Int’l music festival brings opera, global stars in October

The 37th Macao International Music Festival (MIMF), themed “Vocal Waves,” will take place throughout October, offering 12 concerts and 14 outreach activities celebrating varied musical expressions.

The festival opens on October 3 and 4 with a grand production of Georges Bizet’s opera Carmen.

The production is conducted by Eivind Gullberg Jensen and features the Macao Orchestra, China National Symphony Orchestra Chorus, and the Macao Youth Choir. According to the event’s program, the French-language performance of Carmen will include Chinese and English subtitles and is co-produced by Opernhaus Zürich and Opéra Comique in Paris.

The show is expected to last about three hours and five minutes, including an interval, and is recommended for audiences aged 13 and older, with children under six not admitted.

Baritone Thomas Hampson and pianist Wolfram Rieger will perform Gustav Mahler’s Des Knaben Wunderhorn and Lieder und Gesänge aus der Jugendzeit on October 16 at the Macao Cultural Centre. This concert is expected to last around one hour and 25 minutes with one interval.

On October 18, the Wu Wei Trio will blend traditional and contemporary sounds in Sheng’s Ultimate Timbre. The trio’s instruments include the ancient Chinese sheng mouth organ alongside viola and double bass. This performance is expected to offer a unique mix of spiritual tones and rich string sounds lasting about one hour and 40 minutes.

On October 25 and 26, pianist Mikhail Pletnev will perform alongside the Rachmaninoff International Orchestra. Presented by Melco Resorts & Entertainment, this series promises a deep exploration of Sergei Rachmaninoff’s four piano concertos.