphonic masterpieces by Richard Strauss, Don Juan and Tod und Verklärung (Death and Transfiguration). The concert was well-received by the public. An autograph session was held with Tianwa Yang which attracted swarms of music aficionados. In addition, the violinist gave a master class on 18 January at the Macao Conservatory, in which she coached and exchanged views with the participating violin students.

Tianwa Yang, hailed by American music critics for her “stunning, effortless virtuosity”, cooperated with the Macao Orchestra for the first time in this concert, presenting the world-famous and challenging violin concerto Symphonie Espagnole by French composer Édouard Lalo. Written as a “symphony” for violin and orchestra, the Symphonie Espagnole features a rich and colourful violin solo, with which Tianwa Yang demonstrated her superb virtuosity and earned rounds of applause. As a tribute to German composer Richard Strauss on the 70th anniversary of his death this year, the Macao Orchestra also performed two of his classical symphonic masterpieces, Don Juan and Tod und Verklärung (Death and Transfiguration).

On Sunday 27 January, OM will present the chamber music concert “Mesmerising Austro-German Music” at the Dom Pedro V Theatre, at 8pm, featuring a programme of ensemble compositions by Mozart, Mendelssohn and Schubert. Tickets are priced at MOP120 and MOP100 and are now available for purchase. On the same day, the exchange session “Music Hour with Musicians” will be held at 7pm, in which musicians of the Orchestra including first violinist Li Silei, cellist Zhang Taiyang and bassoonist Zhu Wukun will talk about curiosities of chamber music. Admission is free. Ticketing hotline: 2855 5555. For details and programme enquiries, please contact OM through tel. no. 2853 0782 during office hours or visit the Macao Orchestra’s webpage at www.icm.gov.mo/om.

Macao Orchestra and local musicians present the concert “The Future of Classical Music”

The Macao Orchestra (OM, from the Portuguese acronym), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, under the baton of Orchestra’s Assistant Conductor Francis Kan, will join hands with a number of local musicians and music students to present the concert “The Future of Classical Music” on Saturday, 12 January, at 8pm, at the University Hall of the University of Macau. Admission is free. All residents are welcome to attend.

With great emphasis attached on encouraging local young music talents, every year OM organises concerts and perform jointly with local music lovers and students, allowing them to showcase their talent. This year, OM will continue to collaborate with various local music entities, arranging young music students to rehearse together with professional music ensembles and providing individual guidance from the Orchestra’s musicians, thereby allowing the students to interpret different music compositions on stage and showcasing the outstanding results of the music talents.

This concert features three masterpieces, including Overture to Poet and Peasant by Suppé, Caprice Bohémien by Rachmaninoff and Overture to 1812 by Tchaikovsky. Performing groups also include The University of Macau String Orchestra and The University of Macau Symphonic Band, The Student Philharmonic Orchestra of the Macao Conservatory, Macau Band Directors Association, Macau Strings Association, students of the Bachelor of Arts in Music course from Macao Polytechnic Institute and two local young music talents, Cheang Ka In and Iong Hou In.

Admission to the concert “The Future of Classical Music” is free. Interested parties can reserve tickets through tel. no. 2853 0782 during office hours or subscribe to the official WeChat account of Macao Orchestra for reservation. For programme enquiries, please visit OM’s webpage at www.icm.gov.mo/om.

Macao Orchestra presented “Starry Vienna – New Year Concert” to welcome the New Year Renowned violinist Yang Tianwa performs in the following concert

The Macao Orchestra (OM, from the Portuguese acronym), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, presented the “Starry Vienna – New Year Concert” on 31 December 2018, at the Macao Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium, to welcome the New Year with music aficionados. Renowned conductor Arvo Volmer joined hands with outstanding Chinese soprano Hui He to bring the New Year concert in Viennese style. The concert featured festive decorations, photography activity and a cocktail reception in a joyful atmosphere.

OM’s “Starry Vienna – New Year Concert” has become one of the major musical events for local music aficionados to celebrate the New Year. This year, under the baton of conductor Arvo Volmer, outstanding Chinese soprano He Hui presented a number of Western and Chinese musical pieces, including Giuseppe Verdi’s Mercè, dilette amiche from I Vespri Siciliani, Giacomo Puccini’s Vissi d’arte, vissi d’amore” from Tosca, and Zheng Qiufeng’s How Beautiful My Home Town, among others. The concert drew a full house and music aficionados enjoyed the wonderful musical moments in the festive atmosphere.

In addition, OM will present the concert “Salute to Richard Strauss – Tianwa Yang and the Macao Orchestra” on 19 January 2019, at 8pm, at the Macao Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium. Under the baton of Principal Conductor Lu Jia, talented violinist Tianwa Yang, will cooperate with OM for the first time.

Tickets for the concert “Salute to Richard Strauss – Tianwa Yang and Macao Orchestra” are now available at the Macau Ticketing Network and are priced at MOP250, MOP200 and MOP150. 24-hour ticketing hotline: 2855 5555; online ticketing: www.macauticket.com. For details and programme enquiries, please visit the OM’s webpage at www.icm.gov.mo/om.

Macao Orchestra’s “Christmas Concert” celebrates the festive season with music aficionados

The Macao Orchestra (OM, from the Portuguese acronym), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, presents the “Christmas Concert – Ode to the Festive Season”, to be held on Saturday, 15 December, at 8pm, at Dom Pedro V Theatre. OM will join hands with the Macao Youth Choir under the baton of the Orchestra’s Assistant Conductor Francis Kan. Admission is free. Tickets will be distributed at Dom Pedro V Theatre one hour prior to the performance. All are welcome.

In this festive season, the Macao Orchestra celebrates with music aficionados in advance. In this concert, the Orchestra will perform a number of familiar classic Christmas carols including Silent Night, Jingle Bells, O Come, All Ye Faithful, For the Beauty of the Earth and All Things Bright and Beautiful, among others, presenting an ingenious “Christmas Concert” to the public.
OM specially invited the Macao Youth Choir to perform in this concert. Since its establishment, the Macao Youth Choir has participated in numerous musical events and contests in Macao and abroad and won several international awards.

Admission to the “Christmas Concert – Ode to the Festive Season” is free. Tickets will be distributed at the Dom Pedro V Theatre one hour prior to the performance. Distribution is on a first-come, first-served basis and is limited to a maximum of two tickets per person. For details and programme enquiries, please visit the Macao Orchestra’s website at www.icm.gov.mo/om.

