Author: Angela Miho

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.

Piano Master Class with Barry Douglas

Pianist: Barry Douglas

Date: 2018/8/30 Thursday
Time: 18:30
Venue: Macao Conservatory Auditorium
Language: English
Number of participants being coached: 6
Requirement: ABRSM or equivalent – Piano Grade 8 or above
Number of observers: 50
Fee for participants being coached: MOP100
Fee for observers: MOP40

Piano:Barry Douglas

For application, please check out our Wechat or call (853) 2853 0782.

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.

2018/6 Zhuhai Tour – World Cup Cheers

Zhuhai
2018/6/17

Venue： Zhuhai Huafa & CPAA Grand Theatre

Programmme：
Ligeti：Six Bagatelles for Woodwind Quintet (Excertos)
Villa-Lobos：Trio for Woodwinds (3th Movt.)
Shostakovich：String Quartet No. 8 in C minor, Op. 110 (Excerpts)
Ravel：String Quartet in F Major (4th Movt.)
Ary Barroso / arr. J.D. Shaw：Brazil
Quincy Jones / arr. Arturs Gravitis：Soul Bossa Nova
Europe / arr. Alexander Ponet：The Final Countdown
Shakira / arr. Alexander Ponet：La La La (Brazil 2014)
Zequinha de Abreu / arr. John Iveson：Tico-Tico no Fubá

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.

【World Cup Cheers — Table Football Competition】

For application, please check out our Wechat or visit https://goo.gl/CFPsWv.

The sweltering summer days cannot contain the World Cup fever! The Macao Orchestra specially organises the ‘Coco-cola Cup — Table Football Competition’ to share the World Cup passion.

Date：2018/6/16 Saturday
Time：13:30-15:00
Venue：Instituto Salesiano
Free of Charge

Registration will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
All participants will receive a concert ticket.
For application, please check out our Wechat or visit https://goo.gl/CFPsWv.

“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.

Talented Macao Musician Lio Kuokman and the Macao Orchestra presented concert to commemorate Bernstein

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.

Cello Master Class with Mario Brunello

Cello: Mario Brunello

Date: 2018/3/9 Friday
Time: 18:30
Venue: Macao Conservatory Auditorium
Language: English
Number of participants being coached: 6
Requirement: ABRSM or equivalent – Cello Grade 8 or above
Number of observers: 50
Fee for participants being coached: MOP100
Fee for observers: MOP40

Cello: Mario Brunello

For application, please check out our Wechat or call (853) 2853 0782.

Macao Orchestra presents “Valentine’s Day Concert – The Phantom of Love” at The Venetian Theatre

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.

Macao Orchestra’s Principal Conductor, Lu Jia, conducts My Fatherland in the concert “Great Symphonic Poems”

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.

Macao Orchestra visits elderly homes and promotes love through Chinese and Western music

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.

Macao Orchestra holds concert in homage to Leonard Bernstein
Acclaimed musician Lio Kuokman showcases his musical talent

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.

OM presents selected chamber music pieces at the concert “Listen to Winds” to be held at Dom Pedro V Theatre at the end of the month

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.

Macao Orchestra joins hands to be staged in Macao

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.

Young talented musicians join hands with OM in the concert “Flourishing Arts”

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.