Outdoor Music Feast in Taoyuan: 45-Member Orchestra Performs Without a Conductor

By Liu Jiawen, compiled and reported

The first performance of this year’s Taiwan Connection Music Festival will take place on December 3rd (Saturday) at the Plaza of Taoyuan County Arts and Cultural Park. Renowned violinist Hu Nai-yuan and the Taiwan Connection (abbreviated as TC) Chamber Orchestra will take on an extraordinary challenge—performing Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, “Fate,” for the first time without a conductor and with an ensemble of over 40 musicians.

Hu Nai-yuan explained that the choice to perform the “Fate” Symphony this year was inspired by the global economic downturn, which has left many feeling disheartened. He hopes to uplift spirits through music and encourage the public to bravely embrace life’s challenges. The symphony’s most iconic feature is the opening four-note motif, often described as fate knocking at the door. These notes must be played with precision and power. Without a conductor’s cue, ensuring all instruments strike the first note in perfect unison places immense demands on the musicians’ focus and mutual understanding.

Additionally, Hu Nai-yuan will dedicate his only solo performance to the audience at the Taoyuan opening concert, selecting Mendelssohn’s D Minor Concerto composed when he was just 12 years old, delivering a piece that radiates ease and freedom. On the day of the concert, in collaboration with the Taoyuan Spinal Cord Injury Potential Development Center, a service area will also be set up at the venue to encourage the public to engage in charitable activities. The series of festival events will begin with the Taoyuan outdoor concert, followed by ticketed performances by the TC Chamber Orchestra: December 4th at Kaohsiung’s Zhidé Hall, December 6th at Taichung’s Chungshan Hall, and December 11th at Taipei’s National Concert Hall.