Category: Press Release

The Macao Orchestra (OM, from the Portuguese acronym), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, presented the concert “Leonard Bernstein’s 100th Anniversary by Lio Kuokman and Macao Orchestra”, part of the Maestros with Charisma series, on 24 February at the Macao Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium. One of the highlights of the current concert season, the concert was led by Macao talented musician Lio Kuokman, who also programmed the event and enthusiastically performed a work for piano. After the concert, an autograph session with Lio Kuokman was held at the same venue, in which the musician received an overwhelming support from music aficionados.

The concert “Leonard Bernstein’s 100th Anniversary by Lio Kuokman and Macao Orchestra”, featured a number of masterpieces by the great 20th century composer, Leonard Bernstein. The Symphonic Dances from West Side Story, presented in the second half of the concert, deeply impressed the audience in particular. This orchestral piece condenses all the important plots of the original story, embodying the composer’s imaginative musicianship and sophisticated orchestration skills. At the concert, Lio Kuokman also performed the piano part of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue resorting to a variety of performing techniques and styles, revealing all his talent when facing the great challenge of being a pianist and a conductor simultaneously.

On the day before the concert, the Macao Orchestra specially organized the sharing session “Music Hour with Lio Kuokman”, in which the conductor shared memorable moments of his musical career and offered practical and valuable advice to music enthusiasts.

The concert “The Musical Footprint of Dvořák”, part of the Shining Virtuosos series, will be held on Saturday, 10 March, at 8pm, at the Macao Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium, featuring renowned Italian cellist Mario Brunello. Tickets for the concert are now available through the Macao Ticketing Network and are priced at MOP250, MOP200 and MOP150. Ticketing hotline: 2855 5555. Ticketing website: www.macauticket.com. For details and enquiries about the programme, please call OM through tel. (853) 2853 0782 during office hours or visit OM’s webpage at www.icm.gov.mo/om.

Celebrating Valentine’s Day in advance, the Macao Orchestra (OM, from the Portuguese acronym) presents the “Valentine’s Day Concert – The Phantom of Love” at The Venetian Theatre on Saturday, 10 February, at 8pm, celebrating this romantic day with music aficionados. Under the baton of the Assistant Conductor of the Macao Orchestra, Francis Kan, the Macao Orchestra will join hands with Portuguese soprano Sofia Escobar and young Chinese tenor Li Yi to bring the audience into the musical theatre world where emotions meet dramatic expression. Tickets are now available at the Macau Ticketing Network and all Cotai Ticketing box offices. The concert venue is supported by The Venetian® Macao.

In the concert, the Macao Orchestra and the two famous singers will perform a series of moving and fascinating melodies from movies and musicals, including Aladdin, The Sound of Music, My Fair Lady and The Phantom of the Opera, among others. Renowned Portuguese soprano Sofia Escobar won the most prestigious theatrical honours in the United Kingdom with her role of Maria in the West Side Story musical, including the “Best Actress in a Musical” award in the Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers’ Choice Awards and a nomination in the best actress category for the Laurence Olivier awards. She has also received wide acclaim from her performance as Christine Daaé, the protagonist of The Phantom of the Opera, at the West End Theatre in London. Tenor Li Yi is also acclaimed as a rising star in the opera world and has soon gained attention for his performance in the lyric tenor repertoire. In this concert, the Macao Orchestra, in collaboration with the two young singers, will inflame the public’s endless fantasy of love with its timeless classical melodies.

Tickets for the “Valentine’s Day Concert – The Phantom of Love” are already on sale at the Macau Ticketing Network and all Cotai Ticketing box offices at the prices of MOP300 (Zone A), MOP200 (Zone B) and MOP100 (Zone C), with a discount of 30% for OM Friends. Tickets can be purchased through the webpage www.cotaiticketing.com, through tel. no. (853) 2882 8818 (Macao), (852) 6333 6660 (Hong Kong), or through the free hotline 4001 20 6618 (China), through the Macau Ticketing Network website www.macauticket.com, or through tel. no. (853) 2855 5555 or in person at the designated service locations. For details and enquiries about the programme, please contact OM through tel. no. (853) 2853 0782 or visit Macao Orchestra’s webpage at www.icm.gov.mo/om.

