Returning to Asia from Europe in 1994 following almost a decade with the Deutsche Oper (German Opera) in Berlin, he immediately launched a new career that combined singing with opera production. His productions of Romeo and Juliet and Carmen in Shanghai in 1996 and 1997 were landmark events there, the first quality productions of Western operas for more than 50 years. Mok himself sang the leading male role in both productions.
Seat prices in Macau have always been reasonable. This year prices are NT$800 and below for all events except Otello and the closing gala, where seats range from NT$400 to NT$1,400. Tickets for some of the smaller events are all NT$400.
The festival conveniently ranges over three weekends. The first and last showings of Otello, for instance, are on Saturday nights, and two of the three free events take place on Sunday evenings.
First-time visitors to Macau should note that the place to go for after-concert relaxation is the sea-front a couple of hundred yards to the west of the Macau Cultural Centre (the venue for many of the concerts). A string of southern European-style cafes and restaurants have recently opened in this area, and they're never busier than around 10pm.
Macau is already a popular destination for people from Taiwan, even if many only touch down en route for China. The International Music Festival provides a good pretext for stopping over and getting to know the charms of the old Chinese/Portuguese entrepot a little bit better.
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