衛武營國家藝術文化中心 National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (Weiwuying)

The National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (Weiwuying) Concert Hall’s outstanding acoustic effects and possession of Asia’s largest pipe organ (which offers gorgeous music) have been very well-received by the public. To allow music fans to experience the charm of the Weiwuying Concert Hall, Weiwuying works jointly with prestigious European record company Berlin Classics, pipe organ master Iveta Apkalna, Grammy Award winner Jens Schünemann, and Golden Melody Awards winner You Zi-ze, where they use masterpieces from the French romantic music era to cocreate Weiwuying’s first pipe organ album, which is scheduled to be released globally in the second half of 2020.

Weiwuying’s pipe organ was manufactured by famous German Company Johannes Klais Orgelbau, where Philipp Klais, the company’s fourth-generation owner, indicated that it was the most complex pipe organ that they had ever had to build. Additionally, the placement of the symphonic and echo organs on two sides and a mobile console that can control the two organs at the same time is a design unique in concert halls around the world. Concerning Weiwuying Concert Hall’s acoustic design, Klais remarked that it is undoubtedly the best concert hall to enjoy pipe organ performances worldwide.

Chien Wen-pin, artist director of Weiwuying, noted that Weiwuying is world-class venue constructed using Taiwan ’s national strength. Therefore, Weiwuying shoulders the responsibility of delivering high-quality performances and using performing arts to market Taiwan to the rest of the world. To enable the domestic and foreign public to learn about the perfect combination of Weiwuying’s pipe organs and its Concert Hall’s acoustic effects as well as promote pipe organ music, Weiwuying launched the 2020 Pipe Organ Album Recording Project, where music experts from different countries are invited to market Weiwuying’s pipe organ performances internationally. In addition to working with Apkalna, Weiwuying is in talks with three other internationally renowned pipe organ performers about subsequent album recording projects.

Apkalna has been involved with 13 album recordings since 2003, including Light & Dark recorded in German concert hall Elbphilharmonie. About Weiwuying’s pipe organ album, she said that the color and design of the Weiwuying Concert Hall matched French romantic music styles, resulting in the decision to adopt said style for said album. Although Apkalna is less familiar with French romantic music, she will spare no effort in giving it a try. She commented that Weiwuying’s pipe organ could express a lot of emotions and tones and that she would explore their possibilities, creating a listening experience that is similar to that in the Weiwuying Concert Hall in listeners.