Interview by William Chan
The Macau Vocal Association (MVA) announced a vibrant return of its annual Macau Vocal Festival in November, highlighting a renewed commitment to both its established traditions and innovative approaches, music director Mars Lee Siu Hong said in an online interview with the Post last week.
This year’s festival boasts an expansive programme – two recitals, an opera talk, two opera excerpt concerts, and a vocal masterclass – designed to engage audiences, celebrate local and international talent, and spark new interest among the next generation of vocalists.
A diverse lineup & international reach
According to Lee, the 2025 programme opens with “An Evening of Slavic Art Songs,” a solo recital by Lee. Known for his versatility and passion for exploring various art song traditions, Lee has curated performances around English, French, German, Italian, Japanese and Portuguese repertoires in past festivals.* This year, accompanied by Ukrainian pianist Kateryna Gavrylova, Lee ventures into Russian and Slavic art songs, featuring works by Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Stravinsky, and Barvinsky.
Lee noted, “I’ve long been drawn to the emotional intensity of Russian music, but language was always a barrier. With the guidance of Kateryna, I can finally share this powerful repertoire with our local community.” This approach encapsulates MVA’s ethos: bridging cultures through song and empowering local vocalists to take bold artistic steps.
Opera excerpts with new talents
The Opera Excerpt Concert, a highlight since 2011, features five newcomers from the Macao Polytechnic University (MPU) singing in the pieces’ original languages with Chinese subtitles to introduce audiences to opera’s dramatic world.
“Providing young singers with opportunities to shine is fundamental,” says Lee. “This collaboration allows their voices and artistry to develop in a creative, supportive environment. It is our hope to surprise and inspire the public with new forms of stage presentation.”
Educational Mission: Masterclasses and Public Access
A highlight this year is the solo concert and masterclass led by Chen Hongyu, a professor of Inner Mongolia Arts University. Winner of multiple international awards and a seasoned educator, Lee noted that Chen aims to bring not only technical mastery but a strong belief in music’s communicative power.
“His concert, ‘The Authentic Voice of the Heart,’ will guide audiences from European lyric poetry to Eastern poetic traditions, reflecting on how music echoes universal emotions across cultures,” Lee said, adding that in Chen’s masterclass, local students and enthusiasts will gain direct feedback on technique and interpretation, propelling their own aspirations to a higher standard.
Innovation, sustainability, community engagement
Lee noted that central to MVA’s mission is cultural accessibility – every festival event is free to the public. “The art of Western singing is neither widely taught nor commercially viable in Macau,” notes Lee, “but with support from the Macao Foundation, partners, and tireless volunteers, our non-profit association persists. To ensure both quality and sustainability, we expand our reach through school-based opera outreach, and this year, we launch our first choir with divisions for children, youth, and adults.”
Senior music critic Shee Va, long-time festival collaborator, returns with his trademark creative opera talks, Lee said. This year, his lecture will illuminate Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky’s** famous piano suite “Pictures at an Exhibition,” drawing connections between visual and musical art, reinforced by live aria performances from association members. Dr Shee’s multi-disciplinary lens and engaging public style have become an audience favourite, making opera approachable and relevant to new generations.
As Macau’s cultural landscape evolves amid shifting social and economic realities, Lee noted the MVA remains adaptive but steadfast in its artistic vision. “We see the pandemic’s impact on performers, supporters, and the arts community,” acknowledges Lee, “but our resolve hasn’t wavered. The performing arts may be challenging, but their social value is irreplaceable. Through each festival, we hope to nurture not only vocalists, but a greater appreciation for the beauty and depth of classical music.”
The featured events will be held between November 8 and 22 at the Rui Cunha Foundation and Orient Foundation. For more information, visit: macau-vocal.org
*https://macaupostdaily.com/news/17297
**According to Wikipedia, Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky, 21 March 1839 – 28 March 1881) was a Russian composer, one of the group known as “The Five.” He was an innovator of Russian music in the Romantic period and strove to achieve a uniquely Russian musical identity, often in deliberate defiance of the established conventions of Western music.
Many of Mussorgsky’s works were inspired by Russian history, Russian folklore, and other national themes. Such works include the opera Boris Godunov, the orchestral tone poem Night on Bald Mountain and the piano suite Pictures at an Exhibition.
For many years, Mussorgsky’s works were mainly known in versions revised or completed by other composers. Many of his most important compositions have posthumously come into their own in their original forms, and some of the original scores are now also available.
Posters of Macau Vocal Association (MVA) festival
