National Symphony Orchestra (Taiwan)

The National Symphony Orchestra (NSO; ), also known as Taiwan Philharmonic outside Taiwan, is one of the leading orchestras in Asia. Since 1987, the orchestra has its residence in the National Theater and Concert Hall (Taiwan) in Taipei, Taiwan.

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, became NSO's regular Subscription Concert Series later since the 2004/2005 season. In each season, there are ten concerts consisting of at least one orchestral work of a composer.

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

In the 2008/2009 season, a newly created MyNSO series took place of the Subscription Concert Series.
 * 2007/2008: Tchaikovsky
 * 2006/2007: Richard Strauss
 * 2005/2006: Shostakovich
 * 2004/2005: Mahler
 * 2002/2003: Beethoven

Opera Series
Already in November 1994, NSO performed opera in National Concert Hall, Der fliegende Holländer was led by Prof. TSENG Dao-hsiung, 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 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 2007, fourteen operas have been produced, many of them were Taiwan's premier*.


 * 2007/2008 : Die Fledermaus
 * 2006/2007 : *Der Ring des Nibelungen (complete), Die lustige Witwe
 * 2005/2006 : Così fan tutte, Le nozze di Figaro
 * 2004/2005 : *Norma, *Falstaff
 * 2003/2004 : *La damnation de Faust, Don Giovanni
 * 2002/2003 : Tosca, *Tristan und Isolde

Fairy Tale Forever Series
From April 2002 to April 2008, NSO has been collaborated with four different performing groups and organizations for bringing musical experiences 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

Artistic Direction

 * Gerard Akoka, artistic advisor and principal conductor 1986-1990
 * Urs Schneider, artistic advisor and principal conductor 1991-1992
 * Hsu Chang-huei, music director (commissioner) 1994
 * Chang Da-sheng, music director 1995-1997
 * Jahja Ling, music director 1998-2001
 * Chien Wen-pin, music director 2001-2007
 * Günther Herbig, artistic advisor and principal guest conductor 2008-2010
 * Lu Shao-chia, music director 2010-2021
 * Jun Märkl, artistic advisor 2021, Music Director 2022-

Musicians

 * Concertmasters : Wu Ting-yu, Li I-ching
 * Associate concertmaster : Teng Hao-tun
 * Assistant Conductor : Chang Yin-fang


 * Strings (14-14-11-9-8)
 * Woodwinds (4-4-4-4)
 * Brass (6-4-3-0)
 * Timpani & Percussion (5)
 * Harp (1)'''

Recordings
NSO has published the following recordings under their own label of "NSO Live":


 * Chien Wen-pin & NSO Live: Mahler Symphony No. 4 & Shostakovich Symphony No. 8 (2008)
 * Lü Shao-chia & NSO Live: Shostakovich Symphony No. 4 & Ein Heldenleben (2009)
 * Günther Herbig & NSO Live: Mahler Symphony No. 6 (2009)
 * Bruckner Symphony No. 9 Live with Günther Herbig (2010)
 * Mahler Symphony No. 9 Live with Günther Herbig (2010)

Projects with conductor Lim Kek-tjiang and Rudolf Barshai are also scheduled.

Staff
Joyce Chiou
 * Executive Director


 * Planning & Production
 * Marketing & Development
 * Administration

JU Tzong-ching
 * Chairman of the board of directors, National Performing Arts Center

LEE Huey-mei
 * Executive and artistic director, National Theater and Concert Hall