TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taipei Chinese Orchestra is setting its sights on the global stage with a new season themed “From Taipei to the World,” featuring 52 concerts, a tribute to composer Lo Leung-fai (盧亮輝), and performances at Europe’s top concert halls.
Opening Sept. 10 and running through June, the season will present instrumental, vocal, and theatrical programs by artists from Taiwan and abroad. The European tour in June includes stops at Germany’s Berliner Philharmonie and Gewandhaus, as well as Austria’s Golden Hall.
A centerpiece is a tribute to 87-year-old Lo, whose compositions have shaped Chinese music for more than 50 years. The orchestra will perform his works in multiple concerts, publish newly edited scores, and release a biography celebrating his nearly four decades in Taiwan’s music scene.
“I am deeply moved that TCO is dedicating a program to my music,” Lo said. “Many Taiwanese musicians tell me they grew up listening to my works. It is wonderful to see young performers bring them to life.”
The season also includes gala concerts in the Virtuoso Series and Tribute to the Masters Series, honoring late erhu legend Min Huifen (閔惠芬) and conductor Peng Xiuwen (彭修文). Audience favorites such as the Brilliance Series return, while the Exquisite Series caters to those with a taste for refinement.
Other highlights include the Rising Star Series showcasing emerging virtuosi, the TCO Family Series presenting seven affiliated ensembles, and the Iridescence of Traditional Arts Series tied to the annual Taipei Traditional Arts Festival. The expanded TCO Stars — the largest in the orchestra’s history — will spotlight members, competition winners, and alumni.
General Director Cheng Li-pin (鄭立彬) said the eight concert series will bring a wide range of soloists and ensembles to the stage, offering audiences a rich variety of experiences.
Taipei Department of Cultural Affairs Commissioner Tsai Shin-ping (蔡詩萍) praised the orchestra for balancing tradition with innovation, emphasizing that cultural strength comes from continuity.
Chinese music boasts a history spanning thousands of years, with instruments such as the pipa, erhu, and guzheng forming its backbone. Modern Chinese music has evolved through innovations and fusions, but as it faces contemporary challenges, preserving and passing on this tradition remains vital.
