Department of Cultural Affairs

By Yali Chen
STAFF REPORTER

The world-renowned Berlin Philharmonic is embarking on an Asian concert tour stretching from Beijing to Shanghai, Seoul, Taipei and Tokyo. Under the baton of chief conductor and artistic director Sir Simon Rattle, 120 musicians are set to hold two concerts November 18 and 19 at the National Concert Hall in Taipei.

During the two days of their second-time visit to Taipei, the orchestra will take a big step forward in combining technology and music.

“They don’t usually accept live broadcasting, but for Taiwan’s classical music lovers they’ll make an exception,” says Niu Hsiao-hwa, Chairman of Management of New Arts. “The orchestra’s members were so impressed by the local audience’s enthusiastic response during their first performance in Taipei in November 2005 that they agreed to have this year’s two concerts simulcast live in four cities on the island.”

Because admission is free, the simulcast shows in Taipei, Taichung, Hsinchu and Hualien are expected to attract a total of 70,000 fans to immerse themselves in symphonies performed by the celebrated orchestra.

Taipei City Mayor Hau Lung-pin announced Tuesday that the city government will issue music fans free passes to the Taipei simulcast concerts at the Taipei Arena. Beginning November 12, anyone interested in classical music can queue up at the Taipei Arena or the square near Exit 5 of MRT CKS Memorial Hall Station to get free tickets.

Since 2008 the Berlin Philharmonic has offered the world’s first digital concert hall, broadcasting its performances live on the Internet to widen its audience from a few hundred to millions around the world.

The orchestra’s decision to broadcast most of its concerts in the virtual concert hall came from Rattle’s inspiration, Niu says, adding that in November 2005 more than 15,000 local fans flocked into the plaza between the National Theatre and Concert Hall on rainy evenings to enjoy their symphonies. Rattle was surprised to see that most of the Taiwanese audience, unlike European classical music lovers who are generally 30 or older, appear markedly younger.

That trip inspired the director to embark on the project for their digital concert hall. He believes that with the help of high technology, they can attract a wider audience of young population around the globe.

The live webcasting will allow online viewers to enjoy one of the two Taipei concerts, according to the MNA chairperson. The November 18 concert features Mahler’s Symphony No. 9 in D major. The program for the Nov. 19 concert opens with Ravel’s Alborada del Gracioso, followed by Toshio Hosokawa’s Concerto for Horn and Orchestra (Moment of Blossoming) and Bruckner’s Symphony No. 9 in D minor.

The concerts at the National Concert Hall will be also recorded as a tool for educational and non-commercial promotion, Niu notes.

Rattle is considered one of the world’s leading interpreters of Mahler’s works.

“He decided to embark on his career in conducting and classical music at the age of 12 when he listened to Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 in C minor ‘Resurrection,’” says Barbie Chen, Deputy Manager of the Classical & Jazz Division of Gold Typhoon Music – an agency for EMI Music Taiwan.

As one of only a few conductors today with an exclusive recording contract, Rattle renewed his contract with EMI Classics in 2009.

Chen said that the year 2010 also marked the 30th anniversary of Rattle’s exclusive relationship with EMI Classics, a period over which he has recorded more than 250 works for the label.

For more information on the two concerts, go to http://www.mna.com.tw or call the city government at 1999 (Taipei city only).