Macao Orchestra presents concert “New World Symphony” at St. Dominic’s Church on Friday

The Macao Orchestra (OM, from the Portuguese acronym), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, presents the concert “New World Symphony” under the baton of renowned conductor Julian Kovatchev from Italy, on Friday, 7 December, at 8pm, at St. Dominic’s Church. Admission to the concert is free. Tickets will be distributed at the entrance of St. Dominic’s Church one hour prior to the performance.

In this concert, the magnificent works Overture to Nabucco by Verdi and Symphony No. 9 “From the New World” by Dvořák, will be presented, conveying the essence of the 19th century, an era when European countries showed their national characters and promoted nationalism. In a long-divided Italy, Giuseppe Verdi’s opera Nabucco evoked the Italians’ strong feelings for independence and revival through the tragic history of the ancient Hebrews. Born in Bohemia under foreign oppression, Antonín Leopold Dvořák reflected the combination of traditional Czech music and folk music of the “New World” perfectly in this masterpiece.

Admission to the concert “New World Symphony” is free. Tickets will be distributed at the St. Dominic’s Church one hour prior to the performance. Distribution is on a first-come, first-served basis and is limited to a maximum of two tickets per person. The concert will be broadcast live on an outdoor screen installed outside St. Dominic’s Church, allowing more people to enjoy this high quality concert. For details and enquiries about the programme, please visit OM’s website at www.icm.gov.mo/om.

Macao Orchestra held concerts dedicated to French music at universities

The Macao Orchestra (OM, from the Portuguese acronym), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, presented three concerts dedicated to French music compositions at the Auditorium of the Macao Polytechnic Institute, the Student Activity Centre of the University of Macau and the Auditorium of the library building of the Macau University of Science and Technology on 15 and 17 November. The concerts were conducted and explained by OM’s Assistant Conductor, Francis Kan, in an effort to promote classical music.

The three concerts “University Concert – Indulge in Music of Paris”, were conducted by OM’s Assistant Conductor Francis Kan, who led a number of musicians to present a programme dedicated to French music compositions, specially designed for teachers and students, featuring several pieces such as Deux Marches et un Intermède by Poulenc, Petite Suite by Debussy and Mother Goose Suite 5 Children’s Pieces by Ravel. The three suites feature their own distinctiveness: Deux Marches et un Intermède by Poulenc, composed in 1937 in honour of the Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques, featuring the progressive in style, reflects the changes in human society; the Petite Suite by Debussy, with its simplicity, contrasts with the other works of the composer in terms of the pioneering nature of his musical language; while through the Mother Goose Suite, 5 Children’s Pieces, Ravel narrates a series of five fairy tales. In addition to the musical performance, Conductor Francis Kan talked about the musical style of the compositions and the history of classical music. The concerts counted with an active participation of teachers and students and were held in lively atmosphere.

OM has been committed to musical education and its promotion close by the community through creative elements and a variety of activities, launching a series of educational concerts, such as concerts in primary schools and kindergartens to be held in late November. The concerts are specially designed in a targeted manner with a combination of vivid explanations designed to cultivate students’ interest and their ability to appreciate classical music. For more information about the concerts and programmes, please visit the OM’s webpage at www.icm.gov.mo/om.

Macao Orchestra presents National Geographic – Symphony for Our World bringing music aficionados a new audiovisual experience

The Macao Orchestra (OM, from the Portuguese acronym), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, presents the original symphony National Geographic – Symphony for Our World on 25 November (Sunday), at 8pm, at the Macao Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium. The Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Perth Symphony Orchestra, Jessica Gethin, was invited to lead the OM and the Learners Chorus from Hong Kong in this concert. Limited tickets are still available at the Macau Ticketing Network. Interested parties are advised to purchase tickets as soon as possible.

The world’s first National Geographic Magazine was published by National Geographic Society in the USA since 1888. Its large cover with a yellow border has become the first impression of readers exploring humanity and ecology. On the occasion of 130th anniversary of its establishment, National Geographic launched the programme Symphony for Our World, which began its world tour in the spring of 2018. Macao is also one of the stops of the tour, bringing local and neighbouring regions’ music aficionados a highly attractive music performance.

Produced by Bleeding Fingers Music, nominated for the Emmy Award and the British Film Academy Film Award (BAFTA), and composed by Austin Fray and Andrew Christie, the symphony, accompanied by a screening of the stunning natural history footage of National Geographic, will take the audience on a breathtaking musical journey through the world’s wildlife. The live performance of the symphony orchestra and choir takes the audience on a journey going from the depths of the sea, up to coastlines, over mountains, and soaring into the sky. The 90-minute performance showcases the unique and precious excerpts and stories of National Geographic over 130 years, presenting music aficionados an unforgettable new audiovisual experience. An exceptional concert not to be missed!

Tickets for the concert National Geographic – Symphony for Our World are available through the Macau Ticketing Network and are priced at MOP250, MOP200 and MOP150. Holders of valid full-time Student Card can enjoy a 50% discount on tickets, and there are various discount packages available. For more information and enquiries about the programme, please visit the OM’s webpage at www.icm.gov.mo/om.

Macao Orchestra celebrates 35th Anniversary with music aficionados in “Along with the musical joy – Annual gala and gathering”

On the occasion of the 35th anniversary, the Macao Orchestra (OM, from the Portuguese acronym), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, presents the concert “Along with the musical joy – Annual gala and gathering” on 10 November, at 7:30pm, at the Dom Pedro V Theatre. The concert will be followed by a cocktail reception. Tickets for the concert have been distributed earlier. Spectators with tickets are welcome to attend the concert and celebrate the anniversary with the Macao Orchestra.

The concert features a special programme of ensemble music selected by the Macao Orchestra musicians, including Quartet in G Minor by Francois Devienne, Andante and Rondo by Franz Doppler and Serenade in C Major by Ernst von Dohnányi, among others. After the concert, a cocktail reception will be served at the Mirror Hall of the Theatre, where musicians and music aficionados can exchange views and share their wonderful moments of music in a pleasant atmosphere.

For details and enquiries about the programme “Along with the musical joy – Annual gala and gathering”, please visit OM’s website at www.icm.gov.mo/om or contact OM through tel. no. 28530782 during office hours.＿

OM’s annual concert ‘Flourishing Arts ’ takes place this Friday

The Macao Orchestra (OM) of the Cultural Affairs Bureau presents the concert “Flourishing Arts” this Friday (2 November) at 8pm at St. Dominic’s Church. Under the leadership of OM’s Assistant Conductor, Francis Kan, the Orchestra joins hands in this concert with Law Tak Yin and Kelly Chan Wing Ka, award winners at the 36th Macao Young Musicians Competition, and Shihan Wang, winner of the first prize for violin at the 2nd Zhuhai International Mozart Competition for Young Musicians. Admission is free by ticket which will be distributed at the concert venue on the day of performance, one hour before its start.