The Macao Orchestra (OM, from the Portuguese acronym), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, presents the concert “Great Symphonic Poems” on Friday, 2 February, at 8pm, at St. Dominic’s Church. Under the baton of OM’s Principal Conductor, Lu Jia, the Orchestra presents the work My Fatherland, a cycle of six symphonic poems by 19th century composer Bedrich Smetana. Admission is free.

19th century Bohemian composer Bedrich Smetana, founder of the Czech nationalistic music, set an extraordinary composition paradigm with his extensive music practice. His symphonic poems My Fatherland, which portray the glorious history, beautiful landscape and heroic characters of the composer’s native land, is the pinnacle of Smetana’s Czech music compositions, a true expression of fervent patriotism and national pride. Due to its length and demand of a high performing technique, the cycle is rarely performed in its entirety. However, this time, under the baton of Conductor Lu Jia, OM will perform the complete symphonic cycle My Fatherland, thereby offering a rare opportunity not to be missed.

Admission to the concert “Great Symphonic Poems” 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. For details and enquiries about the programme, please contact OM through tel. no. 2853 0782 or visit OM’s webpage at www.icm.gov.mo/om.

The Macao Orchestra (OM, from the Portuguese acronym), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, visited six elderly homes last week, presenting six Spring Festival concerts, part of the “Love Music．Love Devotion” series, for over 400 elderly people, promoting love through music.

In order to demonstrate its care for the elderly and to promote music, OM has recently visited and rendered Spring Festival concerts at several elderly homes and rehabilitation centres, including the Ian Fai Integrated Senior Citizens Care Centre, Asilo de Santa Maria, Centro Pastoral da Areia Preta, Longevity Special Day Care Centre, Lar São Luís Gonzaga and Centro de Santa Margarida. In the “Love Music．Love Devotion” Spring Festival concerts, OM presented numerous pieces of classic Western music and popular Chinese music, expressing greetings to the elderly. In a pleasant and warm atmosphere, the elderly audience watched the sophisticated performance by the musicians with great concentration. The pieces included Spring Festival Prelude, Be Lofty Step by Step, and Colourful Clouds chasing the Moon, among others. OM’s General Manager Chou Wai In and the Secretary General of the Caritas Macau Pun Chi Meng, among others, also came to enjoy the concerts with the elderly and offered Spring Festival gifts to the elderly.

OM will continue to promote music to audiences of different ages, hoping to deliver love and blessings to the community through classical music performances.

In order to mark the 100th anniversary of North-American composer Leonard Bernstein, the Macao Orchestra (OM, from the Portuguese acronym), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, presents the concert “Leonard Bernstein’s 100th Anniversary by Lio Kuokman and the Macao Orchestra” on 24 February, at 8pm, at the Macao Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium. Led by Lio Kuokman, a renowned musician hailing from Macao, the concert offers a programme dedicated to Leonard Bernstein. Lio Kuokman also takes on the role of pianist and reveals his great talent in a solo performance of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. In conjunction with the theme of this concert season “Along with the musical joy”, the Orchestra specially organizes the activity “Music Hour with Lio Kuokman”, on 23 February, at 7pm, at the Macao Cultural Centre Conference Room. Admission is free and reservations are available through tel. no. 2853 0782 during office hours.

Praised by The Philadelphia Inquirer as “a startling conducting talent”, Lio Kuokman was the winner of the Second Prize (the First Prize was not awarded), the Audience Prize and the Orchestra Prize at the Evgeny Svetlanov International Conducting Competition held in Paris in 2014, and was selected by the Principal Conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, as Assistant Conductor of the ensemble, therefore becoming the first Chinese conductor in this position at the Philadelphia Orchestra. He is currently serving as the Orchestra’s Asia Residency Artistic Advisor and Conductor. Lio was further awarded a Certificate of Commendation and a Medal of Cultural Merit from the Governments of Hong Kong and Macao, in recognition of his contributions to arts and culture. Lio is also an outstanding pianist and has performed as soloist with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, the Camerata Salzburg, the Bacau Philharmonic of Romania, the China National Symphony Orchestra, the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra and the Hong Kong Philharmonic, among others.

The concert “Leonard Bernstein’s 100th Anniversary by Lio Kuokman and the Macao Orchestra” features musical pieces by the great 20th century composer, Leonard Bernstein, including excerpts from the Fancy Free Ballet and Symphonic Dances from West Side Story, among others. In addition, Lio Kuokman also will perform Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, seeking to break the barrier between “classical” and “popular”, revealing to the audience the charm created by the collision and fusion between the classical and the popular.

