Interview by William Chan
Local choir Dolce Voce is currently captivating Portuguese audiences with a 12-day concert tour across four cities – Lisbon, Batalha, Peniche, and Porto - showcasing a repertoire that bridges Chinese and Portuguese musical traditions, conductor Maria Vanessa Leão told the Post yesterday in an online interview.
Founded in 2008, Dolce Voce - which means “sweet voice” in Italian -was established to promote the art of choral singing, enrich Macau’s choral music culture, and provide high-quality performances to the local community. The choir aims to elevate Macau’s cultural and artistic reputation internationally, marking significant milestones for the region’s choral community.
Leão revealed that the tour had been planned as early as 2020 but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After securing sponsorships, she expressed her delight that the tour has finally commenced.
This overseas performance is partially funded by the Cultural Development Fund of Macao and Banco Nacional Ultramarino (BNU).
Leão mentioned that the choir had meticulously curated a programme of over 20 a cappella works spanning a variety of styles, with distinct repertoires for each venue. The selections include hymns, folk songs, popular music, musical theatre excerpts, contemporary Chinese compositions, Macau Patuá songs, and adaptations of traditional Portuguese fado, performed in nearly 10 languages.
“We hope this diverse repertoire showcases Macau’s multicultural heritage and the choir’s artistic versatility, while fostering cultural exchange between China and Portugal,” Leão emphasised.
The choir departed last Thursday, beginning their tour in Lisbon at the invitation of the Lisbon International Youth Music Festival (Lisbon Music Fest). Dolce Voce delivered their first performance, alongside other international groups, at Ruínas do Carmo on Saturday.
“Out of all the songs, the one in Patuá, Macau Sam Assi [This is Macau], garnered the most interest from the audience, with some even approaching us after the performance for discussions,” Leão noted.
Dolce Voce will host a concert at Mosteiro da Batalha in Batalha today. Tomorrow, they will perform at Igreja de São Pedro in Peniche, and conclude their tour in Porto on Saturday with a performance at Sé Catedral.
Admission to all concerts is free. For schedules, check the poster or visit:
https://lisbonmusicfest.com/
Dolce Voce members pose at the Macau International Airport before embarking on their Portugal tour. – Photos provided by Dolce Voce
Maria Vanessa Leão conducts Dolce Voce at Ruínas do Carmo in Lisboa on Saturday.
Portuguese audience gives a standing ovation following Dolce Voce’s performance on Saturday.
