To celebrate the 450th anniversary of the Catholic Diocese of Macao and to mark the successful completion of the new pipe organ at the Cathedral of the Nativity of Our Lady, the Catholic Diocese of Macao and the Macao Orchestra jointly presented the Dedication of the Macao Cathedral Pipe Organ and Inaugural Concert: “Recital by Notre-Dame de Paris Organist Thierry Escaich” on the evening of 25 February. The event commemorated the pipe organ’s dedication and its first public performance in a single landmark celebration.
The evening, Bishop Stephen Lee Bun Sang of the Catholic Diocese of Macao presided over the blessing and inaugural playing ceremony of the pipe organ, solemnly inaugurating its liturgical mission. This was followed by an inspired recital by Thierry Escaich, titular organist of Notre-Dame de Paris, who presented an exceptional programme spanning both classical and contemporary masterpieces. Highlights included Bach’s “Toccata and Fugue in D minor”, Brahms’ Chorale Prelude “O Dearest Jesus”, Mendelssohn’s “Organ Sonata in F minor”, Stravinsky’s “The Firebird” Excerpts, Escaich’s “Poems for Organ, Nos. 1 and 3”, and Arvo Pärt’s “Pari Intervallo”. The repertoire paid tribute to this historic moment.
In a delightful finale, Escaich surprised the Macao audience with the beloved New Year song “Gong Xi Gong Xi”, weaving its festive theme into an improvisation that drew enthusiastic applause and brought this rare musical occasion to a splendid close.
Registration for the concert filled almost immediately after opening, and additional seats were fully taken within an hour. Sincere thanks to all audience members for your tremendous support! Looking ahead, the Macao Orchestra will continue to present more outstanding concerts, while the Catholic Diocese of Macao will host a wide range of events throughout this year for its 450th anniversary. Please stay tuned!
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