Tickets for the concert “Leonard Bernstein’s 100th Anniversary by Lio Kuokman and the Macao Orchestra” are priced at MOP250, MOP200 and MOP150, and various discount packages are available. Ticketing hotline: 2855 5555. For details and enquiries about the programme, please visit OM’s webpage at www.icm.gov.mo/om.

The Macao Orchestra (OM, from the Portuguese acronym), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, presents the chamber music for brass and woodwind “Listen to Winds” on Friday, 26 January, at 8pm, at the Dom Pedro V Theatre, offering a concert that fuses jazz and classical music. Tickets are now available at the Macau Ticketing Network. In tandem with this concert season’s theme “Along with the Musical Joy”, the sharing session “Music Hour with Musicians” will be held specially before the concert, featuring OM’s Principal Oboe Kai Sai and Principal Flute Weng Sibei, who will share the structure and characteristics of the musical pieces OM is presenting with the participants. All music aficionados are welcome to share and exchange views with the musicians.

Although string quartets are the most popular form of chamber music, pieces for woodwind or brass instruments are equally prevalent. Brahms’ work Clarinet Quintet in B minor, which was always compared to Mozart’s masterpiece Clarinet Quintet in A Major, was one of the last pieces composed by Brahms, showing a sense of sophistication, mellowness and nostalgia. The concert also features two works by 20th century French composer Francis Poulenc, namely the Sonata for Horn, Trumpet and Trombone, as well as the Sextet for Piano and Winds, which feature the refined and restrained neoclassical style and rich jazz elements popular at the time. Poulenc was greatly fond of wind instruments as he considered that the timbre and power of expression of such instruments always inspired his musical imagination.

In addition, the sharing session “Music Hour with Musicians” will be held on the same day, prior to the concert, at 7:15pm, at Dom Pedro V Theatre Mirror Hall. Admission is free. Registration can be made on or before 25 January through tel. no. 2853 0782 during office hours or through OM’s WeChat account.

Tickets for the concert “Listen to Winds” are priced at MOP120 and MOP100, with various discount packages available. Ticketing hotline: 2855 5555. Ticketing website: www.macauticket.com. For details and enquiries about the programme, please visit OM’s webpage at www.icm.gov.mo/om.

The Macao Orchestra (OM, from the Portuguese acronym), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, will present the concert “Piano Giant” on Saturday, 20 January, at 8pm, at the Macao Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium. Under the baton of Music Director Lu Jia, the Macao Orchestra will join hands with Stefan Vladar, a celebrated pianist specialized in the interpretation of Beethoven’s masterpieces, to present a piano concerto by Beethoven. In addition, the IC specially organizes the “Piano Master Class with Stefan Vladar” on Friday, 19 January, at the School of Music of the Macao Conservatory, where the master will coach and exchange views with the participants in person. Registration for observers in Master Class is open until 17 January. All music aficionados are welcome to participate.

The renowned Austrian pianist Stefan Vladar won the first prize of the International Beethoven Piano Competition in Vienna in 1985, marking the youngest winner in the history of the Competition. He has frequently performed in concert halls throughout Europe, America and Asia. Vladar has joined the Vienna Chamber Orchestra as Chief Conductor and Artistic Director since 2008, going on tours with the Orchestra in Austria as well as many other countries around the world. On his first visit to Macao, Vladar, who is currently a piano professor at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna, will present a magnificent interpretation of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat Major, one of the signature pieces in his repertoire, as well as Brahms’ Overture to Academic Festival and Bruckner’s Study Symphony, offering an extraordinary music feast for the music aficionados.

Tickets for the concert “Piano Giant”, part of the Shining Virtuosos series, are now available at the Macau Ticketing Network and are priced at MOP250, MOP200 and MOP150. Holders of a BOC Credit Card or a BOC Card may enjoy an exclusive discount of 30% on ticket purchase. Ticketing hotlines: 2855 5555. Ticketing website: www.macauticket.com.

Those interested in observing at the “Piano Master Class with Stefan Vladar” can register by phone through tel. no. 2853 0782 by 17 January during office hours, and fee for observers is MOP40. Successful applicants will be notified individually. For details and enquiries about the programme and the master class, please visit the Macao Orchestra’s website at www.icm.gov.mo/om.

