A Majestic Ode to Jubilee Celebrations of the Nation and Macau

Drum up Macau’s Position as “City of Performing Arts”

The symphonic masterpiece “Buddha Passion,” jointly presented by MGM and world-renowned musician Tan Dun at the MGM Theater during the commencement of 2024 (January 1-2), concluded with resounding success. This cultural grand event not only commemorates 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 represents an unprecedented artistic achievement by MGM and Tan Dun. Utilizing the vast spectacle of the MGM Theater’s 28 million-pixel LED screen, the epic “Buddha Passion,” composed and scripted by Tan Dun, has realized its first-ever immersive fusion of music and technology to present the grandeur of Dunhuang’s mural stories, including reclining Buddha’s Nirvana, Flying Apsara Dance, and Deer of Nine Colors through digitalization.

The two-day shows mark “Buddha Passion”’s maiden appearance in Macau, with Tan Dun taking the lead on stage as the conductor to breathe life into Dunhuang ancient dances and instruments, paying homage to Chinese intangible cultural heritages. The performance seamlessly blends the East and West, the ancient and modern, and dance and music, aiming to bring the ancient sounds of Dunhuang, the heart of the ancient Silk Road, to Macau’s residents and visitors, further accentuating Macau as the “City of Performing Arts.”

Tan Dun, Composer and Conductor of “Buddha Passion,” stated, “Macau is a key stop for ‘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 themselves 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. In the thriving cultural tourism scene of Macau, our performances attracted many international tourists, allowing us to form a strengthened bridge to connect the world and convey peaceful messages through our music.”

Buddha Passion brought down the curtain with resounding success at the MGM Theater in the early start of 2024. After the first day of the performance, Tan Dun, performers and representatives of MGM management took a group photo.

Pansy Ho, Chairperson and Executive Director of MGM China Holdings Limited, stated, “As Macau enters the second year of new development, MGM is pleased to partner with Tan Dun in presenting this highly anticipated cultural event, marking a spectacular beginning for Macau. As the new year begins, MGM is intensifying its efforts in cultural tourism innovation 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, where MGM and Tan Dun combined our ingenuity and leveraged the advanced technology of the MGM Theater to create a unique 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 marks “Buddha Passion”’s stage debut in Macau. The show features 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 offered a touching and thought-provoking journey for audiences to experience Dunhuang murals through their auditory senses. 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 two-day performance received enthusiastic cheers and applause from audiences.

Buddha Passion’s maiden appearance in Macau, featuring an ensemble of international vocalists and Dunhuang intangible musicians, such as Dunhuang Fantan Pipa and Dance Performer Chen YiNing.

Empowered by the expansive display of the MGM Theater’s 28 million pixel LED screen, Buddha Passion has successfully achieved a groundbreaking fusion of music and technology. This innovative approach allows for the presentation of Dunhuang’s mural stories in a truly immersive and grandiose manner through digitalization.

Maestro Tan Dun dedicated over six years and made 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 recognized for its diverse range of styles, harmonizing multiple singers, choir, and orchestra 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 multimedia elements. The show represents a harmonious fusion of Chinese and Western Opera, narrating the oriental philosophies portrayed on Dunhuang murals in Chinese and Sanskrit, and recreating 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.

About MGM 美高梅
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.