Taipei Chinese Orchestra Debuts at Berlin Philharmonic, Showcasing Taiwan's Composition and Performance Power

(Central News Agency reporter Zhao Jingyu, Berlin, 4th) After two years of preparation, the Taipei Chinese Orchestra performed at the Berlin Philharmonic on the evening of the 3rd. From the musicians and soloists to the repertoire, the entire concert featured outstanding musical talents from Taiwan, representing a brilliant explosion of Taiwan's Chinese orchestral composition and performance energy.

As a representative of Taiwan's traditional music going global, the Taipei Chinese Orchestra's "Visions of Taiwan" concert exclusively featured works by Taiwanese composers. The first half included Jiang Wenye's "Taiwan Dance" and Tyzen Hsiao's "Cello Concerto," with soloist Wen-Sinn Yang, a Taiwanese cellist based in Germany. Both pieces were adapted from their symphonic versions. Through the performance of Chinese instruments, certain passages exuded a richer oriental flavor, but also revealed limitations in interpretation.

In contrast, the second half featured works originally composed for the Chinese orchestra: Wang Yi-yu's "Kui Yi's Love" and Chung Yiu-kwong's "Visions of Taiwan." These pieces allowed each section of the orchestra to express itself freely, using sound to depict Taiwanese indigenous legends and the beauty of mountains and seas, showcasing the instruments' unique characteristics. Notably, the orchestra's principal flutist, Lai Yi-chun, switched between various flutes of different registers, delivering a performance that was both magnificent and tender, with a stage presence full of vigor, earning prolonged applause from the audience.

Chung Yiu-kwong's "Visions of Taiwan" ranged from the delicacy of traditional Chinese music to the grandeur of film scores. The use of string dissonance to depict the strange rock formations of Yehliu Geopark was highly convincing. The piece also imitated the sound of pounding glutinous rice with a mortar and pestle, which piqued the curiosity of the audience, adding dramatic tension.

The concert was conducted by the orchestra's director, Cheng Li-bin. His conducting style, which blends Western music with a touch of Taiwanese grassroots flavor, made the performance outstanding and smooth. He also thoughtfully included the local Berlin celebration piece "Berliner Luft." When the music began, the audience responded with knowing smiles, clapping and whistling along. The final encore was "Wang Chun Feng" (Longing for the Spring Breeze), a lyrical and lingering piece that allowed the over a thousand audience members to take "Taiwan" home in their hearts.

The concert was attended by Taiwan's ambassador to Germany, Ku Jui-sheng, and his wife, as well as German political figures friendly to Taiwan. Dr. Heinrich Kreft, a veteran German diplomat, said it was "refreshing and eye-opening." He mentioned that he had visited Taiwan as a tourist before but had never had the chance to attend a concert, and that tonight fulfilled his dream.

Roland Weber, the German federal government's special envoy for victims of domestic terrorism, said the combination of Taiwanese traditional music and a cellist offered a new listening perspective.

Wu Wei, a Taiwanese sheng musician based in Germany, told CNA that he has always been a huge fan of cellist Wen-Sinn Yang, saying his "music is full of感染力 (infectiousness)." Wu Wei noted that the Berlin Philharmonic's acoustics supported the Chinese orchestra's sound, especially allowing the high notes to blend with the hall, giving the sound an outlet.

According to the Taipei Chinese Orchestra's statistics, the attendance exceeded 1,500 people, with a majority being Western faces, along with Taiwanese expatriates and students living in Germany. Hsu Chi-en, a Taiwanese music fan living in Germany, said the performance was fantastic and that she was moved to tears by the encore "Wang Chun Feng." "Even though I've forgotten most of my Taiwanese Hokkien, the melody is still in my heart," she said.

The Taipei Chinese Orchestra will travel to Leipzig during the day today and perform at the Leipzig Gewandhaus in the evening. This is the second official performance of the orchestra's current European tour. (Editor: Chang Ming-kun) 1150604