The Macao Orchestra (OM, from the Portuguese acronym), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, presents the concert “Flourishing Arts” this Friday, 12 January, at 8pm, at St. Dominic’s Church. Xu I Teng and Ieong Neng, award winners at the 35th Macao Young Musicians Competition, and Mao Fujita, winner of the First Prize in the Piano Competition of the 1st Zhuhai Mozart International Competition for Young Musicians, join OM on stage and perform under the leadership of OM’s Assistant Conductor, Francis Kan. 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 “Flourishing Arts” is part of OM’s arts education concert series. The Orchestra annually invites outstanding local musicians awarded in Macao Young Musicians Competition to perform with the OM and other artists. This year’s “Flourishing Arts” concert features Xu I Teng, winner of the First Prize of the Piano Concerto Category and of the Cultural Affairs Bureau Prize in the 35th Macao Young Musicians Competition, as well as Ieong Neng, winner of the Second Prize of the Piano Concerto Category in the same competition. The young musicians will interpret Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 12 in A Major (1st Movt.) and Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor” (1st Movt.). In the second half of the concert, Mao Fujita, winner of the First Prize in the Group B Piano Competition of the 1st Zhuhai Mozart International Competition for Young Musicians, in collaboration with OM, performs another piece Piano Concerto in C minor by Mozart. The public is invited to witness the emerging music talents to perform on their dream stage.

For more information on the concert “Flourishing Arts” and respective programme, please visit OM’s website at www.icm.gov.mo/om.

The Macao Orchestra (OM, from the Portuguese acronym), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, presents “Valentine’s Day Concert – The Phantom of Love” filled with the combination of modern movies and musical on the eve of Valentine’s Day, 10 February, at 8pm, at The Venetian Theatre. Under the baton of Assistant Conductor of the Macao Orchestra, Francis Kan, the Macao Orchestra will join hands with Portuguese soprano Sofia Escobar and renowned young Chinese tenor Li Yi to present beautiful melodies of moving and extraordinary movies and musical. Tickets are available at the Macau Ticketing Network from 7 January, and an early bird 40% discount will be available, subject to certain criteria, between 7-20 January. Further announcement will be made for the ticket sales at all Cotai Ticketing box offices. This concert venue is supported by The Venetian® Macao.

The “Valentine’s Day Concert – The Phantom of Love” features a series of wonderful musical pieces of classical love movies and musical, including Aladdin, The Sound of Music, My Fair Lady and The Phantom of the Opera, among others. In the concert, the Portuguese soprano Sofia Escobar, who has been active in Europe and has played the protagonist of musical numerous times, will collaborate with the young Chinese tenor Li Yi, who was acclaimed as “an exceptional vocalist with a strong voice, even in its highest range” by The New York Times. On the eve of Valentine’s Day, the Macao Orchestra will lead the music aficionados to enjoy these classical scores and to have a remarkable experience of love again.

Tickets for the “Valentine’s Day Concert – The Phantom of Love” are available on sale at the Macau Ticketing Network from 7 January and are priced at MOP300, MOP200 and MOP100. Early bird discount of 40% will be offered when buying tickets between 7 to 20 Janurary subject to certain criteria. Reservations are also available through the webpage www.macauticket.com and through tel. (853) 2855 5555. Further announcement will be made for the ticket sales at all Cotai Ticketing box offices. For updated information, please visit OM’s official website or the Cotai Ticketing website www.cotaiticketing.com. For details and programme enquiries, please contact OM through (853) 2853 0782 during office hours or visit the OM’s website at www.icm.gov.mo/om.

The Macao Orchestra (OM, from the Portuguese acronym), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, presented the concert “Starry Vienna – New Year Concert” on 30 December, at the Macao Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium. Under the baton of renowned German conductor Johannes Fritzsch, the concert offered music aficionados a Viennese musical feast of the Strauss family in a jubilant and festive atmosphere.

OM’s “Starry Vienna – New Year Concert” has become one of the major music events in Macao. This year, prominent conductor Johannes Fritzsch joined hands with soprano Yuanming Song to present a concert filled with joyous melodies. The concert also featured a cocktail party, a photography activity and the distribution of delicate souvenirs, offering the audience an unforgettable experience.

In addition, the Macao Orchestra will present the concert “Piano Giant” on 20 January 2018, at 8pm, at the Macao Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium, providing the audience a magnificent performance of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat Major by recognized Beethoven specialist Stefan Vladar. Tickets for the concert “Piano Giant” are now on sale at the Macau Ticketing Network and are priced at MOP250, MOP200 and MOP150. Holders of BOC Credit Card or BOC Card may enjoy an exclusive discount of 30% on ticket purchases. Ticketing hotline: 2855 5555. For details and enquiries about the programme, please visit the Macao Orchestra’s website at www.icm.gov.mo/om.