The concerts “Flourishing Arts” are part of OM’s educational concerts and continue to offer every year a platform for young musicians to showcase their talent. This year’s concert counts on performances by award winners of the 36th Macao Young Musicians Competition Law Tak Yin, winner of the first prize in the categories of Violin (Advanced Level) and String Concerto (Advanced Level), and Kelly Chan Wing Ka, winner of the first prize in the category of Flute (Advanced Level), who will respectively interpret Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in D Major (1st movement) and Devienne’s Flute concerto No. 7 in E minor (1st movement). OM further cooperates with Shihan Wang, winner of the first prize in Group A in the violin category of the 2nd Zhuhai International Mozart Competition for Young Musicians, in an interpretation of Mozart’s Violin concerto No. 3 in G Major. The public is invited to witness the performances of these extraordinary young musicians.

Admission to the concert “Flourishing Arts” is free by ticket which will be distributed at the concert venue on the day of performance, one hour before its start; distribution is limited to two tickets per person and will be done on a first-come first-served basis. For more information and details, please visit the Macao Orchestra’s website at www.icm.gov.mo/om.

OM travels to Shanghai to take part in the 20th China Shanghai International Arts Festival and earns public praise

Invited by the respective organization, the Macao Orchestra (OM) of the Cultural Affairs Bureau travelled to Shanghai between 20 and 25 October to perform at the 20th China Shanghai International Arts Festival. Under the guidance of its Music Director and Principal Conductor, Lu Jia, OM took to the stage of the Shanghai Symphony Hall together with the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra to interpret Bruckner’s Symphony No.8 in C minor. Thanks to an excellent performance, the Orchestra earned the praise and applause of the public.

OM took part in the China Shanghai International Arts Festival for the first time in 2013, taking part this year once again with Bruckner’s Symphony No.8 in C minor under the guidance of OM’s Music Director and Principal Conductor, Lu Jia. Considering Austrian composer Anton Bruckner’s works are rarely presented in Asia, OM offered the Shanghai audience a rare chance to attend to a performance of the composer’s longest work, the Symphony No.8 in C minor. The concert took place on 24 October and earned enthusiastic praise and applause from the local audience, who thereby acknowledged OM’s professionalism and technique. The same work had already been co-performed by OM and the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra on 5 October of this year at the 32nd Macao International Music Festival. Following this initial cooperation, musicians from both ensembles had another opportunity to deepen their connection and improve their technique.

The China Shanghai International Arts Festival is hosted by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China and co-organized by the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, being the only comprehensive arts festival in China at a national level. The concert has special meaning as it successfully revealed to the Shanghai audience the achievements of Macao’s culture and music while deepening the cooperation and cultural development between the two cities, thereby effectively promoting exchanges between the two. In the future, OM will continue to take on the role of “cultural ambassador” and actively promote Macao’s culture abroad through music.

Macao Orchestra presents an evening of “Charming Serenade”

The Macao Orchestra (OM, from the Portuguese acronym), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, presents the concert “Charming Serenade”, the first chamber music concert of this concert season, on 9 November (Friday), at 8pm, at the Dom Pedro V Theatre, featuring classic serenades composed in different eras, and leading music aficionados to enjoy the beauty of this music genre. Tickets are now available for sale at the Macau Ticketing Network.

People imagine a “Serenade” as a touching scene of a young man playing guitar and singing love songs under the moonlight in front of his lover’s windows. During the classical period, serenades not only maintained lyrical and lingering emotional expressions, but the forms of performance became more flexible. In this concert, OM will interpret four serenades by Mozart, Beethoven, Reger and Milhaud through a variety of chamber music combinations, allowing the audience to discern how composers of different generations convey feelings through music. Tickets are priced at MOP120 and MOP100, with various discount packages available. Ticketing hotline: 2855 5555.

In addition, due to maintenance of the venue, the concert “Mesmerising Austro-German Music”, originally scheduled to be held on 5 January 2019 (Saturday), at 8pm, at the Dom Pedro V Theatre, has been postponed to 27 January 2019 (Sunday), at 8pm. The venue and programme of the performance as well as the ticket prices remain unchanged. Spectators with tickets can enjoy the concert on the new date, 27 January, or may change their tickets at the Macau Ticketing Network outlets from today to 7 January 2019. For more information and enquiries about the programme, please visit OM’s webpage at www.icm.gov.mo/om.

Macao Orchestra launches new “Young Audience Programme” and holds Experience Day on 6 October

The Macao Orchestra (OM, from the Portuguese acronym), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, launches the “Young Audience Programme” in the new Concert Season, specially dedicated to local full-time students aged 25 or below, aiming to foster young audience’s artistic appreciation abilities and broaden their cultural and artistic horizons by organizing diversified music education and outreach activities. In addition, OM will hold a “Music Experience Day” on 6 October, from 9:45am to 1pm, allowing students to explore a number of extraordinary activities in search of the boundless fun of the music world. Students aged between 12 and 25 years of age are welcome to participate. Admission is free.

The “Music Experience Day” offers a rich programme, including a guided tour led by OM’s Assistant Conductor, Francis Kan, to the open rehearsals of the 32nd Macao International Music Festival concert Anton Bruckner Symphony No. 8 – Macao Orchestra and Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra, backstage tours, and a music knowledge and etiquette workshop. Participants may also sign up to take part in the programme “OM Little Reporter” and experience the joy of being one of OM’s young friends. All participants will also receive a souvenir from the Orchestra.

Applications for the “Music Experience Day” are open until 28 September and may be submitted through OM’s WeChat account or through OM’s page on Facebook. Successful applicants will be notified personally. Admission to all activities is free. Seats are limited and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. For enquiries, please contact OM through tel. no. 2853 0782 during office hours.

Change of date of the concert “Mesmerising Austro-German Music” by the Macao Orchestra

Due to maintenance of the venue, the concert “Mesmerising Austro-German Music” by the Macao Orchestra, under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, originally scheduled to be held on Saturday, 5 January 2019, at 8pm at Dom Pedro V Theatre, has been postponed to Sunday, 27 January 2019, at 8pm. The venue and programme of the performance as well as the ticket prices remain unchanged. Spectators with tickets can enjoy the concert on the new date, 27 January, or may change their tickets at the Macau Ticketing Network outlets from 12 September 2018 to 7 January 2019. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Tickets for this concert will be on sale again from 12 September 2018 and are priced at MOP120 and MOP100. A 40% discount will also be available for purchasers of four or more tickets for any concerts of the “Chamber Voyage” series. For more information and enquiries about the programme, please contact OM through tel. no. 2853 0782 during office hours or visit the Macao Orchestra webpage at www.icm.gov.mo/om. 24-hour ticketing hotline: 2855 5555; online ticket reservation available at www.macauticket.com.

