[January 3, 2024] The symphonic masterpiece Buddha Passion – jointly presented by MGM and world-renowned musician Tan Dun at the MGM Theater during the fresh start of 2024 (January 1-2) – brought down the curtain with resounding success. This new year’s cultural mega event not only serves as a grand tribute to the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to the Motherland, but also an unprecedented artistic breakthrough by MGM and Tan Dun. Empowered by the vast spectacle of the MGM Theater's 28 million pixels LED screen, the epic Buddha Passion, composed and scripted by Tan Dun, has achieved its first-ever immersive fusion of music and technology to present the grandeur of Dunhuang’s mural stories of reclining Buddha’s Nirvana, Flying Apsara Dance, Deer of Nine Colors, and more, through digitalization.
The 2-day shows are Buddha Passion’s maiden appearance in Macau, in which Tan Dun took the lead on stage as conductor to enliven Dunhuang ancient dances and instruments to pay homage to Chinese intangible cultural heritages. The performance is a musical extravaganza that seamlessly blends the East and West, the ancient and modern, and dance and music, intended to deliver the ancient sounds of Dunhuang, the heart of the ancient Silk Road, to Macau’s residents and visitors, further illuminating Macau as the “City of Performing Arts”.
Tan Dun, Composer and Conductor of Buddha Passion said, “Macau is a key stop of Buddha Passion. This performance symbolizes a perfect harmony of both maritime and overland Silk Road, intertwining the sounds of Dunhuang with the diverse cultural backdrop of Macau to the extent that audiences can fully immerse in the intangible cultures of the Silk Road. This time, we are invited by MGM to jointly push the boundaries of music and technology, and achieve innovative means in promoting and preserving Dunhuang culture to honor Chinese traditions. Under the thriving cultural tourism scene of Macau, our performances drew in many international tourists, allowing us to form a strengthened bridge to connect the world and send peaceful messages through our music.”
Pansy Ho, Chairperson & Executive Director of MGM China Holdings Limited, said, “As Macau enters the second year of new development, MGM is delighted to partner with Tan Dun in presenting this much-anticipated cultural event, marking a spectacular beginning for Macau. As the new year rolls in, MGM is doubling down on innovations in cultural tourism to further promote Chinese intangible cultures. This cross-disciplinary collaboration with Tan Dun is a testament to our commitment. The show is distinctive in its originality and world-class standard, in which MGM and Tan Dun combined our ingenuity and leveraged the advanced technology of the MGM Theater to create a one-of-its-kind symphonic ode to Silk Road cultures shared by Macau and Dunhuang. The show’s ingenuity further showcases Macau’s leading role as the ‘City of Performing Arts’.”
This time marks Buddha Passion’s stage debut in Macau. The show is comprised of an extraordinary musical lineup, including Tan Dun, the conductor, also known as one of the “Top 10 Important Musicians on the World’s Music Scene", as well as various Dunhuang ancient instrument performers and international vocalists such as Bass-Baritone Yang Yi, Mezzo-Soprano Liu Niru, Tenor Henry Ngan, Soprano Candice Chung, Tibetan Indigenous Soprano Yong Jiangfan, Indigenous Throat Singer and Dunhuang Ancient Xiqin Player Hasibagen, Dunhuang Fantan Pipa and Dance Performer Chen Yining, etc.
The performance enabled a touching and thought-provoking journey for audiences to experience Dunhuang murals through auditory sense. It attracted leaders of the society to jointly celebrate the jubilee anniversaries of both the Nation and Macau, and experience the benevolent philosophies embedded in Dunhuang culture, including Ho Hau Wah, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference; Kou Hoi In, President of the Legislative Assembly of the Macao SAR; and Shi Lin, Member of the Standing Committee of the Jiuquan Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Secretary of CPC Dunhuang Municipal Committee, and so on. The 2-day performance gained enthusiastic cheers and applause from audiences.