The Macao Orchestra (OM), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, presents the “Christmas Concert – Christmas Concerto”, to be held on Thursday and Friday, 14 and 15 December at 8pm, at St. Dominic’s Church, celebrating Christmas with music aficionados in advance. Under the baton of OM’s Assistant Conductor, Francis Kan, the concert features a programme filled with soothing and harmonious melodies. Admission is free.

In this festive season, this exclusive concert designed by OM features a series of orchestral masterpieces, including the selections from Concerto Grosso in G minor, Op. 6, No. 8, “Christmas Concerto” by Corelli and the selections from St. Pauls Suite by Holst, among others. The Christmas Concerto by Arcangelo Corelli, dedicated to Christmas Eve, includes six movements with different styles, speeds and timbres, fully demonstrating the creative style of Baroque music, as well as the tranquil and festive ambience of Christmas. The St. Paul’s Suite is one of the masterpieces of the 20th-century by British composer Gustav Holst, featuring vibrant melodies and conveying the joyful spirit of this coming festive season to the public.

Admission to both concerts “Christmas Concert – Christmas Concerto” 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 programme enquiries, please contact OM through tel. no. 2853 0782 during office hours or visit the Macao Orchestra’s website at www.icm.gov.mo/om.

The Macao Orchestra (OM), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, was invited by the Jiangsu Centre for the Performing Arts to participate in the rehearsals and performance of the Grand Original Opera – The Diaries of John Rabe in Nanjing from 27 November to 16 December, in order to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the Nanjing Massacre victims. Eighteen OM elite musicians, including Section Principals, will join hands with members of famous arts groups from Jiangsu Province, offering local citizens an artistic performance of great significance.

The Grand Original Opera – The Diaries of John Rabe comprises a group of elite artists, including renowned Chinese composer Tang Jianping, young writer Zhou Ke, acclaimed opera director Elijah Moshinsky, OM’s Musical Director and Principal Conductor, Lu Jia, several artists from China, United Kingdom, USA, Germany and Australia, as well as stage design, props and lighting professionals from internationally renowned leading companies. In addition, the art troupes involved in this opera include the Jiangsu Performing Arts Group (JPAG) Symphony Orchestra, the Opera and Dance Drama Theatre of the JPAG, the Student Choir Group of the School of Music of the Nanjing Normal University and the Macao Orchestra. The opera has a strong cast and will undoubtedly be an impressive high-quality large-scale event.

The opera Grand Original Opera – The Diaries of John Rabe is based on John Rabe’s eponymous book, a collection of the author’s personal experience on the Nanjing Massacre, which has great historical and literary value and is also an important source on this historical episode. This extraordinary performance with great significance will debut on the National Memorial Day for the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre on 13 December at the Jiangsu Centre for the Performing Arts.

Classical music does not obey to time or space restrictions. The Macao Orchestra (OM, from the Portuguese acronym), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, breaks away from the traditional concert halls and presents two concerts in different cultural venues, namely at the Tap Seac Gallery on 1 December, at 6:30pm and at the Oriental Foundation on 2 December, at 4pm, performing pieces for string ensemble with a refined and meticulous technique. Admission is free and seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

OM’s concert series “Music for All” is devoted to spreading music’s seeds throughout the community. The concert “Music in the Tap Seac Gallery” will be held on 1 December at the distinctive historic Tap Seac Gallery, one of the architectural complexes and sites in that area. On 2 December, OM presents the concert “World Heritage Imagery” at the Oriental Foundation for the first time, installed in a villa built in the 1770’s, which was originally the residence of Portuguese nobleman Manuel Pereira. The concert’s programme features Haydn’s Divertimento in D Major and Boccherini’s Six Duets for two Violins in G Major, among others. The sounds of beautiful melodies filling a world heritage building of great cultural value allow the audience to have a unique experience.

Admission to these two concerts is free. For details and enquiries about the concerts’ programmes, please call IC through tel. no. 2853 0782, during office hours, or visit OM’s webpage at www.icm.gov.mo/om.

To welcome the New Year of 2018, the Macao Orchestra (OM, from the Portuguese acronym), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, presents the annual concert “Starry Vienna – New Year Concert”, to be held on Saturday 30 December, at 8pm, at the Macao Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium. Tickets are now available at the Macau Ticketing Network.

