The 21st Macao Arts Festival runs from the 1st to the 29th of May. To enable audiences to get the most from the performances, and to enhance the interactions between artists and the public, the Macao Cultural Affairs Bureau is proud to present a series of free discussion sessions and lectures, to take place from the 8th to the 25th of May. These events provide audience members with the opportunity to talk to artists, while allowing the artists to share the experiences they had when designing and rehearsing their work. On the discussion panel at the pre-performance discussion session for the Macao Chinese Orchestra concert will be the Orchestra's Principal Conductor, Pang Ka Pang, along with the nationally renowned composers Li Binyang, Kuan Nai Chung and Liu Wenjin, whose music is featured on the concert programme. Li Binyang is the composer of the 29th Beijing Olympic Games opening ceremony theme song. Kuan Nai Chung has served as conductor and composer in residence with the Oriental Song-and-Dance Ensemble, composer in residence with the Chinese Artistic Orchestra and conductor of the Beijing Arts Orchestra and China Song-and-Dance Ensemble. Liu Wenjin was honoured as an Outstanding Artist by the China Ministry of Culture. The leading actor in the Cantonese opera The Red Silk Romance, Peng Chiquan, will give a lecture on “Cantonese Opera Musical Analysis”. In addition, there will be a workshop held for the drama Stories of the Rose Alley, for which the director, Cheang Kai Sang, and the actors have been invited to share their thoughts on the topic “The Fading of a Historical City – the creative process behind Stories of the Rose Alley”. Director Lawrence Lei and the actors from the drama In a Grove will hold a workshop titled “In a Grove: a pre-performance script reading” before the play begins. Moreover, a series of discussions on the performances La Boîte (The Box), In a Grove and Yummy, It’s Good! will take place following each of these shows.
Audience members interested in attending any of these events are welcome to call 8399 6699 for registration. Admission is granted on a first come, first served basis, so seize the chance! For any enquires and for further information, please visit www.icm.gov.mo/fam or dial 8399 6699.