Led by the music director Shao-Chia Lü, the Taiwan Philharmonic (also called National Symphony Orchestra) will perform at Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa and Copley Symphony Hall, Jacobs Music Center in San Diego from Oct 30th to 31st. Throughout these performances, it’ll make California audiences pay attention to Taiwanese music again.
Following the Taiwan Philharmonic’s triumphant debut in the U.S. and exclusive engagement in Costa Mesa in 2016, the Los Angeles Times declared, “The Taiwan Philharmonic is overdue for a major U.S. tour.” This fall, the music director Shao-Chia Lü brings Taiwan Philharmonic back to California to launch their first-ever U.S. tour. The specific works in this concert are “Dancing Song,” written by the Taiwanese composer Gordon Chin, Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 1 featuring pianist Stephen Hough, Debussy’s La Mer, and Ravel’s Daphnis et Chloé Suite No. 2.
Founded in 1986, the Taiwan Philharmonic is one of the leading orchestras in Asia and they are the flagship of classical ensembles in Taiwan. Hailed as “a master of nuance” by Germany’s Süddeutsche Zeitung, Taiwanese-born conductor Shao-Chia Lü has served as Music Director of the NSO since August, 2010.
By Shao-Chia Lü’s lead of Taiwan Philharmonic, every time when they hold tour performances internationally, they bring not only local Taiwanese music and rhythm, but also the composer onto the international stage. For this tour performances specifically, they choose the 3rd movement of “Dancing Song” from Gordon Chin, which is a winner of the 20th National Awards of Art in Taiwan. According to Shao-Chia Lü, “‘Dancing Song,’ was one of the Three Aboriginal Songs for Orchestra. The composer, Gordon Chin, includes modern rhythm within traditions. It is serious in a way but also includes something to say. This song represents Taiwan in terms of its modern and easiness to connecting to the world. ”
Under the support of the Ministry of Culture in Taiwan and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles, we believe that the tour will bring the Taiwan Philharmonic onto the world stage and fascinate all of the American audiences.
Performance Information in California:
♦Tuesday, October 30th, 8pm
Segerstrom Concert Hall, Costa Mesa
♦Wednesday, October 31st, 8pm
Copley Symphony Hall, San Diego