The 31^st Macao International Music Festival (MIMF), organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC), will be held from 29^th September to 30^th October, taking 'Rising Stars' as its theme this year. Leading musicians and ensembles from Italy, South Africa, Germany, Russia, the United States, Austria, Portugal, South Korea, Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao feature 20 excellent performances in 17 programmes.

Andrea Chénier to unveil Festival

In honour of the 150^th anniversary of the birth of composer Umberto Giordano, the Festival opens with Teatro Regio di Torino's production of Girodano's celebrated four-act opera Andrea Chénier. Acclaimed contemporary conductor Andris Nelsons leads the world famous Vienna Philharmonic in its renderings of Beethoven, Strauss and Wagner's classics in the closing concerts in a smorgasbord of Austro-German melodies and delicate Vienna music.

This edition of the MIMF features a number of international rising stars, including Novus String Quartet, a multiple award winning chamber ensemble from South Korea who will perform works by Mozart, Tchaikovsky and Ravel, among other composers. Young pianist Lukas Geniušas presents masterpieces by Chopin, Ravel and Prokofiev, revealing his ability to master a variety of styles.

Young Japanese vibraphonist and composer Masayoshi Fujita, also known as El Fog, uses innovative performance styles to evoke rich images of nature and life, while promising jazz singer Jazzmeia Horn, winner of the gold medal at the Thelonious Monk International Vocal Jazz Competition, will spend an enchanting evening with the audience in the atmospheric, UNESCO Heritage -listed Mount Fortress.

Kaleidoscope of talent

Paavo Järvi and the internationally renowned Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen will conjure up a soul-stirring evening dedicated to Beethoven, while the outdoor opera in three acts of Orfeo ed Euridice by 18^th Century composer Christoph Willibald Gluck is an adaptation of a Greek tragedy that has always been a favourite with audiences. Portuguese Guimarães String Quartet takes the audience on a musical journey via classicism, romanticism and gems of the 20^th Century.

South African Soweto Gospel Choir, skilled in showcasing the diversity and depth of soulful songs, sing, dance and drum in their culturally unique way, showcasing the beauty of pure voices. Italian Coro Lirico Siciliano returns to Macao, in St. Dominic's Church, to present the diverse charm of religious music through beautiful melodies.

The local production A Dream of Fragrancy premiered at the Festival last year was highly acclaimed. This year, outstanding local artists join hands once again with world renowned singers to bring new one-act opera A Fragrant Dream to the MIMF stage. In turn, the Bravo Macao! concert series features performances by violinist Lo Cheng Io, pianist Suiong Wong, harpist Leong Cheok Wun and cellist Ho Chun, offering local music talent a high profile performance platform.

The Erhu Family assembles three generations of the same family - Chen Yaoxing, Chen Jun and Chen Yimiao - for a fusion of Western musical instruments and elements, and adding a new dimension to traditional erhu music. Hong Kong singer William So, whose voice always touches the heart, joins the Macao Chinese Orchestra to present popular classics in a concert calculated to appeal to a wide audience.

In addition, the 31^st MIMF Outreach Programme - featuring 19 activities in six categories - includes talks, pre-show talks, backstage tours, master classes, workshops and community activities. All tickets for MIMF programmes are on sale now, and all outreach activities are currently accepting applications. For more information about MIMF, please visit www.icm.gov.mo/fimm/31/en.