The 36th Macao International Music Festival (MIMF), organised by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC, from the Portuguese acronym), closed recently. Themed “And the Stars Shine”, this edition of the Festival presented 12 high-quality programmes across 19 performances and 16 outreach activities across 22 sessions. Over 540 performers presented a succession of exceptional music performances to music aficionados, reinforcing the Festival’s reputation as a signature cultural and artistic event in Macao.
Renowned musician Lio Kuokman once again served as the Festival’s programme director, collaborating with IC’s team to curate a number of music performances that combined visual and auditory enjoyment, offering a star-studded line-up. Russian conductor Valery Gergiev returned to Macao with the Mariinsky Orchestra to present world-class performances. Portuguese Fado diva Mariza collaborated with the Macao Chinese Orchestra to present an impressive concert featuring a Chinese and Western repertoire. Other celebrated musicians, including virtuoso pianist Ivo Pogorelich, great jazz pianist Herbie Hancock, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, and pianist Hélène Grimaud, also captivated audiences with their artistic talent. The lively atmosphere felt during the multiple performances highlighted Macao’s growing prominence as a “City of Performing Arts”.
The MIMF also actively sought to enhance communications with the audience through different platforms, with the promotion on new media and internet platforms reaching over 7.4 million people. The MIMF continued to be announced and promoted online through media channels from Macao and the Greater Bay Area. A number of programmes were widely reported by the media and art critics at home and abroad, receiving enthusiastic participation and acclaim from audiences in different regions.
Meanwhile, the Festival engaged different types of audiences by holding talks, workshops, masterclasses and community activities, offering diverse artistic experiences. These events, coupled with the performances, attracted over 11,000 participants. In addition, in order to increase the interaction between the communities, the community activities “And the Stars Shine” were launched with thematic installations at various districts, creating an artistic ambiance in communities and allowing residents and tourists to experience the charm of artistic and cultural festivals in Macao.
This edition of the MIMF was supported by the Macao Government Tourism Office, TDM – Teledifusão de Macau, S.A., Air Macau, and Sands China Ltd., and benefited from the collaboration of several banks, credit card and media partners to promote information about the Festival.
In the future, the Cultural Affairs Bureau will continue to leverage the reputation and influence of the Macao International Music Festival to establish a platform for international exchange and attract renowned performances, thus further enhancing Macao’s brand as a “City of Performing Arts”, solidifying Macao’s role as a “base for exchange and cooperation where Chinese culture is the mainstream and diverse cultures coexist” and contributing to the development of a cultured Greater Bay Area.