Maestro Tan Dun dedicated over six years of time and paid more than ten visits to Dunhuang to create this musical masterpiece. Inspired by the Dunhuang Mogao Cave murals, the composition consists of six acts, namely “Bodhi Tree”, “Deer of Nine Colors”, “Thousand Arms and Thousand Eyes”, “Zen Garden”, “Heart Sutra” and “Nirvana”. The masterpiece is globally known for its diverse range of styles – in which multiple singers, choir and orchestra harmonize to present the stories and wisdom along the Silk Road, further enriched by indigenous throat singing, Tibetan indigenous soprano, Dunhuang music and dance, as well as multi-media elements. The show represents a harmonious fusion of Chinese and Western Opera. Besides, it narrates the oriental philosophies portrayed on Dunhuang murals in Chinese and Sanskrit, and recreates the ancient music found within. This fully embodies the all-encompassing characteristic of the Silk Road culture and manifests the magnificent vision of arts and culture.
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About Tan Dun
The world-renowned Chinese conductor and composer Tan Dun is the UNESCO Global Goodwill Ambassador. Tan Dun graduated from the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing and received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the Columbia University. He is currently Dean of the Bard College Conservatory of Music in New York and an Honorary Artistic Director of the China National Symphony Orchestra. Tan has been promoting the messages of peace and green environment. His music has made an indelible mark on the world's music scene, which earned him many prestigious honors, including the Golden Lion Award for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Biennale, the Grammy Award, Oscar/Academy Award, Bach Prize, the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres of France, Shostakovich Award, Grawemeyer Award, the 50th Istanbul Music Festival Lifetime Achievement award, and more.
Tan Dan has created numerous pieces of globally influential symphonies, including “Buddha Passion”, organic music work “Water Concerto”, “Paper Concerto” and “Earth Concerto”, as well as Percussion concerto “The Tears of Nature”. Tan was invited to create music for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the 2010 China World Expo and the grand opening celebration of Shanghai Disneyland in 2016, and was also invited to be the global music ambassador for Beethoven’s 250th Anniversary Celebration. He has been referred as one of the top 10 most important musicians on the global music scene by the New York Times, and recognized as one of the top 10 most influential Chinese in the world by 10 key Chinese media.
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About MGM
MGM is an abbreviation for MGM China Holdings Limited (HKEx: 2282) and is a leading developer, owner and operator of gaming and lodging resorts in the Greater China region. We are the holding company of MGM Grand Paradise, SA which holds one of the six gaming concessions to run casino games in Macau. MGM Grand Paradise, SA owns and operates MGM MACAU, the award-winning premium integrated resort located on the Macau Peninsula and MGM COTAI, a contemporary luxury integrated resort in Cotai, which opened in early 2018 and more than doubles our presence in Macau.
MGM MACAU is a Forbes Five-Star luxury integrated resort inspired by the arts with every element of the resort infused with creativity and style. MGM MACAU has approximately 600 guest rooms and suites and boasts a number of distinguishing features, including the architecturally stunning European-inspired Grande Praça, housed under a soaring glass ceiling. MGM MACAU’s world class facilities include the MGM Art Space, dedicating over 5,000 square feet to display authentic works of art, conference and event facilities, spa, and seven signature restaurants and bars to fulfill any gastronomic craving. Our property is conveniently located on the Macau Peninsula and is directly connected to the luxury retail shopping complex, One Central.
MGM COTAI is the latest integrated resort of MGM in China. Designed as the “jewelry box” of Cotai, it offers approximately 1,400 hotel rooms and suites, Asia’s first dynamic theater, meeting space, high end spa, retail offerings and food and beverage outlets as well as the first international Mansion at MGM for the ultimate luxury experience. The Spectacle at MGM COTAI becomes the record holder of the largest free-span gridshell glazed roof (self-supporting) on January 19, 2019, making it the first architectural and structural GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for Macau, China. MGM COTAI is being developed to drive greater product diversification and bring more advanced and innovative forms of entertainment to Macau as it grows as a global tourist destination. MGM COTAI is the only mega complex and hotel in Macau to gain three-star certification in both Green Building Design and Operation Label, as well as the first hotel in the Greater Bay Area and second in Greater China to receive the certifications.
MGM China is majority owned by MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) one of the world's leading global hospitality companies, operating a portfolio of destination resort brands including Bellagio, ARIA, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay and Park MGM. For more information about MGM Resorts International, visit the Company's website at www.mgmresorts.com.
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