Author | Stephan Knies

The photo above was taken in 2018, showing Zubin Mehta and Gustavo Dudamel during a rehearsal break, when both were busy rehearsing. The question is: Where was this photo taken? Where could two symphony orchestras rehearse or perform at the same time?

The answer is a place that has both a concert hall and an opera house and/or an orchestra rehearsal room. The building in the photo—Weiwuying—had just been completed a few weeks earlier (at the time the 2018 photo was taken), covering an area of 240 meters by 140 meters and claiming to be "the world's largest cultural building." The Berlin Philharmonic's concert with Gustavo Dudamel was the official opening concert of Weiwuying, and therefore rehearsals were arranged there. However, Zubin Mehta had temporarily taken over as conductor of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, which also needed to rehearse. Since Weiwuying had the necessary logistical capacity, an additional rehearsal for the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra was scheduled. As a result, the musicians and conductors happened to meet in the corridor, leaving behind this snapshot.

According to the Weiwuying management team, this concert hall was built precisely to bring together world-class talent. It is one of the center's four independent venues (each with its own acoustics and organizational structure). The other three venues are: a large opera house, a drama theater with 1,200 seats, and a recital hall used for chamber music, jazz, or television interviews. Like the other venues, this concert hall with 1,800 seats also claims to rank among the world’s finest in architecture, acoustics, technology, and aesthetics.

Visiting orchestras and artists also confirmed this evaluation. Berlin Philharmonic second violinist Eva-Maria Tomasi recalled: "I still clearly remember the concert on November 14, 2018, at the newly completed National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (Weiwuying). The building was impressive—a futuristic design by Francine Houben (Mecanoo), set within a vast park that can accommodate tens of thousands of people, both harmonious and approachable. The concert hall, designed by Parisian acoustician Albert Xu, was astonishing with its clarity and supportive acoustics. On stage, we could hear each other very clearly, and even when the hall was full, the balance of sound remained stable. The difference between an empty hall and a full one was minimal, which proved the meticulous planning. As the first international orchestra to perform here, we were both a benchmark and a touchstone. If a newly-built concert hall can feel so fitting from the very first performance, that is the highest praise for the architect and the acoustician. What was particularly impressive was that the concert was broadcast live not only to the outdoor plaza but also streamed to the digital concert hall, allowing thousands of people worldwide to share that evening."

Not long ago, the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra visited Taiwan during its Asia tour. Concertmaster David Radzynski said: "It looks a bit like the Elbphilharmonie inside. As a string player, I truly enjoyed performing on this stage. Playing here is a great pleasure and a source of inspiration." Flutist Denizcan Eren added: "Performing here is very enjoyable. The acoustics of the concert hall are clear and resonant, making it a real delight for the musicians to play."

The audience clearly shares the same feeling: classical music sounds especially beautiful here. Wen-Pin Chien (the third conductor from the right in the photo) has served as the artistic director of the center since its opening day, and he is also a successful conductor. He proudly said that many audience members from Taipei travel south to Kaohsiung to hear their favorite performers, even if those performers also appear in Taipei. That is the greatest compliment.

Speaking of the building itself: "Delightful" (Eren's words) describes not only the acoustics of the concert hall, but also its design, which aims to provide the best listening experience for all 1,800 seats. The color scheme, spatial rhythm, and seating comfort of the hall are all delightful. The most striking feature is the Klais pipe organ with more than 9,000 pipes, the largest of its kind in Asia. Its design resonates with the surrounding environment: aesthetically, the pipes resemble a bamboo grove, creating a light and airy visual effect within the ochre-colored hall. The Weiwuying Organ Festival takes place here every year. This annual large-scale event places the instrument at center stage, making it the focal point.

To this end, Weiwuying has specially created a series of “signature events,” each designed with diverse themes for different audience groups. For example, the "24 Hours Composer Series," inspired by France's La Folle Journée music festival, devotes an entire day and night each year to a single composer—the theme for March 2025 will be J. S. Bach. In addition, there are other programs such as the Orchestra and Soloist Series, the Circus Platform, Lulu's Children's Festival, and the Dance Platform.

Nevertheless, the flagship program of the concert hall remains the symphonic concerts. In recent years, touring has become increasingly difficult—Brexit, budget cuts, and various travel obstacles have all posed challenges—but Wen-Pin Chien has continued to devote his full efforts, hoping to keep welcoming world-class orchestras to Weiwuying. If all goes as he wishes, unforgettable scenes like those at the opening will continue to appear from time to time in the future. The concert hall is ready.

Inside the main building there are four different venues: an opera house, a concert hall, a drama theater, and a smaller recital hall.

This article appeared in German in das Orchester 4/2026, on page 46.

Author | Stephan Knies