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Monica Tong

Books recommend Sept 2026 reading Music Press Asia
Editor's Pick

Books That Make Us Listen, Look and Think Differently

From music and performance to contemporary art and cultural identity, our Reading Room gathers books that help us understand the creative currents moving through Asia. Some books give us information. Others change the way we see the world. This season, Music Press Asia turns its attention to four books that invite us to listen more carefully, look more closely and think differently about music, art and culture. From the musical traditions of Central Asia and Arabia to the rapidly changing art market and the unexpected connections between classical music and…

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Gabriela Lena Frank Metropolitan Opera Live in HD Hongkong Music Press Asia
Editor's Pick

Frida Kahlo Returns to the Stage: Gabriela Lena Frank’s Met Opera Comes to Hong Kong

The Metropolitan Opera’s acclaimed production arrives in Hong Kong this December. Frida Kahlo has long existed beyond the canvas. Her distinctive self-portraits, indigenous-inspired dress and uncompromising artistic identity have made her one of the most recognisable figures in 20th-century art. Now, the painter enters another artistic world: opera. On 5 December 2026, audiences in Hong Kong can experience the Metropolitan…

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Eurovision 2026 Music Press Asia

Eurovision Song Contest Asia 2026: What Can Asia Learn?

Music competitions are often built around a deceptively simple idea: bring people together through music. For 70 years, the Eurovision Song Contest has attempted exactly that. Born in post-war Europe, it developed into one of the world’s largest televised music events, built around the idea that countries with different languages, histories and identities could share one stage. But Eurovision 2026…

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Chulalongkorn University Revives Traditional Ensemble Music Press Asia
Editor's Pick

Piphat Dukdamban: How Chulalongkorn University Keeps a Rare Thai Musical Tradition Alive

For nearly four decades, Chulalongkorn University has been keeping alive a rare sound from Thailand’s musical past: piphat dukdamban, a classical Thai ensemble known for its soft, deep and refined character. Once performed at the end of the 19th century, the tradition nearly disappeared. Today, the university is giving a new generation the chance not only to hear it, but…

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Audrey Lane Damai Entertainment New Talent Search Music Press Asia

More Than an Audition: ORCA Bets on Tomorrow’s Creative Talent

Damai International, the international arm of Damai Entertainment and a subsidiary of Alibaba Group, has launched ORCA (Original Creative Artists), a new artist development and content production label designed to discover and nurture emerging performers from around the world. Alongside the launch, the company has opened applications for the “All My Anecdotes Global Audition,” an international talent search running from…

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Morissette sings Golden Kpop Demon Hunters Music Press Asia
Editor's Pick

Morissette Amon Cast in ‘The Notebook’ as Middle Allie

📍 Quick Facts What: The Notebook Musical When: September 2026 (exact dates to be confirmed by organisers) Where: Manila, Philippines (venue to be announced) Tickets: Available via official ticketing platforms (link to be added once live) Theatre Group Asia (TGA) is set to stage The Notebook: The Musical as its season opener for 2026–2027 this September, marking its international premiere…

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Star Wars Day John Williams Music Press Asia
Editor's Pick

Star Wars Day: A Gateway to Orchestral Music in Asia

Every year on May 4, Star Wars Day brings with it a wave of nostalgia, references, and familiar themes. Yet beyond its cultural footprint, the music of Star Wars offers something more enduring, particularly for audiences across Asia. For many, film music is the first encounter with the sound of a full orchestra. Before concert halls and symphonies, it is…

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Mirs Bay Hong Kong Music Press Asia
Editor's Pick

Hong Kong Soundscape 2026: Tan Dun, Opera, Ecology and Cultural Diplomacy in Asia

Hong Kong’s northeastern countryside will become a global cultural stage on 1 March 2026 as the Countryside Harvest Festival 2026: “Hong Kong Soundscape – Opera & Dance” One Day Music Festival unfolds at Yan Chau Tong in Mirs Bay. Recognised by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment as an “Outstanding Example of Beautiful Bays,” this coastal landscape offers more than…

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Shen Loh interview Blue Mansion Music Press Asia
Editor's Pick

Inside the Blue Mansion’s Classical Music Series

Built in the late 19th century by Chinese tycoon Cheong Fatt Tze, the Blue Mansion stands today as one of Penang’s most iconic heritage landmarks. Located in the heart of George Town, the capital of Penang Island, the indigo-hued residence is celebrated for its distinctive architectural blend of Eastern and Western influences, and was awarded the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Award…

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