Macao Orchestra inaugurates its 2018-19 Concert Season with pianist Barry Douglas

The Macao Orchestra (OM, from the Portuguese acronym), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, held the opening ceremony of its 2018-19 Concert Season on 1 September, at the lobby of the Macao Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium, followed by the season opening concert “Sergei Rachmaninoff by Barry Douglas”. The opening ceremony was officiated by the Acting Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, Wang Dong; the President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Mok Ian Ian; the Assistant of the Deputy Director of the Department of Publicity and Culture of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao S.A.R., Shao Bin; the Chairman of the China Symphony Development Foundation, Chen Guangxian; members of Macao Orchestra Advisory Committee, Dai Ding Cheng, Kevin Thompson, Johnny M Poon and Cao Yiji; the Head of the Department of Performing Arts Development of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Iu Wai Man; the Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Macao Orchestra, Lu Jia, and the General Manager of the Macao Orchestra, Rebecca Chou.

In celebration of OM’s 35th anniversary, this year’s Concert Season is themed “Music Gala 35: Music Fills the City”, creating more rich and innovative experiences in music to celebrate with music aficionados. Under the baton of OM’s Music Director Lu Jia, pianist Barry Douglas, winner of the Gold Medal at the Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition in 1986, was invited to perform in this opening concert following his last performance with the Macao Orchestra in which he played Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2, very well-received by the audience. In this concert, Barry Douglas performed Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 1. The programme of the concert also featured Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade, offering music aficionados a Russian-style musical feast. In addition, OM organised the “Piano Master Class with Barry Douglas” before the concert, in which Barry Douglas coached and exchanged views with the participants. A pre-concert talk led by Lu Jia was also held, allowing the audience to understand the programmed musical pieces better.

OM’s 2018-19 Concert Season booklet can be obtained free of charge at all Macau Ticketing Network outlets. The electronic version may also be downloaded at OM’s website at www.icm.gov.mo/om. For more information and enquiries about the programme, please call OM through tel. no. 2853 0782 during office hours. 24-hour ticketing hotline: 2855 5555; online ticket reservation is available at www.macauticket.com.

Macao Orchestra 2018-19 Concert Season tickets on sale now
Pianist Barry Douglas returns to Macao for the opening concert

The Macao Orchestra (OM, from the Portuguese acronym), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, kicks off its 2018-19 Concert Season on 1 September. In celebration of its 35th anniversary, this year’s Concert Season is themed “Music Gala 35: Music Fills the City”, gathering a number of prominent musicians to bring music aficionados a variety of excellent performances. Tickets for the new concert season are already on sale at the Macau Ticketing Network.

The 2018-19 Season Opening Concert, “Sergei Rachmaninoff by Barry Douglas”, will be held on 1 September, at 8pm, at the Macao Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium. Under the baton of OM Music Director Lu Jia, pianist Barry Douglas, winner of the Gold Medal at the Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition in 1986, was invited to perform in this opening concert following his last performance with the Macao Orchestra in which he played Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2, very well-received by the audience. In this concert, Barry Douglas will perform Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 1 followed by Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade, offering music aficionados a Russian-style musical feast. In addition, the “Piano Master Class with Barry Douglas” will be held on 30 August, at 6:30pm, at the Macao Conservatory Auditorium, in which Barry Douglas will coach and exchange views with the participants in person. Registration for participants being coached or observers can be made through tel. no. 2853 0782 and is open until 22 August. Successful applicants will be notified personally for the payment which must be made at the Cultural Affairs Bureau.

Tickets for the 2018-19 Season Opening Concert “Sergei Rachmaninoff by Barry Douglas” are available at the prices of MOP400, MOP350, MOP250 and MOP150. From today until 31 August, a 40% early bird discount on tickets is available for four or more persons who purchase tickets at the same time, or on tickets for all concerts for holders of “OM Friend”, “CCM Friend” or “Friend of the Macao Chinese Orchestra” cards. During the Early Bird period, “OM Friends” can redeem 2 tickets of “Along with the Musical Joy – Annual Gala and Gathering” by presenting OM Friends’ Card and tickets for the concert “Sergei Rachmaninoff by Barry Douglas”, “Salute to Richard Strauss – Tianwa Yang and Macao Orchestra” or “Piano Prodigies”, at the reception of Cultural Affairs Bureau during office hours. Tickets are limited and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

This year, the organizer offers the “OM Friends Music Points Program”, in which members can earn reward points by purchasing Macao Orchestra concert tickets, which can be used to get discounts. For more information, please refer to the Concert Season’s booklets and to OM’s website. The Concert Season booklets can be obtained free of charge at all Macau Ticketing Network outlets. The electronic version may also be downloaded at OM’s website at www.icm.gov.mo/om. For more information and enquiries on the programme, please call OM through tel. no. 2853 0782 during office hours. 24-hour ticketing hotline: 2855 5555; online ticket reservation is available at www.macauticket.com.

Macao Orchestra presents concerts in the “Science and Music Festival” to stimulate children’s musical thinking

The Macao Orchestra (OM, from the Portuguese acronym), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, in collaboration with the Macao Science Centre, presented two concerts in the “Science and Music Festival” on 21 July, at the Macao Science Centre. The atmosphere was lively, and the participants enjoyed the concerts, which were presented in ensemble groups, performing a number of chamber music pieces. The explanation by the master of ceremonies allowed the audience to learn more about the wonderful mysteries of science and music.

In the concerts, the wind and percussion musicians of the Macao Orchestra introduced the sounding principles of various musical instruments to children through their interesting performance, and explained the scientific laws of music. The two concerts attracted nearly 200 spectators. Some of the participating parents expressed that the concerts were innovative and allowed children to learn through play.

The Macao Orchestra’s 2017-18 Season Closing Concert – Beethoven Symphony No. 9, will be held on Saturday, 28 July, at 8pm, at the Macao Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium. This magnificent grand opus is Beethoven’s milestone, a work that extracts the essence of the Classical period and ushers the following Romantic era. Tickets for the concert are sold out and OM would like to thank music aficionados for their support. For details and enquiries about the programme, please visit OM’s webpage at www.icm.gov.mo/om.

Macao Orchestra’s 2017-18 Concert Season Closing Concert Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 grandly staged on 28 July

Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 – 2017-18 concert season closing concert of the Macao Orchestra, under the Cultural Affairs Bureau, will be held on 28 July at the Macao Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium, at 8pm. OM’s Music Director Lu Jia will conduct this masterpiece and several talentedyoung Chinese vocalists in the international classical music scene have been invited to perform on the same stage. Together with the participation of Taipei Philharmonic Chorus, OM will offer the audience a high-quality concert. Tickets are now on sale at macauticket.com.

Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, Op. 125 reached the pinnacle of historical influence, artistic merit and range of audience in western classical music. The Op. 125, which consists of four movements, is the final complete symphony composed by Beethoven between 1818 and 1824. It is a well-known piece and is considered Beethoven’s magnum opus. After experiencing years of emotional struggle and creative blocks, the composer created this masterpiece when he was on the verge of becoming completely deaf and entering his late period of composition, skilful, profound, exploratory and experimental. This work fully demonstrates how Beethoven elevated the symphony from a traditional genre into an art carrier that possesses great dramatic significance and philosophical character, as well as touches upon great propositions and makes statements in front of the whole humanity. By unprecedentedly incorporating vocal elements into the symphony, originally a purely instrumental genre, he allowed the great world-related aspirations to be universally acclaimed and passed down through generations along with the melody of his Ode to Joy. OM has invited young Chinese vocalistsincluding soprano Song Yuanming, mezzo-soprano Niu Shasha, tenor Shi Yijie and bass Guan Zhijing, who, together with vocal interpretation of the Taipei Philharmonic Chorus, will offer a perfect ending to the concert season.

A pre-concert talk on Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 led by Lu Jia will be held at the Macao Cultural Centre Conference Room on the same day from 7 to 7:30 pm, aiming at allowing the audience to better appreciate and understand the concert. All music aficionados are welcome to register for the talk via the official WeChat account “Macau Orchestra”, on a first-come, first-served basis.

Tickets for OM’s 2017-18 Concert Season Closing Concert – Beethoven Symphony No. 9 are priced at MOP 400, MOP 350, MOP 250 and MOP 150. Holders of BOC Multi-Currency Credit Card or BOC Card can enjoy an exclusive 30% discount on their purchases. Ticket hotline is 28 555555. For details and enquiries, please call OM at 28 530782 during office hours or visit OM’s website at www.icm.gov.mo/om.

Macao Orchestra holds family concert “Jason’s A to Z of Classical Music”

The Macao Orchestra (OM, in the Portuguese acronym), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, presents the family concert “Jason’s A to Z of Classical Music” on Saturday, 7 July, at 3pm, at the Macao Tower Auditorium. Remarkable new generation conductor Jason Lai will guide the young audience in learning more about music by telling stories from A to Z with lively explanations. The concert will be presented in English and is suitable for children aged three or above. Tickets for the concert are now available at the Macau Ticketing Network.

The concert “Jason’s A to Z of Classical Music”, with a programme arranged by the conductor himself, has been staged in Singapore and was well received by children and parents. In this concert, Jason Lai will explain to children how the letters A to Z can be applied to music by skilfully connecting a series of well-known classical masterpieces such as Greensleeves by Vaughan Williams and the waltz from Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty in order to give children a better understanding of classical music. In addition, renowned soprano and Director of the School of Music of the Macao Conservatory, Liu Mingyan, was invited to perform O Mio Babbino, an aria of one of Puccini’s operas, making the concert even more educational. Owing to the remarkable melodies and to conductor Jason Lai’s lively performance, the concert is an ideal event for children and parents to fully enjoy the weekend.

Tickets for the concert “Jason’s A to Z of Classical Music” are priced at MOP120. Holders of a valid full-time Student Card can enjoy a 50% discount, with various discount packages available. Ticketing hotline: (853) 2855 5555. For details and enquiries about the programme, please visit the OM website at www.icm.gov.mo/om.

Macao Orchestra celebrates its 35th Anniversary Tickets for new concert season on sale from 1 July

The Macao Orchestra (OM, from the Portuguese acronym), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, will begin its 2018-19 Concert Season, themed “Music Gala 35: Music Fills the City”, in September. In celebration of its 35th anniversary, a number of prominent musicians were invited to bring music aficionados a variety of excellent performances. As part of this concert season, a new “Young Audience Programme” will be launched, offering young music aficionados a series of educational and outreach activities, as well as a special edition of the Macau Pass to spread classical music everywhere. Furthermore, the OM has commissioned outstanding contemporary Chinese composer Wang Xilin a new work for its 35th anniversary, aiming to celebrate the special occasion with music aficionados. Tickets for the new concert season will be on sale at the Macau Ticketing Network from 1 July, and an early bird discount of 40% will be available, subject to certain criteria, between 1 July and 31 August.

The launch of the Macao Orchestra 2018-19 Concert Season was held on 20 June, at 3:30pm, at the Mandarin Oriental Macau Ocean Room, and was attended by the President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Mok Ian Ian; the Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Macao Orchestra, Lu Jia; the General Manager of Mandarin Oriental Macau, Jill Goh; the Chief Executive Officer of Air Macau Company Limited, Chen Hong; the Deputy General Manager of Bank of China (Macau Branch), Chan Hio Peng; the Assistant to Chief Executive Officer of Air Macau Company Limited, Wen Dexin; the Senior Manager of the Customer Service Department of the MOME Ltd., Chiang Man Ieng; the President of the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra, Nie Bing; the Head of the Department of Performing Arts Development of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Iu Wai Man; the Director of the School of Music of the Macao Conservatory, Liu Mingyan; the General Manager of the Macao Orchestra, Rebecca Chou Wai In; the Assistant Conductor of the Macao Orchestra, Francis Kan; the local illustrator Leong Kin; and the Concertmaster of the Macao Orchestra, Paolo Morena.

World-leading musicians and rising stars perform in Macao

A variety of captivating performances will be held in the new concert season. The opening concert “Sergei Rachmaninoff by Barry Douglas” will be jointly presented as a Russian musical feast for the audience by Barry Douglas, the internationally renowned winner of the Gold Medal at the Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition, and the Macao Orchestra. Notable Chinese soprano He Hui, who was nominated for the “You Bring Charm to the World Award”, will join hands with conductor Arvo Volmer to bring the audience the high-class “Starry Vienna – New Year Concert”.

Talented Chinese violinist Tianwa Yang will make her debut in Macao and present the Symphonie Espagnole in tribute to the unique charm of the music of German composer Richard Strauss. Macao young conductor Lio Kuokman and pianist Chen Sa will jointly present the “Valentine’s Day Concert – Piano in Love”. World famous Italian bassoonist Sergio Azzolini will also debut in Macao. Legendary violinist Kyung Wha Chung will present Beethoven’s timeless masterpiece, the Violin Concerto in D Major, at the closing performance. In addition, OM will offer music aficionados a large and creative multimedia concert entitled “National Geographic: Symphony for Our World”, featuring a number of great German and Austrian classical works.

