The Macao government announced on Thursday that due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, the 34th Macao International Music Festival, scheduled for October will have a different format this year.
“Affected by the global outbreak of the novel coronavirus, many uncertainties arise in regard to artists’ transportation, logistics and rehearsal arrangements, resulting in the inability for overseas performing groups to come to Macao,” said the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC).
Therefore, the IC, organiser of the Macao International Music Festival, decided that this year’s Festival will be largely based on local concerts, with community performances presented by with 18 local music groups totalling over 300 musicians.
Themed ‘For a Special Year’, this year’s music festival will present nine programmes in a total of 20 performances by local music groups from 22 August.
The performances will include concerts, and other activities such as ‘Enjoy Music in Cinema: Screening of Musical Movies’, ‘Street Piano Programme’ and the eco-friendly ‘Musical Instruments DIY Workshop’, etc.
According to Cultural Affairs Bureau, “The programme aims to take music to each and every corner of the city, satisfying residents’ needs for cultural diversity, as well as other places plagued by the pandemic.”
All participants in this year festival must wear face masks, undergo body temperature checks and present a valid ‘Macao Health Code’.
Details of the activities of the Macao International Music Festival are available at the thematic website www.icm.gov.mo/fimm, IC’s official WeChat Account ‘IC_Art_Macao’ and the ‘Macao International Music Festival’ page on Facebook.
The IC also said that it will continue to monitor closely the development of the outbreak.
Programme details will be unveiled in September.
(IC/Macau News)
PHOTO © IC
