The 17th Macao International Music Festival (MIMF) will be staged from October 10 to November 2, the Macao Cultural Institute announced on Tuesday.

The annual musical event will draw famous artists and orchestral bands from around the world, who will present 22 performances. Among the dazzling names there are NDR Symphony Orchestral Hamburg, Vienna Boys Choir and the National Chorus of Korea.

Macao-produced opera is the highlight of every year's MIMF, which has earned a reputation throughout Asia. The opera set for this year will be Mozart's "the Magic Flute," which will be performed by Italian International Orchestral and directed by Robert Swedberg of the Orlando Opera Company.

In order to promote Macao's cultural heritages, nine performances will be put on at historical sites including a number of European style churches.

(Xinhua News Agency July 30, 2003)