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Weiwuying’s Grand Opening on October 13th
National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (Weiwuying) will be officially open to the public on Saturday 13th of October. A variety of programs are scheduled on the day of the opening. Starting 11 am, visitors can visit stores, search for information about the opening season, and purchase performance tickets.The inauguration ceremony at the concert hall will commence at 3:15 pm.At 5 pm, “Glittering Sound: The Inauguration Concert” will start at the vineyard style concert hall.Then, at 7 pm, “Arts for the People,” an opening outdoor performance produced by art groups both domestic and abroad will debut in the outdoor theatre.
On October 13th, the day of the opening, the underground parking lot will be closed due to performance requirements and the closing time will be changed to 5 pm. Weiwuying has arranged for the afternoon marketplace to be held on the outdoor theatre lawn on the south side of Weiwuying, which will be open to visitors from 4 pm to 10 pm. The afternoon inauguration ceremony and evening outdoor opening ceremony will be broadcasted live through the Weiwuying official website, youtube, and Public Television Service Plus, enabling visitors to join in the occasion even if they are unable to physically attend the events.
At 3:15 pm on Saturday the 13th, the Weiwuying inauguration ceremony will be presented as a music concert, gathering Taiwan art groups and public advocates for the arts. Late Taiwanese composer Tyzen Hsiao’s The Angel from Formosa, US-based composer Huang Ssu-Yu’s Heritage of Hakka, and Wang I-Yu’s Huang will be presented with Chien Wen-pin as the conductor and performed by National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra and Kaohsiung Symphony Orchestra. International-renowned organist Iveta Apkalna and Hong Kong-based Taiwanese musician Chen Yi-Wei, the Sheng Principal of the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, will also be performing on stage alongside many other musicians, symbolling the passing on of legacy and birth of innovation.
The “Glittering Sound: The Inauguration Concert” at 5 pm will be the first official opening performance of Weiwuying and the first concert held within the only vineyard style concert hall in Taiwan. Renowned Taiwanese musician Ma Shui-Long’s Legend of Taiwan-Orchestral Suite of Chivalrous Liao Tian-Ding will be performed by Taiwan National Symphony Orchestra and Kaohsiung Symphony Orchestra. Other famous works include My Final Resting Place by Gordon Chin from opera Mackay─The Black Bearded Bible Man, which is sure to dazzle audiences worldwide. Chien Wen-ping stated that: “Taiwan is home to many world-class composers. We hope that Weiwuying will become a platform for outstanding Taiwanese artists to be seen by the world.”
“Arts for the People: The Grand Opening” is scheduled at 7 pm. Presented as a collaboration between acclaimed European creative art group phase7 and Taiwanese performance groups, “Arts for the People” will welcome 20 thousand visitors to join in the celebration of the opening of the largest theater venue in Taiwan.
Based on the concept of “performance art that ignites multiple sensations,” “Arts for the People: The Grand Opening” spans across national and international, tradition and Avant-Garde, Eastern and Western art. From indigenous folk songs to electronic music, added with the application of modern technology and the integration of tradition and modernity, the public is invited to join in our celebration of the birth of National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (Weiwuying). Visitors can enjoy performances from the best angle on the lawn at the south side of Weiwuying, since the outdoor theater and performance stage is built according to the design of the architecture and stairs of the main building. Visitors are encouraged to invite friends and families along to this free-entry outdoor culture event.
From Pingtung to Yilan, renowned Taiwanese performance groups are working together to present unique large-scale performances. Kaohsiung’s Luan Guang Dragon & Lion Dance War Drum Corps will take the lead and pay their respect to the architecture heroes of Weiwuying. Next, along with Timur Tribe, Tjimur Dance Theatre from Sandimen, Pingtung, will be presenting their program which integrates traditional indigenous folk songs with rap. After receiving countless choreography awards across Europe, Kaohsiung native Benson Tsai will lead B. DANCE in producing performances that mix modern dance, street dance, and beatbox. Kaohsiung Symphony Orchestra will be performing alongside Zhuang Jin-Mei, famous Taiwanese opera performer, and US tenor Corby Welch to present a selection of Eastern and Western opera pieces. Tainan’s Ten Drum Art Percussion Group will be charming the audience with their drum performance, while Puppet & Its Double Theater from Yilan will collaborate with National Taiwan University of Sport to present their exciting puppet show. Furthermore, celebrity violinist Janet Hsieh will also be one of the performers, adding variety to the performances and joining in the celebration of the opening of National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (Weiwuying). Last but not least, the night will end with sound and light artist Yao Chung-Han’s electronic visual party at Weiwuying’s Banyan Plaza.