Salute to Richard Strauss in collaboration with orchestras of Mainland China

In order to commemorate the 70th anniversary of German composer Richard Strauss’s death, OM will introduce the unique charm of his music in various concerts in the new concert season. Two classical symphonic poems, Don Juan and Tod und Verklarung, will be successively presented, as well as the work An Alpine Symphony, a large-scale composition to be performed in collaboration with the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra. Moreover, OM will join hands with the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra to present Bruckner’s masterpiece, the Symphony No. 8 in C Minor, in a magnificent concert not to be missed.

Launch of the “Young Audience Programme” broadens the young audience’s horizons

In line with the theme “Music Gala 35: Music Fills the City”, OM launches the “Young Audience Programme”, offering young music aficionados a series of educational and outreach activities, aiming at developing young people’s ability to appreciate and broaden their horizons in culture and arts. The programme is open to all full-time students aged 25 or below. Admission is free. The “OM Young Friends” will not only enjoy 55% discounts on ticket purchases, but can also join various music activities such as “OM Little Reporter”, “Meet the Artists” and “Pre-Concert Talks” to collect points for winning prizes.

Various discounts as a reward for music aficionados’ support

Tickets for the new concert season will be on sale from 10am on 1 July (Sunday) at the Macau Ticketing Network. Ticket sales for the programmes of the Macao International Music Festival and the Macao Arts Festival will be announced at a later stage. For updated information, please visit OM’s official website or the Macau Ticketing Network website. 40% early bird discounts will be offered from 1 July to 31 August, when four or more persons purchase tickets at the same time, or on tickets for all concerts for purchases with the “OM Friend”, “CCM Friend” or “Friend of the Macao Chinese Orchestra” cards. A 30% discount will be offered from 1 September onwards. A 40% discount will also be available for purchasers of four or more tickets for any concerts of the “Chamber Voyage” series. Holders of BOC Credit Card or BOC card will receive a 30% discount on tickets for special programmes, as well as a 20% discount on tickets for all non-special programmes. A 20% discount on tickets for all programmes will be available for purchases with a valid Macao Teacher Card, MasterCard, Visa Card or UnionPay Card from ICBC (Macau), BCM Bank, OCBC Wing Hang or Tai Fung Bank. A 50% discount will also be offered to holders of a valid full-time Student Card, Macao Senior Citizen Card or Disability Assessment Registration Card. For more information, please refer to OM’s concert season booklet.

Macao Orchestra’s 2018-19 concert season counts with the support of Mandarin Oriental Macau, Bank of China (Macau Branch) as its special bank partner, and MOME Ltd. as its mobile media partner. The new 2018-19 Concert Season booklets can be obtained at the Macau Ticketing Network outlets for free. The electronic version can be downloaded on OM’s website at www.icm.gov.mo/om. For more information and enquiries, please contact OM through tel. no. 2853 0782 during office hours. 24-hour ticketing hotline: 2855 5555; online ticket reservation is available at www.macauticket.com.

Macao Orchestra presents various concerts this Summer

The Macao Orchestra (OM, from the Portuguese acronym), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, will present various distinctive weekend concerts to enrich the public’s cultural and artistic lives, including the family concert “Children’s Day Concert – The Symphonic Magical Fairyland”, to be held on 2 June, at 2:30pm, at the Macao Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium; the “Weekend Music Party – World Cup Cheers”, to be held on 16 June, at 4pm, at the Dom Pedro V Theatre; and the concert “Heroes: A Video Game Symphony”, which is popular worldwide and premiered in Asia, to be held on 30 June, at 8pm, at The Venetian Theatre, with the concert venue supported by The Venetian Macao. Tickets for the three concerts are now available at the Macau Ticketing Network and music lovers are advised to purchase tickets as soon as possible.

To celebrate the Children’s Day 2018, and in a creative collaboration with the Big Mouse Kids Drama Group, the OM presents the family concert “Children’s Day Concert – The Symphonic Magical Fairyland”, combining well-known classical music and interesting stories. The combination of music, dance and theatre aims to motivate the children’s curiosity and enthusiasm for classical music, while the spontaneous interactions in the performance will encourage the audience to experience the joy of music from the story and enjoy the happy family time.

On the occasion of the FIFA World Cup 2018, which will kick off on 14 June, the OM will present an energetic and exciting concert “Weekend Music Party – World Cup Cheers”, featuring a number of classical music with FIFA World Cup official themes such as The Final Countdown by the rock band Europe and La La La, the popular song in the last World Cup in Brazil, allowing the audience to relive those exciting moments as if on the pitch.

In 2016, the OM held a symphonic concert dedicated to video games soundtracks, which was very well received by video game enthusiasts. This year, under the baton of the Principal Conductor and Artistic Director of the Perth Symphony Orchestra, Jessica Gethin, the OM will once again present video games symphonic pieces popular worldwide, such as the nominated for the Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media in the 55th Grammy Awards, Journey; as well as Final Fantasy, Dragon Age, Metal Gear Solid IV, God of War, and among others. In this performance, images from the games will be synchronously projected on screen under customized lighting effects, bringing the audience into the game world.

Tickets for the concerts are availabe on sale at the Macau Ticketing Network. Tickets for the concert “Children’s Day Concert – The Symphonic Magical Fairyland” are priced at MOP250, MOP200 and MOP150. Tickets for the concert “Weekend Music Party – World Cup Cheers” are priced at MOP120 and MOP100. Tickets for the concert “Heroes: A Video Game Symphony” are priced at MOP300 (A Reserve), MOP200 (B Reserve) and MOP100 (C Reserve), and are also on sale through the Cotai Ticketing website at www.cotaiticketing.com. A 30% discount is exclusively offered to OM Friends, with various discount packages available. For details and enquiries about the programme, please contact OM through tel. no. 2853 0782 during office hours or visit OM’s webpage at www.icm.gov.mo/om.

“Music in Campus” Concerts of the Macao Orchestra Present Folk Music to Students

The Macao Orchestra (OM), under the Cultural Affairs Bureau, visited Pui Ching Middle School, Ilha Verde Primary School and the St. Joseph Diocesan College No. 5 (English Section) to present a series of school concerts entitled “Music in Campus”, interpreting folk music from various countries to more than 1,500 teachers and students in primary schools and kindergartens to allow students to get closer to and develop an interest in music.

At the “Music in Campus” concerts, musicians from the Macao Orchestra (OM) string group performed folk music from different countries and regions around the world as well as new pieces adapted from folk songs, including Xinjiang folk song Please Remove Your Veil, Spanish folk song La Cucuracha (The Cockroach), Russian folk song Korobushka and Haitian folk song Yellow Bird, among others. In addition, our musicians performed lively instrument demonstrations, allied to interactive activities, attracting the active and enthusiastic participation of the younger students and creating a joyous environment for all of them.

