National Symphony Orchestra (Taiwan)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

National Symphony Orchestra
(Philharmonia Taiwan)
Origin Taipei, Taiwan
Genre(s) Classical
Years active 1986
Website [1]
Members
Artistic Advisor & Principle Guest Conductor
Gunther Herbig

The National Symphony Orchestra (traditional Chinese: 國家交響樂團; simplified Chinese: 国家交响乐团, often abbreviated as NSO), also known as Philharmonia Taiwan (traditional Chinese: 台灣愛樂; simplified Chinese: 台湾爱乐) in foreign countries, is one of the leading orchestras in Asia. Since 1987, the orchestra has its residence in the National Concert Hall (Taiwan).

Contents

[edit] History

Formerly known as the Experimental Symphony Orchestra (traditional Chinese: 聯合實驗管絃樂團; simplified Chinese: 联合实验管絃乐团), NSO was founded in 1986 by the Ministry of Education of Taiwan (Republic of China) to develop musical education, promote cultural construction and upgrade people’s livelihood. On August 1, 2005, the orchestra became an artistic affiliate of the National Chiang Kai-shek Cultural Center (traditional Chinese: 國立中正文化中心).

The NSO has flourished through government support and a growing audience base. Since its founding, more than 1000 performances have been given, mostly at her resident venue, the National Concert Hall in Taipei. Additionally, tours were regularly conducted throughout Taiwan and overseas, in places such as Vienna, Paris, Berlin, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Sapporo, Kushiro, Tokyo and Yokohama.

The NSO has been led by several principal conductors and music directors, such as Gerard Akoka, Urs Schneider, Hsu Chang-Huei (traditional Chinese: 許常惠), Chang Da-Shen (traditional Chinese: 張大勝), Jahja Ling (traditional Chinese: 林望傑) and Chien Wen-pin (traditional Chinese: 簡文彬). During Chien’s tenure from 2001 to 2007, the NSO has rapidly explored a wide range of repertoires, which included the Symphony Cycles from Beethoven, Mahler, Shostakovich, Richard Strauss and Tchaikovsky for the forthcoming season. The NSO also enjoyed electrifying opera productions with inspiring stage directors such as world-renown choreographer, founder of the Cloud Gate Dance Theatre (traditional Chinese: 雲門舞集), Lin Hwai-min (traditional Chinese: 林懷民) for Tosca, and director, founder of PWSHOP (traditional Chinese: 表演工作坊), Stan Lai (traditional Chinese: 賴聲川) for Le nozze di Figaro, Don Giovanni, Cosi fan tutte and other nine operas employing cross-over or even experimental interpretation within the scheme of the National Concert Hall.

The NSO has proudly cooperated with and accompanied more than three hundred internationally acclaimed musicians including guest conductors Lorin Maazel, Lü Shao-chia (traditional Chinese: 呂紹嘉), Lim Kek-Tjiang (traditional Chinese: 林克昌), Uri Mayer, Joseph Silverstein, Gerard Schwarz, Mstislav Rostropovich, Rudolf Barshai, Gunther Herbig and many others.

In the season of 2006-07, NSO's 20th anniversary, the orchestra presented the Taiwan premier of Der Ring des Nibelungen and Der Rosenkavalier, a co-production production with Deutsche Oper am Rhein, with an outstanding cast and great success. The NSO not only has built an impressively extensive repertoire from classical to contemporary music, but also, with commission and premier works, devoted to promote music of Taiwanese composers. The NSO will continue bringing in all possible elements that enrich our performances, fulfilling its mission as the flagship classical ensemble of the country.

[edit] Activities

[edit] Subscription Concert Series

In the year of 2002, NSO held a series of five concerts that featured all nine symphonies and five piano concertos by Ludwig van Beethoven. The concerts, called a discovery cycle (traditional Chinese: NSO發現系列), became NSO's regular Subscription Concert Series later since the 2004/2005 season. In each season, there are 10 concerts consisting of at least one orchestral work of a composer.

From September 2004 to June 2008, four Subscription Concert Series have been presented.

2007/2008 - Tchaikovsky
2006/2007 - Richard Strauss
2005/2006 - Shostakovich
2004/2005 - Mahler
2002/2003 - Beethoven

[edit] Opera Series

Already in November 1994, NSO performed opera in National Concert Hall, Der fliegende Holländer was led by Prof. TSENG Dao-hsiung (traditional Chinese: 曾道雄), in December 2000, Jahja Ling performed Hänsel und Gretel. Under Chien Wen-pin's directorship, he first tried a semi-stage performance of the Third Act of Die Walküre in May 2002, this experience became NSO's regular NSO Opera Series (traditional Chinese: NSO歌劇系列) from the 2002/2003 season. In each season, there are two opera directed by cross-over artist in Taiwan, the cast consisted mainly local singers.

From December 2002 to December 2006, thirteen operas have been produced, many of them were Taiwan's premier.

2006/2007 - Der Ring des Nibelungen (complete), Die lustige Witwe
2005/2006 - Cosi fan tutte, Le nozze di Figaro
2004/2005 - Norma, Falstaff
2003/2004 - La damnation de Faust, Don Giovanni
2002/2003 - Tosca, Tristan und Isolde

[edit] Fairy Tale Forever Series

From April 2002 to April 2008, NSO has been collaborated with 4 different performing groups and organizations for bringing musical experiences (traditional Chinese: NSO永遠的童話系列) to the young audiences.

2007/2008 - Peer Gynt
2006/2007 - Le Carnaval des Animaux
2005/2006 - Firebird
2004/2005 - Secret in the Woods
2003/2004 - Pied Piper Fantasy
2002/2003 - Peter and the Wolf

[edit] Artistic Direction

[edit] Musicians

Concertmasters 
Wu Ting-yu (traditional Chinese: 吳庭毓), Li I-ching (traditional Chinese: 李宜錦)
Associate concertmaster 
Teng Hao-tun (traditional Chinese: 鄧皓敦)
Assistant Conductor 
Chang Yin-fang (traditional Chinese: 張尹芳)
  • Strings (12-14-11-10-8)
  • Woodwinds (4-3-4-4)
  • Brass (5-4-4-1)
  • Timpani & Percussion (5)
  • Harp (1)
  • Piano (1)

[edit] Staffs

Executive Director

Joyce Chiou (traditional Chinese: 邱瑗)

  • Artistic Planning division
  • Production & Administration division
Chairperson of the Board of Directors, National Chiang Kai Shek Cultural Center

TCHEN Yu-chiou (traditional Chinese: 陳郁秀)

Artistic Director, National Chiang Kai Shek Cultural Center

LIU Chuon-shu (traditional Chinese: 劉瓊淑)

Deputy Director, National Chiang Kai Shek Cultural Center

HSIEH Tsuei-yuh (traditional Chinese: 謝翠玉)

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

Languages