THE TAIPEI CULTURAL CENTER

PRESENTS

Music of Taiwan, Love in New York

 

THE KAOHSIUNG CITY TRADITIONAL ORCHESTRA

New York Debut Concert

 

Featuring the U.S. Premiere of Liang-Huei Lu’s
Piano Concerto “Love River,” performed by Ruei-Bin Chen

 

Tuesday, September 20th, 2005, 8:00 p.m., Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center

 

 

NEW YORK – September 9th, 2005 -- The Taipei Cultural Center of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York, is proud to present Music of Taiwan, Love in New York, a unique program of Taiwanese folk music performed by the Kaohsiung City Traditional Orchestra (KCTO).

 

The performance begins at 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 20th at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall. Admission is free with ticket reservations available by calling Lincoln Center Box Office at 212 875-5500.

 

Featuring the U.S. premiere of Taiwanese composer Mr. Liang-Huei Lu’s piano concerto “Love River”, the Kaohsiung City Traditional Orchestra gives U.S. audiences a rare treat: a unique experience of Taiwan’s rich musical heritage with a distinctly contemporary flavor. Lu’s masterpiece evokes images of Kaohsiung’s beloved Love River, through a breathtaking arrangement of centuries-old Chinese musical instruments and a delightful piano solo by Mr. Ruei-Bin Chen, Taiwan’s leading pianist. Committed to the development of Taiwanese folk music, KCTO’s performances are renowned for its successful integration of international influences on age-old traditions beset by Chinese and aboriginal influences.

 

THE PROGRAM

 

Che-Chen Kuo:                  Colorful World

Shui-Long Ma:                   Bandi Concerto- First Movement

          Chin-Chye Kwok:               Suona Concerto- We Love Mi Nung

Yi-Yu Wang:                     Erhu Concerto- Hsien Erh

          Nai-Chung Kuan:                Romantic Feelings of Taiwan- Third

                                                  Movement, Dark Sky

(Intermission)

Yu-Hsien Teng:                  Longing for the Spring Breeze

Chung-Ching Chiang :         Spring Flowers Longing for the Dewdrops

Chih-Jen Cheng:                Ode to Formosa

Chuan-Sheng Lu:               Don’t Raise Goldfish at the Bottom of Your

                                        Cup

Liang-Huei Lu:                   Piano Concerto- Love River

 

MEET THE ARTISTS

 

Established in March 1989, Kaohsiung City Traditional Orchestra (KCTO) is the first professional orchestra in Southern Taiwan. Its primary mission is to reflect the rich diversity of Taiwan’s cultural heritage through the preservation, promotion and development of traditional Taiwanese music. By combining traditional musical pieces with contemporary Western influences, KCTO has successfully popularized Taiwanese music to wide acclaim from local and international audiences. Since its inception, KCTO has performed in China, USA, Belarus, Moscow, Latvia, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hong Kong, Switzerland, Italy and Korea. 

 

Meet the performers:

 

  • With an extensive background in Taiwanese music and Italian opera, KCTO director Hung-Chang Wu is a highly esteemed conductor and music critic in his native Taiwan. Having joined KCTO in February 2004, Mr. Wu is recognized for his visionary leadership and exemplary technique.

 

  • Violinist and conductor, Nai-Chen Yeh is highly experienced in orchestral, chamber and soloist performance techniques. He is deeply committed to the development of Taiwanese musical traditions and currently leads several Taiwanese performing associations. 

 

  • Assistant conductor Che-Chen Kuo is publicly recognized as the most outstanding and active young conductor in Southern Taiwan. In addition to conducting with the KCTO, he is known for his talent in musical composition and arrangement.

 

  • Pianist Ruei-Bin Chen made his official debut with the Taipei Symphony Orchestra at age 10 and has since won numerous international awards. Known for his excellent techniques and perfection, he has been hailed by various critics, including “highest praises” from Harold C. Schonberg of the New York Times. 

 

  • The chief Chinese fiddler of KCTO, Mei-Chun Peng is noted for her in-depth and visionary techniques with the erhu. She has studied under several renowned masters, including Chang-Fu Liu and Lu-Feng Ding, and has performed in various countries.

 

  • Bandi player Hsi-Shu Chuang is a recipient of the flute concerto award in the prestigious 6th Taipei City Tribal Instrumental Music Contest. Praised for her mature and vigorous style, she excels in her soloist roles with various Taiwanese orchestras. 

 

  • With his early musical roots in Peking opera, suona player Chin-Chye Kwok is the section chief of KCTO’s wind instrument section. His unique interpretation of the ancient instrument has received critical acclaim in the United States, Eastern Europe and South-eastern Asia.

 

  • Throughout her professional career, the multitalented soprano Chen-Fei Wang has shone in her diverse roles as conductor, soloist, piano accompanist and chorus leader. She has performed to great acclaim with various companies in Asia and North America.

 

  • A vocal music specialist, narrator Chiung Wen-Hsu is a highly popular vocalist, song advisor and commentator in her native Taiwan. Her extensive experience has included attachments with renowned Taiwan Chorus in Asia, Europe and North America.

 

 

About the Taipei Cultural Center

 

The Taipei Cultural Center of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in New York is one of two overseas offices of the Council for Cultural Affairs (CCA) of Taiwan, R.O.C. Its primary mission is to promote better understanding between Taiwan and the United States through cultural exchanges that include academic programs, personnel exchanges, and performing arts/visual arts exchanges.

For more information about the Taipei Cultural Center, please call 212.697.6188 or visit www.tpecc.org.