In the future, the Orchestra will continue to hold these kind of educational concerts to provide greater extracurricular musical engagement for teachers and students. For more information or participation in artistic education concerts, primary and secondary schools can contact the Macao Orchestra at 82957322 during office hours. In addition, the Macao Orchestra regularly takes music to cultural and artistic spaces in the community, such as libraries and museums, among others, integrating all sectors of arts and offering the public rich three-dimensional artistic experiences. For more information about the programme, please visit our website at www.icm.gov.mo/om or follow our page on Facebook and our official account at WeChat.

Internationally renowned violinist Henning Kraggerud performs at the 29th Macao Arts Festival on 22 May

The concert “Henning Kraggerud and the Macao Orchestra”, integrated in the 29th Macao Arts Festival (MAF), organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau, will be held on Tuesday, 22 May, at 8pm, at the Macao Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium, featuring Norwegian violinist Henning Kraggerud who will present the authentic sound of Norway in the dual roles of conductor and violinist. Only a limited number of tickets are available through the Macau Ticketing Network.

Renowned Norwegian violinist, composer and conductor Henning Kraggerud is currently the Artistic Director of the Arctic Philharmonic Orchestra. His exquisite technique and sincere interpretation have attracted many spectators and critics. Henning Kraggerud has been invited to collaborate with many of the world’s most significant orchestras, including the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and the Danish National Symphony Orchestra. He is also strongly adored by Macao enthusiasts. Following the concert “Henning Plays Mozart” in collaboration with the Macao Orchestra, this concert will present works of various Norwegian composers, including the classic Holberg Suite, Op. 40 by Edvard Grieg, the enchanting piece Adagio from Suite in A minor, Op. 10 by Christian Sinding, the lively piece Norwegian Dances by Johan Halvorsen, and the ingenious contemporary masterpiece Suite from Equinox for Violin and Chamber Orchestra (Excerpts) by Henning Kraggerud. The masterpiece Suite from Equinox for Violin and Chamber Orchestra was completed in 2014 and was presented at the opening concert of the Arctic Light Festival in Tromso, in Norway. This piece is composed of 24 postludes are arranged in the order of a cycle of fifths starting by the tonality of C major. They are formed into four six-movement concertos, beginning by “Afternoon”, “Evening”, “Night” and “Morning”, with six movements each. Each of the 24 time zones is represented by a “postlude” inspired by a place in that time zone.

Only a limited number of tickets are available for some of the programmes of the 29th Macao Arts Festival, and the public is advised to purchase their tickets as soon as possible. For more information about the programmes, ticket purchase and other discounts, please check the 29th Macao Arts Festival Booklet; the booklet PDF version can be downloaded at www.icm.gov.mo/fam, follow the MAF’s page on Facebook or subscribe to IC’s WeChat account. Ticketing hotline: 2855 5555. Online ticket reservation: www.macauticket.com.

Macao Orchestra was invited to perform original opera Marco Polo in Guangzhou

The Macao Orchestra, under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, was invited to perform the world premiere line-up’s original opera Marco Polo in three sessions from 4 to 6 May at the Guangzhou Opera House. The opera production is directed by the former Opera Director of the Royal Opera at Covent Garden, London, Kasper Holten, and is presented under the baton of the great Chinese conductor Tang Muhai, with the participation of notable singers from various countries, including China, Denmark and the United Kingdom. This performance is the second cooperation between the Guangzhou Opera House and the Macao Orchestra since the last opera Carmen.

The Guangzhou Opera House, hailed as one of the 10 best opera houses around the world by USA Today, has repeatedly invited the Macao Orchestra to collaborate in various opera productions, which have received wide acclaim. Following the success of the operas Tosca and Carmen, the Guangzhou Opera House invited the Macao Orchestra to perform again. The cooperation between various world-class artists fully demonstrates the popularity and professionalism of the Macao Orchestra at home and abroad.

The original opera Marco Polo presents an insightful interpretation of the experience of Italian traveller Marco Polo, his father Niccolò Polo and his uncle Maffeo Polo during their journey to and from China via the terrestrial Silk Road and the maritime Silk Road in the 13th century. The opera production replays the epic encounter of the prominent figures, the rise and fall of the eras, as well as the battle between the good and the evil, the civilised and the barbaric, which revolved around trade and cultural exchange between the East and the West in late Song and early Yuan dynasties. The Macao Orchestra is currently holding rehearsals with dedication to present a high-quality performance in the debut opera.

Macao Orchestra joins hands with violinist Clara Jumi Kang to present the concert “The Nordic Echoes” on Friday at St. Dominic’s Church

The Macao Orchestra (OM, from the Portuguese acronym), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, will present the concert “The Nordic Echoes” on Friday, 20 April, at 8pm, at St. Dominic’s Church. Under the baton of the Orchestra’s Music Director, Lu Jia, OM will join hands with young South Korean violinist Clara Jumi Kang to present the Violin Concerto in D minor by Sibelius. Admission is free.

Born in Germany, South Korean violinist Clara Jumi Kang started studying violin at a very early age. At the age of five, she made her debut with the Hamburg Symphony Orchestra and at six she was featured on the cover of German magazine Die Zeit. At the age of seven, she received a full scholarship from the Juilliard School in the United States. By then, she performed with numerous world-renowned orchestras, including the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, Kiel Philharmonie, Nice Philharmonie, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2012, Clara was selected as one of the “100 most promising and influential people in Korea in future” by Korean newspaper Dong A Times. She was honoured with the “Daewon Music Award” in 2012 and the “Kumho Musician of the Year Award” in 2014 for her outstanding international performance. On her first visit to Macao, Clara will collaborate with conductor Lu Jia to present the Violin Concerto in D minor by Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. The concert will also feature another timeless masterpiece by the composer, the symphonic poem Tapiola, allowing the audience to enjoy the unique musical style of Finland.

Admission to the concert “The Nordic Echoes” is free. Tickets will be distributed at St. Dominic’s Church one hour prior to the performance, on a first-come, first-served basis and are limited to a maximum of two tickets per person. The concert will be broadcast live on an outdoor screen installed outside the St. Dominic’s Church, thereby allowing more people to enjoy this high quality concert. For details and enquiries about the programme, please contact OM through tel. no. 2853 0782 during office hours or visit the OM’s website at www.icm.gov.mo/om.

