The World Heritage Silk and Bamboo Music Festival – Macao International Music Festival Opens on October 2

Text by MOOK Travel Life Network, Chen Guanxin, compiled and reported

 

The 27th Macao International Music Festival, organized by the Macao Government Tourism and Culture Affairs Bureau, will be grandly held from October 2 to November 3. This year’s festival features a total of 22 world-class programs, with performances by renowned artists and orchestras from around the globe, including the United States, Germany, Russia, Portugal, Spain, Austria, Serbia, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, South Korea, China, Taiwan, as well as local talents from Macao, offering a dazzling array of talent. In addition to performances at major theaters and concert halls, the festival will continue its longstanding tradition of staging shows at several distinctive Macao UNESCO World Heritage sites.

To commemorate the 200th anniversaries of opera masters Wagner and Verdi, this year’s festival has poured significant effort and resources into producing classic operas: Wagner’s one-act opera “Das Rheingold” will grandly open the festival. This opera serves as the prelude to Wagner’s unprecedentedly grand “Ring Cycle,” with the story centered around the gold in the Rhine River, presenting a spectacular drama of divine intellect and conflict. Following that, the Latvian National Opera, together with the Macao Orchestra, will present Verdi’s four-act opera “Aida.” This highly acclaimed and grand opera, known for its magnificent staging and enchanting exoticism, has enjoyed enduring popularity and is considered a miracle in the opera world. Additionally, a concert will feature Mozart’s one-act comic opera “Bastien und Bastienne” at the exquisite and elegant Dom Pedro V Theatre, serving as a delightful and light dessert for music lovers. The festival will conclude perfectly with the American Broadway classic musical “Miss Saigon.”

 

Internationally renowned Korean violinist Kyung Wha Chung, hailed as the “new queen in the kingdom of modern violin artistry,” is known for her crisp, resonant sound that lingers long after the performance. She will perform a solo violin concert at the festival, showcasing the sublime beauty of violin artistry. The historic Vienna Boys’ Choir will once again grace the festival as distinguished guests, bringing “Voices by the Danube” performed by these “singing angels.” Their angelic voices, lively yet elegant, are truly breathtaking. The world-famous Portuguese Gulbenkian Orchestra, with its repertoire that blends classical and contemporary elements and its eclectic performance style, has captivated audiences worldwide.

 

The festival seamlessly integrates World Heritage sites with renowned musicians, combining art and music into one. The Church of St. Dominic is the perfect stage for sacred works, where the Latvian National Opera will perform one of the most magnificent pieces of 19th-century sacred music, “Requiem,” showcasing its glory. The Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra’s “Musical Intoxication” drapes the Church of St. Dominic in beautiful musical attire; Serbia’s Divna’s Sacred Music Ensemble will bring radiance to the sanctuary with “Sacred Hymns of the Heart.” “Aria & Spirit” will be staged at the Mandarin’s House, featuring a unique combination of Portugal’s national treasure “Fado” and Macao’s national intangible cultural heritage “Nanyin storytelling,” creating an extraordinary and captivating blend. Tickets for the Macao Music Festival go on sale now via the Macao Ticketing Network, with more details available at www.macauticket.com.

 

 

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