A Viennese musical feast of the Strauss family has become a New Year tradition for the whole world. This year, under the baton of renowned German conductor Johannes Fritzsch, the Macao Orchestra will join hands with soprano Yuanming Song to offer the audience the rich and colourful “Sound of Vienna”. Full of cheerful notes, the concert will be held in a venue full of festive decorations, allowing the audience to feel as if they were in an actual concert in Vienna. In addition to traditional Viennese New Year music, the Orchestra will perform operatic excerpts by Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and Emmerich Kálmán, complementing this musical feast with a flavour of exoticism. This concert is surely a musical gala that must not be missed!

Tickets for the concert “Starry Vienna – New Year Concert” are now on sale at the Macau Ticketing Network and are priced at MOP400, MOP350, MOP250 and MOP150. Holders of BOC Credit Card or BOC Card may enjoy an exclusive discount of 30% on ticket purchases. Ticketing hotlines: 2855 5555. For details and programme enquiries, please visit the Macao Orchestra’s website at www.icm.gov.mo/om.

The Macao Orchestra (OM, from the Portuguese acronym), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, presents the concert “In Love with Scotland” on Friday, 24 November, at 8pm, at St. Dominic’s Church. Under the baton of OM’s Assistant Conductor Francis Kan, the concert features two well-known pieces by renowned composer of the Romantic period Felix Mendelssohn. Admission to the concert is free.

Felix Mendelssohn, a classical composer of the Romantic period, combined the classical tradition with romanticism in his works, showing his solid compositional skills and a sense of innovation in tune with the zeitgeist of the time. His extensive travels and performances throughout Europe contributed to poetic portrayal in his compositions, one of his well-known musical characteristics. This concert features two virtuoso works of the composer, namely Overture to The Hebrides, “Fingal’s Cave” and Symphony No. 3, “Scottish”, works which not only vividly express his appreciation for the distinct natural beauty of Scotland but also reflect his unique musical style and personal spirit and taste.

Admission to the concert “In Love with Scotland” 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. For details and enquiries about the concert, please contact OM through tel. no. 2853 0782 or visit the Macao Orchestra webpage at www.icm.gov.mo/om.

The Macao Orchestra (OM, from the Portuguese acronym), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, presented three concerts dedicated to Sibelius 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, 17 and 18 November 2017, respectively. The concerts were conducted and explained by OM Assistant Conductor, Francis Kan, in an effort to promote artistic education and the diffusion of classical music close by teachers and students of tertiary education institutions.

The three concerts entitled “University Concert – The Realm of Sibelius” were conducted by Assistant Conductor Francis Kan, who led a number of musicians to present a programme dedicated to the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius, specially designed for teachers and students, featuring several elegant musical pieces such as Legends, Op. 22, II. The Swan of Tuonela, Andante Festivo, and the Suite Pélleas et Mélisande, Op. 46 (excerpts), among others. In addition to the musical performances, Conductor Francis Kan introduced Sibelius’ musical style and historical background. The concerts counted with an active participation of teachers and students.

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.

Primary and secondary schools interested in OM’s educational concerts may obtain more information by contacting the Orchestra through tel. no. 8399 6481, during office hours.

The Macao Orchestra, (OM from Portuguese acronym), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, will present the concert “The Mysterious Edward Elgar” on Friday, 3 November, at 8pm, at the St. Dominic’s Church. Young local conductor Lio Kuokman, an emerging talent in the international music circles in recent years, was invited to interpret a number of outstanding musical pieces by British composer Edward Elgar. Admission is free. All are welcome.

Edward Elgar was one of the internationally influential composers in the British music circle in the 19th and 20th century, he initiated the English Musical Renaissance in the 20th century. His orchestral works are particularly outstanding among his composition repertoire.

This concert, under the baton of the prominent local musician Lio Kuokman, who has been acclaimed as‘a startling conducting talent’’ by the media from the United States, features a number of musical pieces such as the popular work of Elgar Enigma Variations, and other delicate musical works, namely Mina, Chanson de Nuit, Chanson de Matin, and The Wand of Youth which reminisce the composer’s childhood memories.

Admission to the concert “The Mysterious Edward Elgar” 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 the Macao Orchestra’s website at www.icm.gov.mo/om.

