Interview by William Chan
Mars Lei Siu Hong, the music director of the Macau Vocal Association (MVA), told The Macau Post Daily in an online interview last week that the association’s annual activity – Macau Vocal Festival – will be held for the ninth year, with the opening concert slated to be held next Wednesday, adding that the event will also feature performances and a talk given by vocalists a few days after the opening concert.
Lei founded the association in 2010 with his adult students from the Macau Conservatory. Since then, the association has frequently organised recitals, concerts, talks, and opera performances in Macau.
Lei says he’s interested in singing different types of songs in different languages since language and culture are inseparable, and learning songs in different languages is also a way to learn different cultures.
“In addition to the most popular languages used in vocalist works such as Italian, French, and German, I have also held solo concerts in Portuguese and Japanese before, and this year, my performance of British works later this month reflects my personal preference for British culture and music style,” Lei said.
For the festival, Lei has chosen pieces by four renowned English composers: Roger Quilter, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Gerald Finzi, and Benjamin Britten. This includes Britten’s “Songs of Travel”, a demanding set of nine songs that will be a first for Lei.
According to Lei, since its establishment his association has invited professional vocalists to perform and teach master classes in Macau, benefiting local music enthusiasts and students. However, the COVID-19 pandemic had prevented these invitations. “Fortunately, there have been emerging vocal local talents who have returned after studying abroad to bring music to society,” Lei said, adding that Zeena Zheng and Rina See will be featured in the first ever “Rising Vocalist Concert” next Thursday.
Zheng is a soprano who recently obtained her master’s degree in vocal performance from the University of York with a specialisation in Baroque styles. See, who holds a master’s degree in vocal performance from Sam Houston State University, is a soprano and has a wide repertoire and mature vocal technique, a recent statement released by the association pointed out.
The statement added that senior music critic Shee Va, a medical specialist known for his creative opera talks, will introduce the idea of “potions and poison” used in opera.
Lei noted that the festival will conclude on April 2 with the “Opera Excerpt Concert”, featuring performances which combine singing, drama, and stage acts. “This year, we have combined members of our association with several emerging talents in Macau to perform classical pieces by composers such as Mozart, Verdi, and Puccini. We have also collaborated with director Arvin Cheng and actor Tomas Tse, both from Hong Kong, to present the essence of opera in a digestible way,” Lei said.
According to Lei, the pandemic has altered the performers’ attitudes and the audience’s habits to government policies. “Although the economy has improved slightly after reopening, I personally remain cautious and observant because this year’s vocal festival is our association’s first event in the ‘post-pandemic’ era, and we do not know what the response will be. However, we will still do our best to prepare, Lei said, adding that the performing arts is certainly not easy, but its value to society should not be underestimated.
For more information, visit: https:// macau-vocal.org
This undated photo shows Mars Lei Siu Hong the music director of the Macau Vocal Association (MVA) posing. –All photos provided by Lei
This undated photo shows soprano Zeena Zheng posing.
This undated photo shows soprano Rina See posing.
