The Macao Orchestra (OM, from the Portuguese acronym), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, kicks off its 2016-17 Concert Season with the opening concert “No. 1 Piano - Yulianna Avdeeva and Macao Orchestra”. The opening ceremony was held on 3 September, at 7:40pm, at the lobby of the Macao Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium, and was officiated by the Counselor of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Macao S.A.R., Qiu Weiwei; the President of the Chinese Musicians Association, Ye Xiaogang; the Vice President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao S.A.R. Government, Leung Hio Ming; the Director of the Symphony Orchestra of the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing, Chen Ge; the Head of the Department of Cultural Events of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao S.A.R. Government, Kent Ieong Chi Kin; and the Music Director and Principal Conductor of Macao Orchestra, Lü Jia.

Through the concert season themed ‘My Time with Music’, a number of promising talents of classical music and exceptional music masters will be invited to present high quality classical concerts. In the opening concert, under the baton of the Music Director of the Macao Orchestra, Yulianna Avdeeva, first prize winner of the Chopin International Competition, will play two piano concertos by Chopin and Mendelssohn, as well as the ultimate work of the romantic period of classical music, Schumann’s Symphony No. 1 in B-flat Major. This edition of the Concert Season also features the “Music hours” outreach programme, allowing music fans to get close to a number of prominent musicians. Excellent programme “Music Hour With Yulianna Avdeeva”, held on 2 September, attracted a lot of music fans coming to see the style of musicians.

Macao Orchestra’s 2016-2017 Concert Season Programme can be obtained at Macao Ticketing retail shops for free. The electronic version can be downloaded at www.icm.gov.mo/om. For details and enquiry for programmes, please call 2853 0782 during office hours. In addition, holders of BOC Multi-Currency Credit Card or BOC Card are offered 30% discount for ‘Starry Vienna – New Year Concert’ and ‘2016-2017 Season Closing Concert –Eine florentinische Tragödie’. Ticketing Hotline: 2855 5555.