Macau's highly anticipated opening concert of the new Outdoor Performance Zone took place on the evening of October 28, 2023. The event is set to receive around 15,000 spectators and feature renowned artists, generating excitement across the region.
All participating artists arrived early to prepare and rehearse for the show. 梁惠敏 (Leong Wai Man), Macau's Secretary of Culture, stated during interviews, "All participating artists have already arrived and begun rehearsals." She underscored the extensive preparations for the concert, including the deployment of over 300 staff members, security personnel, and logistical arrangements to manage the flow of audiences.
With safety as the primary concern, various measures were implemented. The government encouraged residents to take public transport to the venue, with free shuttle bus services established to and from key locations across the city. 梁惠敏 mentioned, "We will prudently carry out all operations and are confident of managing this extensive performance well." To bolster security, subsequent consultations occurred with community leaders, including thoughts from 余惠鶯 (Yu Wai Ying), President of the Network of Arts and Culture. She commented on the need for enhanced safety, stating, "Safety is the primary consideration. We suggest reinforcing security and encouraging volunteers to participate."
The concert's lineup includes well-known stars like 張敬軒 (Hins Cheung), 張智霖 (Chilam), 周柏豪 (Pakho Chau), and 衛蘭 (Janice Vidal), contributing to the performance's appeal. On the evening, the atmosphere was invigorated, filled with anticipation and fervent enthusiasm from fans and attendees.
Local resident, Mr. 洪 (Mr. Hong), brought his daughter along to witness the performance. "The new performance venue can offer beautiful views of the casinos and is away from residential areas," he remarked, displaying optimism about the venue's future. Many attendees echoed similar thoughts, highlighting the efficient construction of the hall, which was completed within six months at considerable cost.
Despite the excitement, some audience members expressed dissatisfaction with the venue's single-use nature and the high costs associated with its development. Critique emerged from attendees like Ms. 譚 (Ms. Tam), who expressed her views on the allocation of public funds, stating, "The new venue seems to just be empty space. Why spend over 8 million on this?" Acknowledging the potential for improvements, others stressed the need for continued enhancements and adaptations to audience feedback.
Yu Wai Ying shared her perspective on the concert's importance, pointing out, "We hope audiences view potential imperfections with patience as we continuously review and improve, ensuring quality performances." Audience input would be sought via electronic surveys to identify areas for enhancement, indicating the organizers' commitment to learning from this inaugural event.
The event, officially the first at the Outdoor Performance Zone, is not only promoting Macau as ‘the Cultural Capital’ but also signifies the government's ambitions to diversify and enrich its economy. Liang's comments reflect this vision, citing the significance of their efforts in creating more substantial opportunities for artistic and cultural displays. Enhanced public engagement and rigorous assessments from this initial concert are expected to influence future scheduling and event management strategies.
Overall, the excitement surrounding this inaugural concert underlines the community's eagerness for cultural events as Macau progresses toward solidifying its status as a vibrant regional performance hub. The feedback gathered and lessons learned will shape not only the future of this venue but possibly the larger arts culture scene of Macau as well.
