‘Rite of Spring’ concert set to take place on April 19

The Rite of Spring concert is slated to take place at the Macau Cultural Centre’s (CCM) Grand Auditorium on April 19, a Saturday.

The event will be presented by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC), the Macao Orchestra (OM) and integrated resort operator Wynn Resorts (Macau). It is part of the orchestra’s 2024-25 Concert Season.

According to a statement by the bureau on Monday, the around 1 hour and 30-minute event will see award-winning French piano virtuoso Jean-Yves Thibaudet, who is “one of the world’s finest pianists”, collaborate with the Macao Orchestra and its Music Director and Principal Conductor Lio Kuokman.

The statement said that Thibaudet has made over 70 albums and composed six film scores. He has garnered two Grammy nominations along with various accolades. He has also performed piano solos in the Oscar-winning film “Pride and Prejudice”, according to the statement.

The upcoming concert will see Thibaudet perform Saint-Saëns’ Piano Concerto No. 5 “The Egyptian, while the programme will also feature Fazıl Say’s “Grand Bazaar” and Igor Stravinsky’s* “The Rite of Spring”, which was noted as being one of the most significant compositions of the early 20^th century, according to the statement. The piece will be presented by the orchestra with a lineup of over 100 musicians.

A significant milestone for OM

In an interview last month with the Post**, conductor Lio said that performing Stravinsky’s “Rite of Spring” represents a significant milestone for the Macao Orchestra, marking their first venture into this revolutionary masterpiece. Lio underscores the technical challenges presented by the piece, which necessitates a larger ensemble and a higher level of musicianship, reflecting his enthusiasm for the impending challenges and their potential to further develop the players.

Tickets for the concert, which starts at 8 p.m., are priced between 150 patacas and 300 patacas are available on www.macauticket.com 

* Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971): A Russian-born composer, Stravinsky is one of the most influential figures in 20^th-century music, known for his stylistic evolution and groundbreaking works like The Rite of Spring, which revolutionised rhythm and harmony. - Source: DeepSeek

**One can find the interview on:

This poster provided by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) on Monday promotes “The Rite of Spring” concert slated for April 19.