Press conference of the 26th Macao Arts Festival.
The 26th Macao Arts Festival (MAF), to be held from 1 to 31 May, will present 30 fantastic performances and art exhibitions, totalling over 100 activities, including the festival outreach programme. Themed “Encounter”, the 26th MAF seeks to transcend the boundaries of art and allow different mediums of the arts to converse, thus demonstrating the diversification of art. The Asian premiere of Lied Ballet presented by the Centre chorégraphique national de Tours from France heralds the curtain-up of the MAF; through the body movement of the dancers, audiences are led to appreciate various artistic styles, from Baroque to Modernism. Trust, presented by the Schaubühne am LehninerPlatz is also an Asian premiere; the German dancers take the ‘translated’ text to explore and emphasize physical performance at the closing of the festival. Out of Context – for Pina pays tribute to contemporary dance master Pina Bausch. The Suit, presented by Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord from France, directed by legendary theatre director Peter Brook, showcases the master’s extraordinary denotation of theatrical space. Teatro Praga from Portugal presents OLD AGE, a play that deepens the issue “What is old age all about?”. As ever, while introducing fabulous overseas programmes, the MAF is committed to offer a platform for local art circles to get in touch with new ideas. This edition of the MAF has commissioned WCdance from Taiwan the piece Aerodynamics. Prominent theatre director Tang Shu Wing co-operates with the Macao Youth Repertory Theatre to stage the French classic work Phaedra 2.0-Desires and Lies, transcending the boundaries of language and text. Local plays are equally fascinating: the MAF also commissioned Fateful Decision – winner of the 1st prize in the 10th Macao Literature Competition - Drama Category. The Soda-City Experimental Workshop Arts Association will stage Memory Blueprint II, shifting the setting from a site-specific theatre to a formal theatre. Dóci Papiaçám di Macao’s new play Macao's Got Talent addresses hot social issues. Dream Theatre Association’s production Roberto Zucco and the Dirks Theatre Arts Association’s production Protean Cities are all accomplished performances not to be missed. The art of traditional Kun opera has been passed from generation to generation. The Jiangsu Kun Opera Theatre Performing Arts Group presents 1699 The Peach Blossom Fan and Kun Opera Excerpts, performances that perfectly demonstrate the inheritance of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. The Macao Kaifong Cantonese Opera Juvenile Troupe and the Macao General Association of Cantonese Opera and Music take to the stage two Cantonese Opera plays, Bound-feet Liu Jinding Crashes Four Gates and Tale of the Pipa, respectively. In addition, the Iao Hon Garden will be converted into an outdoor cinema; Starlight Cinema has selected a number of outstanding films from all over the world. For the first time the Outdoor Performing Arts Showcase will be moved from Iao Hon Garden to Barra Square. The MAF programme includes several children programmes, which allow both adults and children to appreciate art together. Savanna – A Possible Landscape builds dynamic structures with wood to represent wild animals realistically. Local group Black Sand Theatre will present the play Aquarium through which the wonders of the maritime world will be explored. The mime show Cocorico presents humorous comedy from France, Beau Geste Company will present Transports Exceptionnels while Dot by Spanish Maduixa Theatre brings the audience to a wonderful and picturesque space. Macao Orchestra’s concert Music of the Imagination will enliven Children’s Day; the Macao Orchestra will also present Macao Soul, a concert performed at Saint Dominic’s Church. The Macao Chinese Orchestra will stage the Musical “Dreams of Pilgrimage to the West” and the Breakthrough Association multimedia show The Bizarre Fairy Tales embarks upon new musical experiences. A series of exhibitions will be also launched to broaden audiences’ horizons: the Macao Annual Visual Arts Exhibition 2015 – Chinese Painting and Calligraphy Categories; the exhibition At the Risk of Colour – Claude Viallat and Franck Chalendard opens a path for visual arts experience with texts and colours. The Macao Museum presents From Lorient to the Orient – Port Cities of China and France on the 18th Century Maritime Silk Route displays the cultural exchange between China and France on the Maritime Silk Road. The MAF presents a large number of concerts, dance, theatre, Chinese opera and exhibitions to meet every spectator’s taste. The MAF Outreach Programmes includes activities ranging from talks, post-show sharing sessions to workshops which will allow audiences to interact with the hosting groups and crews directly, and understand the ideas behind their productions while enjoying the shows, hence echoing the theme of this edition of the MAF – “Encounter”. Tickets for the 26th MAF are available on the Macau Ticketing Network from 10:00am on 22 March; chits will be distributed at the retail sales offices from 9:00am on the first day of ticket sales. Reservations can be made by phone or online from 12:00. Each individual can purchase a maximum of ten tickets per performance. Purchasers meeting specific criteria will receive a 40% early-bird discount on tickets from 22 to 29 March; 30% discount will be offered on or after 30 March. Purchasers can get a 30% discount on tickets for Lied Ballet or Trust by presenting a BOC Multi-currency Credit Card or BOC card. A 20% discount is also available when presenting BOC Multi-currency Credit Card, BOC Card, Luso International Banking Ltd., BCM, OCBC Wing Hang, Tai Fung Bank or BNU Credit Card. Purchasers who spend more than MOP500 (net amount after discounts) can enjoy the ‘Taste and Art’ dining offer – a 15% discount coupon for the Pastry Bar at MGM Macau; the offer is valid while stock lasts. An ‘Art x Coffee’ Facebook check-in discount is also available for purchasers who complete the relevant procedures in the specified cafés, who will be offered 10% discount in specific types of coffee. The 26th MAF is supported by the Macao Government Tourist Office, TDM, Air Macau and MGM Macau. The Macao Arts Festival website is: www.icm.gov.mo/fam; email: fam@icm.gov.mo. For enquiries, please call (853) 8399 6699 during office hours; 24-hour ticket reservation hotline: (Macao) 2855 5555; (Hong Kong) 2380 5083; (Mainland China) 13 9269 1111; online ticket reservation is available at www.macauticket.com. The 26th MAF’s press conference took place on 16 March, Monday, at 3pm at the MGM Macau The Vista. Present at the press conference were the President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Ung Vai Meng; the Deputy Director of the Macao Government Tourist Office, Tse Heng Sai; the Vice President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Leung Hio Ming; the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of MGM China Holdings Limited, Grant Bowie; the Acting Director of the Chinese Programming Division of TDM, Ltd., Lok Kong; the General Manager of Marketing & Sales of Air Macau, Ge Lan; the Head of the Cultural Events Department of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Ieong Chi Kin and the Customer Director of Bank of China Macau Branch, Iu In Pen.