To celebrate its anniversary with music lovers, the Macao Orchestra (OM, from the Portuguese acronym), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, presented the concert “Along with the musical joy – Annual gala and gathering” on the evening of 25 October, at the Dom Pedro V Theatre. A cocktail reception was held after the concert and the atmosphere was lively and cheerful.

Since its inception, the OM has now developed into a medium-sized orchestra comprising of more than 60 outstanding young musicians from over 10 different countries and regions. It has also become one of the distinguished symphony orchestras in Asia, playing an important role in the music and cultural life of both Macao residents and overseas audiences. On the occasion of its 34th anniversary, OM celebrated this musical feast at the Dom Pedro V Theatre, featuring a number of musical pieces specially arranged by the musicians, including Haydn’s London Trios, Johann Sebastian Bach’s Italian Concerto and Vivaldi’s Concerto for Oboe and Bassoon in G minor, RV. 545. After the concert, a cocktail party was served at the Mirror Hall of the Theatre, where musicians and music lovers exchanged views and shared their musical tastes. The 2017-18 Concert Season is themed “Along with the musical joy” and features a glorious combination between internationally renowned musicians and the OM, bringing wonderful musical moments for music lovers.

After this event, the OM will present the concert “Chamber Music．Conversing” on 10 November, at 8pm, at the Dom Pedro V Theatre. Tickets for the concert are now available for sale at the Macau Ticketing Network and are priced at MOP120 and MOP100, with various discount packages available. Ticketing hotline: 2855 5555. For details and enquiries about the programme, please visit Macao Orchestra’s website at www.icm.gov.mo/om.

The Macao Orchestra (OM), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, presents the chamber music concert “Chamber Music．Conversing” at the Dom Pedro V Theatre on Friday, 10 November, at 8pm, featuring three pieces of chamber music from the Classical Period. Tickets are now available at the Macau Ticketing Network.

The Austrian classicist composer Joseph Haydn achieved great success and gained a wide international reputation in the 1770s. The programme of this concert features the Serenade for Strings in F Major, with amicable and refreshing music, is one of the most well-known quartet compositions of all time. The other two symphonic pieces, the Wind Quintet in B-flat Major by German composer Franz Danzi and the String Quintet No.4 in G minor by Mozart, fully demonstrate the flourishing development of wind and string quintets in chamber music. In contrast to the grandeur of symphonies and the brilliance of solo music, these three pieces of chamber music with different styles are presented in a collaborative and interactive way, but are equal and independent of each other at the same time. All classical music lovers are invited to join the concert and appreciate the high performance skills and artistic attainments of these chamber musicians.

Tickets for the music concert “Chamber Music．Conversing” are priced at MOP120 and MOP100, with various discount packages available. Ticketing hotline: 2855 5555. For more information about the programme, please visit the Macao Orchestra’s website at www.icm.gov.mo/om.

The Macao Orchestra (OM, from the Portuguese acronym), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, kicks off its 2017-2018 Concert Season in September with the opening concert “Kyung Wha Chung and the Macao Orchestra”, to be held on 2 September (Saturday), at 8pm, at the Macao Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium. Internationally renowned as the queen of the violin, South-Korean violinist Kyung Wha Chung joins hands with the OM to present a much-anticipated season opening concert. Tickets are on sale from today onwards at the Macau Ticketing Network, and an early bird 40% discount on tickets is available until 31 August, subject to certain criteria.

The new season is themed “Along with the musical joy” and features a glorious combination between internationally renowned musicians and the OM, as will be the case in the opening concert. Kyung Wha Chung grew up in a musical environment and was acclaimed early on as a musical prodigy; at only 19 years old she was crowned the “new queen of the violin of the modern age”. The programme of the season opening concert, under the baton of the Music Director of the Macao Orchestra Lu Jia, features timeless pieces by two great composers, namely Beethoven’s Violin concerto in D Major and Brahms’ Symphony No. 4 in E minor. Germany and Austria both have a long history and rich culture when it comes to music. In the world of German and Austrian classical music, Beethoven and Brahms are certainly the two most representative and accomplished icons. Both pieces boast a strong lyricism and softness, kicking off the new season in the best way.

Tickets for the 2017-18 Concert Season opening concert “Kyung Wha Chung and the Macao Orchestra” are available at the prices of MOP400, 350, 250 e 150. From today until 31 August, 40% early bird discounts on tickets are available from today for two or more persons who purchase tickets for two different concerts at the same time, or on tickets for all concerts for holders of Macao Orchestra Friends Card; for other discounts, please refer to the new season’s booklet, which may 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. number 2853 0782 during office hours. 24-hours ticketing hotline: 2855 5555; ticket reservation website: www.macauticket.com.

