Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) President Mok Ian Ian said yesterday that her bureau plans to invite foreign musicians to perform in Macau next year, but it will depend on the COVID-19 pandemic situation at that time whether they will be able to enter the city.

Due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, foreign nationals without the right of abode here have been barred from entering Macau since March last year.

Mok made the remarks on the sidelines of the opening ceremony for the Macao Orchestra (OM) 2021-22 Concert Season, themed “German and Austrian Classical Heritage” at the Mandarin Oriental Macau in Nape.

When asked about COVID-19 guidelines for foreign musicians, Mok said that activities hosted by the bureau, including the invitation of foreign musicians, follow COVID-19 pandemic prevention guidelines issued by the Health Bureau (SSM), adding that performance arrangements correspond to the changing situation of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Reporters also asked about measures that would be taken in a hypothetically confirmed COVID-19 case, to which Mok responded that “firstly, most [foreign] guest musicians tend to refuse the invitation when they realise that a self-funded quarantine is required. We also take into account the area the [respective] musician is from, and do not invite those coming from high-risk regions.”

Meanwhile, during the ceremony Mok said in a speech that despite the impact of COVID-19 and the global music stage being “relatively quiet”, the Macao Orchestra had still brought wonderful music to the public over the past season. She also said that the Macao Orchestra has overcome various difficulties to prepare for the 2021-22 season.

Mok also said that the 2021-22 concert season is budgeted at 12 million patacas.

Furthermore, Macao Orchestra Music Director and Principal Conductor Lu Jia said in his speech that in the upcoming concert season the orchestra will introduce classics by German and Austrian composers, with an emphasis on Brahms and Mahler.

According to a statement provided by the bureau at the ceremony, the concert season kicks off with the “2021-22 Season Opening Concert – Ning Feng meets Brahms”, in which the Macao Orchestra will collaborate with renowned violinist Ning Feng, who was born in Chengdu and lives in Berlin.

The statement pointed out that the orchestra will team up with the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra for the concert “Das Lied von der Erde” (“The Song of the Earth”) in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the premiere of Gustav Mahler’s famous composition.

The statement also said that the Macao Orchestra and MGM will jointly present “The Planets” by British composer Gustav Holst, pointing out that in order to promote classical music to the public, the concert season will feature the “When Music Speaks” and “Fun Music” series.

Tickets for the new concert season will be on sale from 10 a.m. on Saturday and can be obtained through the Macau Ticketing Network. An electronic version can also be downloaded from the Macao Orchestra’s website at www.icm.gov.mo/om. For more information and enquiries, please contact the Macao Orchestra on 2853 0782 during office hours or the 24-hour ticketing hotline: 2855 5555. Online ticket reservations are available at www.macauticket.com.

Cultural Affairs Bureau President Mok Ian Ian talks to reporters on the sidelines of yesterday’s ceremony for the Macao Orchestra 2021-22 Concert Season at the Mandarin Oriental Macau Hotel in Nape. Photo: Vivian Lam