The National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) at 40

Known at home as the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO), Taiwan Philharmonic celebrates its 40th anniversary with a 2026/27 season under Jun Märkl in his sixth year as Music Director.  The season pays tribute to the orchestra’s history to help a new generation of audiences become familiar with the orchestra’s story. Märkl has invited back former Music Directors Shao-Chia Lü (2009-2020), Wen-Pin Chien (2001-2007), and Jahja Ling (1998-2001) to curate special concerts. There will also be a concert to pay respects to the orchestra’s first music director, Tsang-Houei Hsu (1994-1995). 

Professor Hsu assumed the first Music Directorship when the orchestra was reorganised as the National Concert Hall Symphony Orchestra. Prior to that, the orchestra was established as the United Experimental Orchestra in 1986 as part of the preparations for the opening of the National Theater and National Concert Hall in Taipei. French conductor Gérard Akoka served as resident conductor in the initial period. Since its founding, the Taiwan Philharmonic has grown to be hailed as one of the best orchestras in Asia, taking on symphonic and operatic repertoire in the classical tradition as well as contemporary works including those by Taiwanese composers.  

The 40th anniversary season showcases the orchestras strengths in this breadth of repertoire, with a focus on the music from the turn of the 20th century, an artistic turning point in the history of music and the arts. One main theme centres around dance, celebrating the legacy of the Ballets Russes, Sergei Diaghilev’s visionary project, and other influential ballet works. The orchestra continues its multi-season Gustav Mahler cycle, performing his Symphony No. 8 and No. 9 (27–28 Nov and  31 Oct, respectively). The Eighth symphony will see the Philharmonic collaborating with orchestras throughout Taiwan and an extensive roster of renowned singers from around the world. The season finale will feature Ludwig van Beethoven’s opera Fidelio (9 and 11 Jul 2027), a work that reminds us of the values of liberty and justice in an age of uncertainty. The selected concert will also feature a work by a Taiwanese composer as part of the One-Minute Symphony commissioning project.  

The season will also continue the orchestra’s support of chamber music as an art form. In addition to regular chamber music concerts by our own musicians, the orchestra continues its partnership with violinist Paul Huang to curate our annual chamber music festival (7-10 Jan 2027), dedicated to exploring the depth of chamber classics and championing modern works with international guests playing alongside musicians of the orchestra.

Our 40th-anniversary celebration extends beyond Taiwan’s borders. The orchestra embarks on an international tour in Germany and the UK over two weeks in March and April 2027, presenting seven concerts in six cities. The orchestra will perform works that showcase traditional Taiwanese elements, the technical finesse of our musicians, and the excitement of modern symphonic compositions. Just as the orchestra did on its first tour in 1997, it continues its role as a cultural ambassador for Taiwan. Titled ‘From Formosa’, the tour reaches out to Europe and the United Kingdom to demonstrate the creativity, friendliness, and pursuit of excellence that characterise Taiwan. 

We invite members of AAPPAC to celebrate our 40th anniversary with us and join the Taiwan Philharmonic (NSO) as it continues its journey to the future. 

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Events, shows, or festivals in the months of OCT – DEC 2026: 

1. Wen-Pin Chien, Viviane Hagner & NSO 

Date: 2026/10/22 (Thu) 19:30 

Venue: National Concert Hall 

 

Performers:  

Wen-Pin Chien, conductor 

Viviane Hagner, violin 

National Symphony Orchestra 

 

Programme:  

Zhe-Yu Yang: A Dialogue between Wind and Poetry (One-minute Symphony Project, world premiere) *This project is cooperated by TSMC, NSO, and TNUA 

Benjamin Britten: The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, Op. 34 

Joseph Haydn: Symphony No. 94 in G major, Hob. I:94, Surprise 

Benjamin Britten: Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 15 

 

2. Mahler Symphony No. 9, Jun Märkl & NSO 

2026/10/31 (Sat) 19:30 

National Concert Hall 

 

Performers:  

Jun Märkl, conductor 

National Symphony Orchestra 

 

Programme:  

Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 9 

 

3. Jun Märkl, Stefan Jackiw & NSO 

2026/11/05 (Thu) 19:30 

National Concert Hall 

 

Performers:  

Jun Märkl, conductor  

Stefan Jackiw, violin 

National Symphony Orchestra 

 

Programme:  

En-Fu Kuo: Orches”cha” (One-minute Symphony Project, world premiere) *This project is cooperated by TSMC, NSO, and TNUA 