The Macao Orchestra (OM, from the Portuguese acronym), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, presented the “2016-17 Season Closing Concert ─ Eine florentinische Tragödie, on Saturday, 29 July, at 8pm, at the Macao Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium, counting on the support of a great number of music enthusiasts. The concert also featured the eternal masterpiece Songs of a Wayfarer by Gustav Mahler, closing the concert season with the sound of resounding applause.

This closing concert features the staged version of renowned opera Eine florentinische Tragödie by Alexander von Zemlinsky. This opera, based on a never-completed play by the composer Oscar Wilde, is set during the Renaissance period and narrates the love and hatred story between a wealthy merchant and a nobleman. The thrilling and tense plot of the staged version of this one-act opera were highlighted by OM’s performance under the baton of the Music Director and Principal Conductor, Lu Jia. The concert also presented Gustav Mahler’s romantic work Songs of a Wayfarer, which described the youth’s expectation for love but ended in great disappointments. The entrancing melodies of two musical pieces as well as the sincere interpretation of the singers and the Orchestra left the audience enraptured. In addition, in order to allow the public to know more about the opera’s plot, Conductor Lu Jia personally presented an introduction to this work to the audience before the concert.

Macao Orchestra’s 2017-18 Concert Season will kick off in September, featuring over 50 extraordinary programmes. Tickets are now available at the Macau Ticketing Network. An early bird 40% discount is offered before 31 August, subject to certain criteria. For more information about the ticket discounts, please refer to the new Concert Season’s booklet, which can be obtained at the Macau Ticketing Network outlets for free. The electronic version can be downloaded on OM’s website www.icm.gov.mo/om. For more information and enquiries about the programme, please contact OM through tel. no. 2853 0782, during office hours. 24-hours ticketing hotline: 2855 5555; online ticket reservation is available at www.macauticket.com.

The Macao Orchestra (OM, from the Portuguese acronym), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, presents the “2016-17 Season Closing Concert ─ Eine florentinische Tragödie”, on Saturday, 29 July, at 8pm at the Macao Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium, featuring the staged version of renowned opera Eine florentinische Tragödie by Alexander von Zemlinsky, as well as the eternal masterpiece Songs of a Wayfarer by Gustav Mahler, a great composer of the Post-Romantic Era. Under the baton of the Music Director of the Macao Orchestra, Lu Jia, the concert also features young singers from the United States and South Korea. Tickets are now available at the Macau Ticketing Network.

Before the concert, an activity “Introduction to Opera” will be held from 7pm to 7:30pm, at the Macao Cultural Centre Conference Room, where Lu Jia will personally analyse some highlights of the opera. Interested parties can register through Macao Orchestra’s official WeChat account. Seats are limited, subject to availability.

Eine florentinische Tragödie is an opera in one act by Alexander von Zemlinsky to a libretto adapted by the composer Oscar Wilde’s unfinished play. It is also the most popular and most frequently performed opera. This opera narrates the story of a merchant who finds his wife has a lover, ends up killing the latter in a duel. It is then that the wife finally understands her husband’s deep love for her, but tragedy is already inevitable. The thrilling and highly tense plot combined with refined romantic music make this opera exceptional, which no music fans will want to miss. The post-Romantic Austrian composer, Gustav Mahler, was celebrated for his symphonies. His work Songs of a Wayfarer, to be presented in this concert, was written in the late 1880s, and is known as the favourite masterpiece of the Post-Romantic Era. The concert features young talented Korean singers – soprano Myung-Joo Lee and baritones Paul Kong and Seung Min Seong – and tenor Erik Nelson Werner from the United States, whose brilliant performances will successfully close this concert season of the Macao Orchestra.

Tickets for the concert “2016-17 Season Closing Concert – Eine florentinische Tragödie” are priced at MOP400, MOP350, MOP250 and MOP150. Holders of Bank of China Multi-Currency Credit Card or Bank of China Card can enjoy an exclusive discount of 30%. Ticketing hotline: 2855 5555. For details and enquiries about the programme, please contact OM through tel. no. 2853 0782 during office hours or visit the Macao Orchestra’s website at www.icm.gov.mo/om.