The Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) announced in a statement yesterday that the Macao Orchestra will welcome the New Year with a concert featuring Portuguese fado* singer Marisa dos Reis Nunes, known professionally as Mariza, to be held on December 31 at the Macau Cultural Centre’s (CCM) Grand Auditorium in Nape.
The Macao Orchestra New Year Concert 2026, titled, translated from Portuguese, “Mariza, the Fado Queen and the Macao Orchestra”, will take place at 8 p.m. and see the international singer share the stage with the local orchestra in a live performance, according to the statement.
The concert is part of the Macao Orchestra 2025–26 Concert Season, co-organised by the bureau and several integrated resort operators including Galaxy Entertainment Group (GEG) and Melco Resorts & Entertainment, the statement said.
The statement noted that Mariza will interpret a selection of iconic fado songs, striving to bring her “captivating voice” to an evening designed as an artistic celebration that transcends genres and borders.
Mariza is, according to the statement, widely regarded as one of the most influential voices in contemporary fado. Known for blending traditional fado with elements of soul, jazz and gospel, she has performed at major venues worldwide.
Since her debut in 1999, Mariza, born in Mozambique in December 1973, has released numerous albums and sold more than one million copies globally, the statement noted, adding that she has been named BBC Radio 3’s Best European Artist (World Music) three times, while her albums Terra and Mundo received Latin Grammy Award nominations, achievements that have “further cemented her superstar status”.
Mariza celebrated her birthday on Tuesday.
In Macau, she will present both classic and contemporary repertoire, incorporating musical influences from Cape Verdean morna**, rhythm and blues, as well as sounds from Brazil, Mozambique and Spain, aiming to offer “a richly diverse fado feast”, the statement noted.
According to the statement, the concert will run for approximately one hour and 30 minutes without an interval.
Tickets are now available through the Macau Ticketing Network (www.macauticket.com), priced at 180, 250, 300, and 400 patacas.
*Fado is a traditional Portuguese music genre characterised by mournful tunes and lyrics, often conveying a profound sense of longing, destiny, and melancholy. It typically features a solo singer accompanied by the Portuguese guitar. – DeepSeek
** Morna is far more than just a musical genre for Cabo Verde; it’s the soulful, poetic, and profound emotional expression of the Cape Verdean people and their diaspora. Musically, morna is a slow, melancholic genre in a minor key, typically characterszed by a lamenting, lyrical melody. – DeepSeek
This poster provided by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) yesterday promotes the upcoming “Mariza, the Fado Queen and the Macao Orchestra” concert, slated to be held on New Year’s Eve at Macau Cultural Centre’s (CCM) Grand Auditorium in Nape.
