NTSO Mei-Ann Chen, Chang Kai-min and the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra

Johan Svendsen was a Norwegian composer contemporary with Edvard Grieg. He studied in Leipzig in his early years and later served as chief conductor of the Royal Danish Theatre Orchestra in Copenhagen. With a conductor's advantage, his orchestral works fully exploit the orchestra's colorful sonorities, particularly enjoying presenting the differences when different sections play the same phrase. His Symphony No. 2 was composed in 1876. Its four movements are like a folk song collection, with melodious tunes reminiscent of songs echoing in the fjords; the third movement intermezzo also incorporates lively and bustling "Halling" dance elements, achieving a perfect balance between artistry and popularity in the entire piece.
Also performed in the same concert is "Glorious Parade," which similarly relates to national character. Composer Bo Holten was born in Denmark in 1948. He successively founded the "Ars Nova" and "Musica Ficta" choirs, dedicated to promoting contemporary and early choral art. "Glorious Parade" assembles several Danish children's songs, presented through four continuous movements. Sometimes the melodies are clearly recognizable, sometimes very blurred, creating an interesting listening experience.
Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 1 possesses a completely different style. The composer was only twenty-five at the time. During his first attempt at composing a large-scale orchestral work, he was confronted with the suicide and death of his mentor and friend Robert Schumann, imbuing the entire piece with a strong tragic color. From the thunderous opening and restless themes of the first movement, to the sacred chant of the second, to the fervent dance of the third, it is like a process of psychological healing. In terms of performance form, Brahms specifically adjusted the role of the orchestra from merely accompanying the soloist in early Romantic concertos, allowing the two to merge into one, creating greater expressive power. Soloist Chang Kai-min (張凱閔) is a musician nurtured by the NTSO's 'International Music Talent Cultivation Project.' In 2024, as the youngest finalist, he won the Fourth Prize at the 21st Leeds International Piano Competition, making him a new Taiwanese voice you cannot miss! (Written by Wu Yu-ting)