Five Minutes with Lydia Kuo – Executive Director of Taiwan Philharmonic
Get to know Lydia Kuo, Executive Director of Taiwan Philharmonic – also known as the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) in Taipei!
Taiwan Philharmonic is hailed as one of the best orchestras in Asia. What do you think sets the orchestra apart from the rest?
What sets Taiwan Philharmonic apart is the blend of different backgrounds among our musicians. While most of the members of the orchestra are Taiwanese, our musicians have undergone advanced training in such countries or regions as the US, Germany, and France. Of course, the orchestra also includes talent trained right here in Taiwan. Our musicians share similar upbringings but pursued further training across different music genres. The fact that they are able to blend their musical styles together into one that is distinctive to Taiwan Philharmonic upon their completion of studies and return to Taiwan is something I am most proud of. In addition to the concert events that Taiwan Philharmonic puts on throughout its season, our orchestra members also present extensive chamber music programmes. Taiwan Philharmonic is lucky to have such musicians who each have the star power and confidence to perform as soloists but are also able to work as a team, which is a quality to cherish.
AAPPAC’s key focus for this year is related to technology and the arts – where do you see Taiwan Philharmonic going in terms of the adoption of technology or digital tools in the creation or presentation of your work?
From May to June of 2020, Taiwan Philharmonic put on three 4K high-resolution productions of online concerts. In September of the same year, we organised a globally livestreamed violin masterclass with violinist Ray Chen. As the pandemic continues to grip the world, we hope to carry on with our mission of soothing souls with music and connecting the world through classical music. Taiwan Philharmonic is also the first orchestra in Taiwan to put on ticketed digital concerts. There are four such ticketed digital chamber music programs arranged from August to October of 2021. Moreover, the Music Lab of Taiwan Philharmonic, which was established to explore the unknown and infinite possibilities of classical music and orchestras, launched a brand-new program in 2019 focused on music interventions. On trending issues of today, such as achieving cultural accessibility and inclusivity for all, Taiwan Philharmonic collaborates with the Manchester Camerata in offering workshops for elders and related trainings, making Taiwan Philharmonic the first national-level organisation to incorporate music into healthcare in Taiwan. In addition to that, the Music Lab app will be launching this September; its user-friendly interface combines classical music with technology and helps to bring music into the everyday lives of elders. This July, we launched the Music Lab podcast so that music lovers can listen to classical music on the go. The podcast has reached 50,000 listeners since its launch.
How do you think the pandemic has re-shaped your role as an arts manager?
What is the pandemic? I describe it as the “unknown enemy”. We used to make our decisions based on past experience, but now we are facing something entirely new and unprecedented. Even the best public health experts can get it wrong sometimes. Orchestra is not a sector that provides a lot of flexibility and there are a lot of staff and members involved in this work. In this fast-changing environment, how do we continue to remain supportive of one another in the midst of this unease, panic, and the unknown, and respond by being flexible and adaptive to maintain our steady pursuit of the arts? Communication and leadership are key and against the backdrop of this pandemic, these two factors have become more important to me than ever.
Name a song that best encapsulates your personality!
Con brio by Jörg Widmann. As a musical term, con brio means “with spirit” or “with vigor”. Jörg Widmann cites the influences of Beethoven’s nine symphonies in this composition. This piece is representative of how, as musicians facing the profound and rich history of classical music, we are always searching for ways to interpret that essence of classical music through modern and innovative expression for today’s audience.
If you could live anywhere in the world after you retire, where would we find you?
Yunlin, Taiwan. Situated on the western half of Taiwan and located in the central-southern area, Yunlin has always prided itself on its beautiful landscape and agricultural products blessed by its unique environment. Although not a bustling city, Yunlin does have a thriving community and residents that are passionate music lovers. Coupled with the work that Taiwan Philharmonic has done to set down roots in Yunlin, this would be an ideal place to live after retirement, where one can enjoy the country lifestyle, scenery, and music!