Tickets for the concerts “Heroes: A Video Game Symphony” and “Jason’s A to Z of Classical Music” by the Macao Orchestra on sale from 15 April

The Macao Orchestra (OM, from the Portuguese acronym), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, presents the concert “Heroes: A Video Game Symphony” on Saturday, 30 June, at 8pm, at the Venetian Theatre, and the family concert “Jason’s A to Z of Classical Music” on Saturday, 7 July, at 3pm, at the Macao Tower Auditorium. Tickets will be available from Sunday, 15 April, and an early bird 40% discount will be available between 15 and 28 April, subject to certain criteria.

In 2016, the Macao Orchestra held a symphonic concert dedicated to video games, very well received by aficionados of these games. This year, under the baton of the Principal Conductor and Artistic Director of the Perth Symphony Orchestra, Jessica Gethin, OM will present award-winning video games symphonic pieces popular worldwide, including Final Fantasy, Dragon Age, Metal Gear Solid IV, God of War, Journey and Shadow of the Colossus, among others, taking fans of video games on a “heroic journey”. In this performance, images from the games will be synchronously projected on screen under customized lighting effects, driving the audience to experience unforgettable and exciting moments from the video games, thereby offering an incredible visual and aural experience. The concert venue is supported by The Venetian Macao.

In the concert “Jason’s A to Z of Classical Music”, acclaimed conductor of the new generation Jason Lai will lead the Orchestra and introduce classical music from A to Z, explaining why the orchestra musicians perform the sound check A at the beginning of a concert, the role of note B in music, and the importance of the C, among others, encouraging the children to understand classical music from a different perspective. Young conductor Jason Lai was an Associate Conductor and Artist Associate of Hong Kong Sinfonietta and is currently serving as the Associate Conductor of Singapore Symphony Orchestra and Principal Conductor of Yong Siew Toh Conservatory Orchestra of the National University of Singapore. He has always been committed to the promotion of classical music and has extensive experience in conducting children’s concerts. With his friendly manner and excellent eloquence, he has earned the acclaim of numerous children from different regions. The concert will be presented in English, and is intended for children from the age of three.

Tickets for both concerts “Heroes: A Video Game Symphony” and “Jason’s A to Z of Classical Music” will be available from 15 April at the Macao Ticketing Network, with an early bird discount of 40% for purchases between 15 and 28 April, subject to certain criteria. Tickets for the concert “Heroes: A Video Game Symphony” are priced at MOP300 (A Reserve), MOP200 (B Reserve) and MOP100 (C Reserve), and are also on sale through the Cotai Ticketing box offices. Tickets for the concert “Jason’s A to Z of Classical Music” are priced at MOP120. For details and enquiries about the programme, please contact OM through tel. no. 2853 0782 during office hours or visit OM’s webpage at www.icm.gov.mo/om.

OM makes its debut in Myanmar

OM makes its debut in Myanmar

The Macao Orchestra (OM) of the Cultural Affairs Bureau visited Myanmar for the first time from 28 March and 1 April, where it held a concert on 30 March. Under the baton of its Principal Conductor, Lu Jia, OM performed Mozart’s “String Serenade No. 13 in G Major Eine Kleine Nachtmusik” and “Symphony No. 40 in G Major”, offering the local audience a splendid symphonic concert.
The performance was arranged by the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar and the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macau SAR Government, and organized by the Macao Government Tourist Office and the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR Government. Among the guests attending the concert were the Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Edmund Ho Hau-wah; the Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar, Hong Liang; the Myanmar Union Minister for Hotels and Tourism, U Ohn Maung; the Macau SAR Government Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Alexis Tam Chon Weng; the President of the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, Jackson Chang; the Director of the Macao Government Tourist Office, Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes; the President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR, Mok Ian Ian; the President of the Institute for Tourism Studies of the Macau SAR, Fanny Vong; and several overseas Chinese leaders from Myanmar.

“Easter Concert” by the Macao Orchestra cancelled

The “Easter Concert” by the Macao Orchestra (OM, from the Portuguese acronym), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, originally scheduled to be held on 31 March and 1 April, at St. Dominic’s Church, was cancelled due to changes in the Orchestra’s season programme. The organiser apologises for any inconvenience caused.

The Macao Orchestra will present the concert “The Nordic Echoes” on 20 April, at 8pm, at St. Dominic’s Church. This concert, under the baton of its Music Director and Principal Conductor, Lu Jia, in collaboration with violinist Clara Jumi Kang, a virtuoso German-born South Korean musician, features two magnificent symphonic poems by Sibelius, Tapiola and the composer’s Violin Concerto in D minor, allowing the audience to fully experience the spectacular and distinctive Nordic spirit of the composer.

Admission to the concert “The Nordic Echoes” is free. Tickets will be distributed at St. Dominic’s Church one hour prior to the performance. Distribution is on a first-come, first-served basis and is limited to a maximum of two tickets per person. For details and enquiries about the programme, please contact OM through tel. no. 2853 0782 during office hours or visit OM’s webpage at www.icm.gov.mo/om.

Macao Orchestra presents prenatal music concert on Saturday

The Macao Orchestra (OM, from the Portuguese acronym), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, presents the concert “Weekend Music Party – The Baby’s First Musical Experience” on Saturday, 17 March, at 4pm, at the Dom Pedro V Theatre, offering all expectant parents a professional prenatal music experience with their babies.

It is widely known that music plays an important role in prenatal education. It can stimulate the foetus auditory nerves and lay a foundation for the development of the unborn interest in music and the cultivation of the baby’s imagination in a later stage of life. When prenatal education becomes a habit in daily life, mothers will spend some time on it despite their busy schedule. Research demonstrated that the foetus in development starts hearing sounds and audio frequencies from the outside world at about five to six months. Listening to light music and singing by parents has a positive impact in the development of the babies’ senses.

The concert features a number of musical pieces with vocation for prenatal education, such as Mozart’s soft and beautiful Serenade in G Major and Haydn’s light divertimento, the Divertimento No. 1 in B-flat Major, among others, suitable for pregnant women to engage in musical interaction with their babies.

In addition, the Macao Orchestra will organize the “Talk: Music and Pregnancy” at 2:30pm on the same day of the concert, at the Multifunction Hall located on the third floor of Sir Robert Ho Tung Library, in which a music therapist will elucidate parents about the concept of prenatal music education. Admission to the talk is free and interested music lovers are welcomed to register by calling 2853 0782 during office hours.

Tickets for the concert “Weekend Music Party – Baby’s First Musical Experience” are priced at MOP120 and MOP100. Ticketing hotline: (853) 2855 5555. Ticketing website: www.macauticket.com. For details and enquiries about the programme, please contact OM through tel. no. (853) 2853 0782 during office hours or visit the Macao Orchestra webpage at www.icm.gov.mo/om.