By Julie Lou
Imagine you are in a historic church immersed in classical music in Macao. It's a sweet dream.
This is what the 17th Macao International Music Festival (MIMF) will enthrall you. Organized by the Cultural Institute of the Macao SAR Government, the annual music fest will begin on October 10 and continue till November 2 this year. It has become a great yearly music event in the Far East and attracted musicians from all over the world.
There will be nine free concerts taking place in six historic churches, each embodies a distinguished architecture and religious history. They are St. Lawrence's Church, St. Joseph's Church, Macao Cathedral, Church St. Lazaro, St. Dominic's Church and St. Paul's Ruins. Other shows will be held in the Macao Tower and Macao Cultural Centre.
This year's festival, with 18 programmes and 22 shows, will feature the most impressive line-up of artists and musicians ever from Asia and the West. The programmes are designed to offer an encounter of the East and West, covering opera, symphony works, chamber music and contemporary music.
Die Zauberflote (The Magic Flute) - Opera in two acts is the highlight of MIMF which shows Mozart's enchanting blend of pure comedy and high drama - a masterpiece that has captivated audiences for more than 200 years.
Warren Mok, a Chinese-American, is the Artistic Director of this event. He received a Bachelor's degree in music from the University of Hawaii and a Masters Degree in Music from the Manhattan Music Conservatory. He is believed to have the right tools to take the music festival closer to the common and popular audience of Macao and therefore, popularize art in this region.
Starting in 1987, MIMF has been successful in bringing in renowned performers from abroad. It works hard on providing a balanced programme which reflects Macao's cultural and ethnic diversity and meets diverse needs.
Sally Wong, a Year 2 student of the Faculty of Education, said that she is a fan of the annual music festival. "I am glad to see MIMF become the major musical event in Macao, I can see performances by famous artists and excellent orchestras from all over the world."