Founded in 1945, National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra(NTSO) is the oldest symphony orchestra in Taiwan. NTSO was first subordinate to Taiwan Provincial Art Establishment Association, Department of Education, and Office of Culture, TaiwanProvince, etc. Outstanding musicians all over the word have been invited to perform since the inception of NTSO, setting a number of records in the music field: the premiere of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, “Choral” in an exceptionally grand occasion on 25 October 1948 and publication of the earliest music biweekly, Musicology. NTSO is also the first symphony orchestra to give tour performances around Taiwan. In July 1999, the Orchestra was subordinate to Council for Cultural Affairs and renamed as National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra. The Orchestra resides in WufengTown. In 2002, the exclusive performing hall was inaugurated. NTSO formally took over Zhongxing Hall in TaichungCity since March 2007.
Under the hardworking of earlier presidents:as well as pioneering cultivation of current President, National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra has gained rich experiences. In addition to performances and training in professional level, NTSO seeks excellence and stays in line with the era to make actual achievements and contribution in enriching spiritual life of citizens, promotion of art and culture and enhancement of international cultural interchange. National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra also set the beginning of large art festivals in Taiwan and gave performances of famous operas including: Die Zauberflöte, La Traviata, Hänsel and Gretel, Rigoletto), Der Freischütz, La Bohème, and Il Barbiere di Siviglia. NTSO also performed large operas composed by native Taiwanese composers, such as The 100th Bride, Skylark in Tang-Shan, Wide Field, Xi Shi, dance drama Zou Xikou and Dream of Dun-Huang.
NTSO has invited numerous international ensembles and artists in the past six decades. Among those are some world-renowned Chinese musicians: Fu T’song,Cheng Pihsien, Chen Gwhyneth, Tan Dan, Chen Qigang, Warren Mok, and Hu Naiyuan, Zeng Gengyuan and Lin Choliang,, etc. NTSO also worked closely with foreign conductors such as Dr. Thor Johnson, Henry Mazer, Michel Rochat, Frederick Fennell, Tamás Vásáry, Lan Shui, and Jin Wan; as well as pianist Oxana Yablonskaya, violinists Pinchas Zukerman, Sarah Chang, Gil Shaham, viola player Nobuko Imai, cellists Steven Isserlis, Natalia Gutman, Mischa Maisky, oboist Albrecht Mayer, trombonist Christian Lindberger；and flutist Andras Adorjan. NTSO also invited foreign orchestras such as Szeged Symphonic Orchestra, Hungary, National Symphonic Orchestra, Romania, Berliner Philharmonkier Divertimento Ensemble, Konzertvereinigung Wiener Staatsopernchor, and Singapore Symphony Orchestra to perform in Taiwan. NTSO has also been invited to perform in the U.S., Europe, South Africa, Korea and China.
National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra has been endeavoring in diverse art fields in recent years to seek exquisiteness and universality. In December 2009, TaiwanMusicCulturePark started operation. Visitors have a chance to enjoy interactive learning with the professional and educational music media. It is the only place in Taiwan for culture, education and recreation of symphony in Taiwan and will help enhance the life aesthetics of music for all people in order to reach the goal of a harmonious society. |
