衛武營國家藝術文化中心 National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (Weiwuying)

By MUZIK AIR Read

The Weiwuying International Music Festival, a major annual contemporary music event, is slated for its third edition, treating Taiwan's music lovers to local and overseas world-class performers from all over the globe through the formats of concerts, forums, and videos. This year, several works by 80-year-old Hungarian composer Péter EÖTVÖS will be a focal point.

Unsuk CHIN, the artistic director of the event, aims to present innovative and highly imaginative content, including a diverse yet well-harmonized mix in the programming to allow for interaction with the audience and show how music can immediately arouse a sense of emotional and spiritual resonance. Specifically, she says, "The festival will grasp the pulse of our times through a multimedia piece, Richters Patterns (an innovative, breakthrough film by the great contemporary visual artist Gerhard RICHTER and accomplished composer Marcus SCHMICKLER). Also, in such programs as Musical Toys, Street Theatre and Hot Dances, Music of Love and Longing, and Speaking Drums and Symphonie Fantastique, BERLIOZ's Symphonie Fantastique, BEETHOVEN's Piano Concerto No.5 in E-flat Major, Op. 73 Emperor, and lesser-known pieces by WAGNER, JANÁČEK, and RESPIGHI will be performed alongside exceptional, inspiring mainstream music of the new era from various countries."

The programs, as always, are to be outstanding. The first that is sure to be hit is the opening concert, Taiwan's debut of Speaking Drums. CHIN says, "We happily celebrate the 80th birthday of EÖTVÖS', who is well versed in so many aspects, including conducting, composing, and music pedagogy. His work, classic and receiving rave reviews, has been performed by such groups as the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra, Berlin Philharmonic, and Théâtre Impérial de l'Opera in Paris, and has debuted at major performance halls in New York, Vienna, and London." Regarding Marianna BEDNARSKA, the percussionist who will perform Speaking Drums, CHIN remarks, "One of the most interesting developments in music in recent years is the rise of very technically proficient soloists in the realm of the less-celebrated instruments, percussion being a prime example. An unbelievably immense number of new solos from various styles and traditions for all kinds of percussion have been written, including traditional African and European music. BEDNARSKA, an extraordinary, young percussionist who has won honors at many major international competitions, has embarked on an extremely successful career as a soloist. She combines elements from musicals and performance traditions of different eras with new technology and innovative elements while actively working with world-renowned composers from all over, fulfilling a mission to bring an innovative dimension to classical percussion." CHIN continues on a similar note: "This year, we're going to bring in an instrument not often associated with classical music: the saxophone. Taiwanese saxophonist CHEN Li-fong will interpret DONATONI's Hot, written for the saxophone and ensemble, in what is likely to be Taiwan's debut of the piece."

As a composer from Korea, CHIN did not forget her homeland in inviting Ensemble TIMF and celebrated pianist Sunwook KIM: "Taiwan and Korea are both quite interested in classical music, and a number of talented young musicians are emerging from these two places. With their passion for music, these musicians have been widely praised in Europe as shapers of and major figures in the future of classical music. Exchanges between Taiwanese and Korean musicians are of great importance to me. At music festivals, the best of Korean and Taiwanese musicians can interact. I'm really looking forward to seeing the duet program by KIM and William WEI, both of whom lived for quite a while in Germany. Meanwhile, for the concert Music of Love and Longing, Ensemble TIMF will be led by the 2023 Herbert von Karajan Young Conductors Award-winner Hankyeol YOON and soprano Sumi HWANG, another winner of numerous honors."

And of course, it wouldn't do to be without some local flavor: "We have an open submission event each year for young Taiwanese composers and this year have chosen from the fierce competition one piece each by LIN Shuo-chun and LIU Wei-chih, which I am so excited to hear. They will be performed by the Weiwuying Contemporary Music Ensemble under the baton of contemporary music master Pierre-André VALADE, who for a time worked closely with reputed French composer BOULEZ. I'm also looking forward to the ensemble and VALADE performing contemporary music classics from various countries."

CHIN summarizes with this perfect sentiment on the festival: "We don't believe there is any line dividing the music of the past from that of the present. A classic is defined by its inextinguishable sense of novelty and how it can be rediscovered within creative performances. Composers of our times who create original works have engaged in critical, creative dialogue with tradition to find their own voices. Such dialogue between the past and present and differing cultures and styles also manifests novelty in the classical music that people love and helps us enjoy the beauty of new musical languages."

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►2024 Weiwuying International Music Festival