Taishin Bank Foundation for Arts and Culture

Artwork Introduction

The National Chinese Orchestra’s The Silk Road Fantasy Concert that debuted at the National Concert Hall in Taipei on 28 September 2007 included the all-time favorite “Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto” and the rhythmically exciting “The New Century Double Concerto for Percussion Instruments.”

Highly-acclaimed and world-renowned violinist Lu Siqing was invited by the orchestra to star as guest soloist. He dazzled the audience with his exhilarating rendition of the “Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto” that showcased his intense Western classical music training which was combined with his innate sensitivity and passion towards Chinese traditional music.

Known as a classic in the repertoire of Chinese music, the “Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto” is a beloved masterpiece for local audiences. Written for a symphony orchestra, the piece was rearranged specially by Conductor Chun Quan-qu to bring out the deep hidden meanings of the work.

Percussionists Lin Ya-hsueh and Huang Chun-ling also gave bold and dramatic performances for “The New Century Double Concerto for Percussion Instruments” that was written by Nai Zhung Kuan and which features the beauty, diversity and resonance of percussion instruments. This piece was also adapted by Conductor Chun.

The “Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto” and “Gada Meilin Symphony” have had multitudinous adaptations over the years by various performing groups. The National Chinese Orchestra presented these well-known and much-loved Chinese classics with new rearrangements to reveal profound insights into the works and to make such classics more accessible to a twenty-first century audience, perhaps exceeding the original composers’ visions.

About the Artist

The National Chinese Orchestra under the direction of Qu Chun-quan was nominated for their concert at Taipei’s National Concert Hall on 28 September 2007. Highly-acclaimed violinist Lu Siqing as invited soloist is also the first prize winner of the prestigious Paganini International Violin Competition in Italy.

Formed in 1984 as the National Taiwan University of Arts Experimental Chinese Music Orchestra under the auspices of the Ministry of Education, the performing group officially became known later on as the National Chinese Orchestra. Touring through Taiwan, Europe and the United States, the orchestra combines traditional Chinese music with classical western styles.