| National Symphony Orchestra (Taiwan Philharmonic) | |
| Location: | Zhongzheng, Taipei, Taiwan |
| Founded: | 1986 |
| Concert Hall: | National Concert Hall |
| Music Director: | Jun Märkl |
The National Symphony Orchestra (NSO;), also known as Taiwan Philharmonic outside Taiwan, is one of the leading orchestras in Asia. Since 1987, the orchestra has its residence in the National Theater and Concert Hall (Taiwan) in Taipei, Taiwan.
In the year 1986, the orchestras of National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei National University of the Arts (then known as National Institute of the Arts, and National Taiwan University of Arts (then known as National Taiwan Academy of Arts) were combined to form the United Experimental Orchestra. Their first conductor was Gérard Akoka.
The United Experimental Orchestra was reformed into the National Concert Hall Symphony Orchestra in 1994, affiliated with the National Theater and Concert Hall. Hsu Tsang-Houei was appointed as their first music director. Their first overseas tour in 1997 include concerts in Vienna, Paris, and Berlin.
Since 2002, the orchestra is rebranded as National Symphony Orchestra, also known as Taiwan Philharmonic overseas. It has since been affiliated with the National Performing Arts Center.
In the year of 2002, NSO held a series of five concerts that featured all nine symphonies and five piano concertos by Ludwig van Beethoven. The concerts, called a discovery cycle, became NSO's regular Subscription Concert Series later since the 2004/2005 season. In each season, there are ten concerts consisting of at least one orchestral work of a composer.
From September 2004 to June 2008, four Subscription Concert Series have been presented.
Already in November 1994, NSO performed opera in National Concert Hall, Der fliegende Holländer was led by Prof. TSENG Dao-hsiung, in December 2000, Jahja Ling performed Hänsel und Gretel. Under Chien Wen-pin's directorship, he first tried a semi-stage performance of the Third Act of Die Walküre in May 2002, this experience became NSO's regular NSO Opera Series from the 2002/2003 season. In each season, there are two opera directed by cross-over artist in Taiwan, the cast consisted mainly local singers.
From December 2002 to December 2007, fourteen operas have been produced, many of them were Taiwan's premier*.
From April 2002 to April 2008, NSO has been collaborated with four different performing groups and organizations for bringing musical experiences to the young audiences.
NSO has published the following recordings under their own label of "NSO Live":
Projects with conductor Lim Kek-tjiang and Rudolf Barshai are also scheduled.[1]