The National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) Shostakovich Cycle X: Peace
Prospect (國家交響樂團蕭斯塔可維奇系列十--和平的憧憬)
will perform Shostakovich's Symphony No. 7, op.60 and Tchaikovsky's Francesca de Rimini, op.32 at Tainan Municipal Cultural
Center (台南市立文化中心), 332 Chunghua E Rd, Sec 3, Tainan City (台南市中華東路三段332號)
tonight and at the National Concert Hall this coming Sunday. Symphony No. 7, subtitled Leningrad, is Shostakovich's longest
symphony (approximately 1:50 minutes in length) in response to the declaration of war and best known for its first movement
"invasion" theme because it can be interpreted as an anti-Stalinist piece. Rudolf Barshai, who studied composition from Shostakovich
himself, will be the conductor. Tickets are NT$300 to NT$1,500 in Taipei and NT$100 to NT$200 in Tainan through NTCH ticketing.
*Tonight
7:30pm and Sunday 2:30pm
Pianist Olga Kern & Taipei Symphony Orchestra (范克萊本金牌--歐嘉肯恩與台北市立交響樂團)
will present a program including Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No.1 and Symphony No.6 conducted by Andras Liegeti at the National
Concert Hall. Kern was awarded the Gold Medal at the 11th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, the first woman to
have achieved this distinction in more than 30 years. Since then, she has toured the US captivating fans and critics alike
with her passionately confident musicianship and vivid stage presence. Kern was born into a family of musicians with direct
links to Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff and began studying piano at the age of five. She was winner of the first Rachmaninoff
International Piano Competition at age 17 and recipient of an honorary scholarship from the President of Russia in 1996. She
is now a member of Russian International Academy of Arts. Tickets are NT$200 to NT$800 and are available through NTCH ticketing.
*Saturday
7:30pm
San Francisco Guitar Quartet (SFGQ, 舊金山吉他四重奏)
will present a wide array of musical genres and styles at the National Recital Hall. Since its inception in 1997, the SFGQ
has distinguished itself as a cutting-edge chamber ensemble committed to precision and excellence in the performance of contemporary
and classical works. As of press time, NT$300 tickets are sold out, but seats are available from NT$450 to NT$600 through
ERA ticketing.
*Saturday 2:30pm 7:30pm
John Williams and Richard Harvey World Tour (吉他巨匠約翰威廉士全球巡演)
will come to the National Concert Hall. Williams, one of the world's outstanding guitarists, will grace Taiwan with a one-off
performance. Williams has performed in many genres but is mainly dedicated to classical music. His classical work ranges from
Bach to Romanticism, but he has also arranged several different types of music from different cultures for guitars. Williams
will be accompanied by his longtime friend and associate Richard Harvey, who played all the woodwind parts for the Disney
movie "The Lion King." NT$400 tickets are sold out, but seats are available from NT$600 to NT$2,000 through NTCH ticketing.
*Tuesday
7:30pm
Player Tribe Opening Day (玩家部落創團音樂會)
is set to make its debut concert at the National Recital Hall featuring violinist Li Shuan (李瑄), cellist Lu
Chao-lun (呂超倫), and pianist Tan Wan-chun (湯婉君). The trio will present a program
of two "outstanding" works to mark their enthusiastic start: Brahms's Piano Trio No.3 in C Minor, Op.101 and Dvorak's Piano
Trio No.3 in F Minor, Op. 65. The former was composed during Brahms's optimal creative period and reflects Brahms's energetic
force as well as expresses his nostalgic feelings.The latter was considered as the climaxes of the more serious and classically
"Brahmsian" side of Dvorak's output. Tickets are NT$250 and are available through NTCH ticketing.
*Thursday 7:30pm