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35 

Béla Bartók: Concerto for Orchestra, Sz. 116 

 

4. Chen-Yung Music Feast: Mahler Symphony No. 8, Jun Märkl & NSO 

2026/11/27 (Fri) 19:30 

2026/11/28 (Sat) 19:30 

National Concert Hall 

 

Performers:  

Jun Märkl, conductor 

Iwona Sobotka, soprano 

Ena Miyachi, soprano 

Hsiao-Chi Chien, soprano 

Barbara Kozelj, alto 

Eriko Hanafusa, alto 

Fernando Wang, tenor 

Han-Wei Chen, baritone 

Hirotaka Kato, bass 

National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) 

National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra (NTSO) 

Kaohsiung Symphony Orchestra (KSO) 

Taipei Music Academy & Festival (TMAF) 

NSO Festival Chorus 

 

Programme:  

Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 8 in E-flat major 

 

5. Mario Venzago, Pascal Rogé & NSO 

2026/12/10 (Thu) 19:30 

National Concert Hall 

 

Performers:  

Mario Venzago, conductor 

Pascal Rogé, piano 

National Symphony Orchestra 

 

Programme:  

Tabiliah Baliax: Siatu Haimini (One-minute Symphony Project, world premiere) *This project is cooperated by TSMC, NSO, and TNUA 

Ming-Hsiu Yen: Meet Hakka Along the Mountain Line (commissioned by Hakka Affairs Council, world premiere) 

Maurice Ravel: Piano Concerto in G major 

Robert Schumann: Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major, Op. 97 

 

6. Tracing the Voice of Taiwan – Hsu Tsang-houei 25th Anniversary Memorial Concert 

2026/12/19 (Sat) 14:30 

National Concert Hall 

 

Performers:  

Wen-Pin Chien, conductor 

Man-Nung Fan, introducer 

Lina Yeh, piano 

Meng-Chun Lin, Yu-Ju Lee, soprano 

Yi-Wei Lin, tenor 

National Symphony Orchestra 

National Chinese Orchestra Taiwan 

Taipei Chamber Singer 

 

Programme:  

Tsang-Houei Hsu: Opera the Tale of the White Snake, Op. 33: Prologue (Percussion Music) (1979–1987) 

Tsang-Houei Hsu: Song of the Burial of Flowers, for solo soprano, female Chorus, accompanied by two Buddhist musical instruments (Inverted Bell and Wooden Fish), Op. 13 (1962) 

Tsang-Houei Hsu: Spring for All, Concerto for piano and Chinese orchestra, Op. 36 (1981) 

Tsang-Houei Hsu: Chinese Festival Overture The Splendid Universe, Op. 18 (1980)   

Tsang-Houei Hsu: Dance Drama Music Peach Blossoms, Op. 31 (1977) 

Tsang-Houei Hsu: Cantata Cortège Guerrier, for soprano, tenor, mixed chorus and orchestra, Op. 8 (1958–1965/1991) 

 

7. Fubon Century Music Feast: NSO New Year’s Eve Concert 1 

2026/12/30 (Wed) 19:30 

National Concert Hall 

 

Performers:  

Yao-Yu Wu, conductor 

Richard Lin, violin 

Sir Stephen Hough, piano 

National Symphony Orchestra 

 

Programme:  

Claude Debussy: Suite bergamasque, L. 75, orchestrated by André Caplet and Gustave Cloëz 

Camille Saint-Saëns: Piano Concerto No. 5 in F major, Op. 103, Egyptian 

John Adams: Short Ride in a Fast Machine 

Maurice Ravel: Tzigane 

Camille Saint-Saëns: Havanaise, Op. 83 

Maurice Ravel: La Valse 

 

8. Fubon Century Music Feast: NSO New Year’s Eve Concert 2 

2026/12/31 (Thu) 19:30 

National Concert Hall 

 

Performers:  

Yao-Yu Wu, conductor 

Paul Huang, violin 

Julian Steckel, cello 

I-Ching Wang, oboe 

Kai-Yu Jian, bassoon 

National Symphony Orchestra 

 

Programme:  

Otto Nicolai: Overture to Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor 

Joseph Haydn: Sinfonia Concertante in B-flat major, Hob. I:105 

Johann Strauss II: Pizzicato-Polka 

Johann Strauss II: An der schönen blauen Donau, Op. 314 

Richard Strauss: Der Rosenkavalier Suite