The Macao Orchestra (MO) has been sharing their music performances on YouTube and Facebook since the beginning of the current outbreak, in the hope of brightening the city’s atmosphere during the city’s “relatively static” movement of people, according to a statement by the orchestra this week.
The statement said that currently the Macao Orchestra has over 17,000 followers on their Facebook page, and the orchestra has been sharing music videos and music-related information about its activities on the social platform.
The statement noted that the government special COVID-19 prevention and control measures have resulted in the temporary closure of most businesses and imposed restrictions on people’s movements, including performing venues and musicians. Therefore, besides uploading music performances, some orchestra members have been holding online performances, with the aim of encouraging residents to overcome the pandemic.
According to the statement, on June 27 the orchestra posted online their performance of the Third Symphony of Beethoven (Eroica) conducted by Huang Yi. The statement said that the symphony, one of the most celebrated works of the legendary composer which he originally intended to dedicate to his “hero” Napoléon. Through the performance, the statement added, the orchestra wanted to express their gratitude to Macau’s frontline “heroes” battling the pandemic.
In addition, on June 28, Beethoven’s Egmont Overture was posted online, the statement said, adding that the overture was a narrative of General Egmont fighting bravely for his country. The statement said that the orchestra hoped to send positive energy to local residents through the music.
The statement also said that the orchestra’s string orchestral principles presented the performance of “The Same Song” through its “Cloud Ensemble” on the internet.
“Performances need not be limited to face-to-face nowadays, thanks to technology artists can now even play ensemble music to let beautiful melodies interweave on the cloud and transcend geographical restrictions,” the statement said.
Besides performances, the orchestra’s conductor Francis Kan also interviewed its members about their musical perspectives and experiences.
All the events can be viewed on their Facebook and YouTube pages, and the statement pointed out that more performances and interviews will be uploaded soon. For more information, visit:
www.facebook.com/MacaoOrchestra/ & www.youtube.com/user/macaoorchestra/.
Conductor Francis Kan (centre) hosts a online meeting recently with principal players to talk about their musical experiences.
Conductor Huang Yi performs Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 “Eroica” with the Macao Orchestra at the Macau Cultural Centre (CCM) earlier this year.
String principals of the Macao Orchestra perform recently "The Same Song" together in a "Cloud Ensemble".
