22nd MACAO INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL

Posted on October 6, 2008
Filed Under Entertainment, Macao, Macau |

On 5th October, Macao embarked on the Macao International Music Festival’s roller coaster with a magnificent concert by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Next on the list is the St. Florian Boys’ Choir (today, 6/10, 8pm, St. Joseph’s Seminary Church), a display of Austrian vocal talents, and the brilliant Berlin Philharmonic Wind Quintet (tomorrow, 7/10, 8pm, Dom Pedro V Theatre).

On the evening of 8th October (Wednesday, 8pm, Dom Pedro V Theatre), Trio Apollon presents the concert “Deutsche Romantik”, igniting an emotional fuse leading to their native Germany with masterworks of the German Romantic repertoire, such as Märchenerzählungen, op. 132 by Robert Schumann (1810-1856), Konzertstück No. 2 in D minor, op. 114 and Konzertstück No. 1 in F minor, op. 113 by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy (1809-1847) and Trio in E-flat major, op. 40 by Johannes Brahms (1833-1897). This trio of clarinet, viola and piano – “the most romantic combination of instruments”, according to Robert Schumann – has won over the hearts of the most demanding audiences at New York’s Carnegie Hall, the Berlin Philharmonic, Tokyo’s Suntory Hall and venues in London and Paris. The time has now come for them to conquer the public of Macao with a performance that will certainly “send shivers down your spine” (Berliner Morgenpost).

The next day (Thursday, 9/10, 8pm, Mount Fortress) is reserved for the magic of Kolsimcha, “the fantastic five” that join the piano, clarinet, flute, bass and drums to produce “impossible music” (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung) – a groundbreaking mix of thrilling jazz improvisations, dazzling symphonic sounds and exotic Mediterranean melodies, alternating with poignant ballads and sensuous Eastern European rhythms. The unique sound of this “superb band which imparts the pure joy of playing” (Die Welt) has captivated and enthralled numerous audiences across the globe, and is now getting ready to charm Macao in the mystic open-air setting of Mount Fortress, and to generate, through their original musical language, enthusiasm and virtuosity, a concert atmosphere unlike any other!

The weekend, on the other hand, will be anxiously awaited by all lovers of Cantopop, a hybrid of Cantonese opera music and western pop, whose flamboyant performers often develop superstar status – a status which the Hong Kong actor and singer Adam Cheng maintains since the beginning of the 70’s, and which he will reaffirm when he shares the Macao Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium’s stage with the Macao Chinese Orchestra on 10th, 11th and 12th October (8pm). Adam is the eternal romantic, whose dreamy, soft voice, together with his charisma and perpetual smile, will no doubt cast a spell on his fans and all the curious souls that take an interest in local popular culture.

Comments

Leave a Reply