Strings embody plants, narrating Taiwan's origins—TSO Artist-in-Residence Shiuan Chang's violin concerto, "23.5°N, 121°E," premieres this Saturday. September 8, 2025
Top photo: Shiuan Chang (right) and Inmo Yang (left) made a special trip to Alishan in August to draw inspiration for the premiere of "23.5°N, 121°E."
The Taipei Symphony Orchestra (TSO) collaborated with German violin master Antje Weithaas last weekend for the spectacular "Return to 1806" concert, marking the start of the second half of the 2025 season. On September 13th, the TSO will present the "2025 TSO Masters Series: Carter, Inmo Yang and TSO" concert at the National Concert Hall. In addition to a series of visually arresting classics such as Britten's "Symphonic Requiem," Rachmaninoff's "Isle of the Dead," and Debussy's "La Mer," the concert will feature TSO Artist-in-Residence and Taiwanese composer Shiuan Chang's Violin Concerto, "23.5°N, 121°E." The concert will feature soloist Inmo Yang, a South Korean violinist and double gold medalist at both the 2015 Paganini Competition and the 2022 Sibelius Competition. Notably, the two met at the New England Conservatory of Music and are close friends, sharing numerous discussions and exchanges during the composition process. This work transcends the realm of "tailor-made" creation; it is a completely new creation honed collaboratively by composer and soloist. The world premiere takes place this Saturday!