Two months of music, from Yue Opera to Beethoven's Ninth.

The concerts to know about

The festival opened on 2 October with My Grand View Garden, a Yue Opera production by the Zhejiang Xiaobaihua troupe led by Chen Lijun. If you are reading this after opening night, the next date to circle is 6 October: Brazilian group Barbatuques brings Brazilian Body Beats to the Grand Auditorium, part of the China-Brazil Cultural Year. Bodies as instruments, improvisation, audience interaction. It is the most fun-looking night of the opening fortnight.

On 31 October, the Small Auditorium hosts Bravo Macao!, the festival's showcase for local talent: young Macau pianist Chan Chon Teng with musicians of the Macao Orchestra, playing works by local composers. An afternoon concert and a good window into the city's own music scene.

The festival closes with a heavyweight weekend. On 28 November, Tan Dun conducts the China National Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in Beethoven's Ninth and Nine, pairing the Ninth Symphony with his own work inspired by ancient Eastern mythology. On 29 November, the closing concert has Tan Dun conducting Mozart and Beethoven with two emerging Macau string players, Nina Wong and Yan Lok Hoi, in Mozart's Double Concerto for violin and viola.

The two names everyone asks about

Lang Lang gives a recital titled Iberian Rhapsody, billed as the highlight of this year's festival, under his "Beyond Boundaries" series. A piano camp runs 10–25 October alongside it, though camp places are for Macau residents.

Turandot, Puccini's opera, is directed by Jackie Chan in his operatic directing debut, conducted by Carlo Montanaro. Expect the Nessun Dorma you know, with the Chinese folk melody Jasmine Flower woven through the orchestration. It is sung in Italian with Chinese and English surtitles.

Dates and ticket tiers for both are on the festival page (icm.gov.mo/fimm) and the Enjoy Macao Ticketing site. They are the two productions most likely to sell out, so book these before anything else if you want them.

Free music around the city

The Floating Notes Across the City programme takes the festival out of the concert halls: 12 community activities in public locations across Macau, including an orchestra-reimagined session and family-friendly percussion. Free tickets go through Enjoy Macao Ticketing (limited per person); some activities take registration through the Macao One Account. If the headline concerts are beyond your budget or sold out, this is the no-excuses way in.

Practical notes

Most headline concerts are at the Macao Cultural Centre on Avenida Xian Xing Hai in Nape, but not all: check the venue on your ticket before you set out. Chinese opera productions carry Chinese and English surtitles. The 30% early-bird discount ended 20 September, but the festival lists other discounts, including a package deal when buying across five or more performances. Arrive early; late admission is at the organiser's discretion.