Transcending boundaries of geography and culture, music becomes a bridge of exchange—Klangbrücke · Gathering in Music is an international celebration that unites two outstanding orchestras from Taiwan and Germany. The Kaohsiung Symphony Orchestra and its Resident Conductor Yao-Yu Wu join forces with the Deutsche Philharmonie Merck from Darmstadt, Germany, under the baton of Swiss conductor Gaudens Bieri, to present a musical journey that blends local spirit with timeless classics.

Since its founding in 1966, the Deutsche Philharmonie Merck has held a unique place on both the German and international music scenes. As one of Germany's leading independent orchestras, it is not tied to a broadcasting corporation, opera house, or government body. Supported by Merck, the ensemble unites up to a hundred professional musicians for world-class projects. Its tours span across Europe and beyond, reaching India, Brazil, Mexico, Dubai, Morocco, the United States, Russia, and China. Whether interpreting the grand Romantic symphonies of Mahler and Bruckner or exploring a diverse repertoire from early music and contemporary works to film scores, the orchestra is acclaimed for its artistry and excellence.

At the helm of this collaboration is Gaudens Bieri, a Swiss conductor who studied at the Zurich University of the Arts and the University of Music and Theatre Leipzig. Recipient of the Cultural Award of the Canton of Graubünden and second prize at the Swiss Conducting Competition, Bieri has built a career across Europe, leading orchestras in Germany, Switzerland, Bulgaria, and Georgia. Renowned for his innovative programming and nuanced interpretations, he has served since the 2024/25 season as Chief Conductor and General Music Director of the Lüneburg Symphony Orchestra, while maintaining a long-standing partnership with the Deutsche Philharmonie Merck.

The program of Klangbrücke · Gathering in Music unfolds as a dialogue across time and space. It begins with Jiang Wen-Ye's Formosan Dance, which intertwines Taiwanese folk melodies with Western orchestral language to reveal a strong sense of cultural identity. This is followed by Beethoven's Symphonies No. 5 and No. 7, works that embody two facets of the composer's vitality—the dramatic struggle against fate and the irresistible pulse of rhythm and dance. The evening concludes with Tyzen Hsiao's Angel from Formosa, whose lyrical warmth and humanistic spirit bring the concert to a heartfelt close.

This performance is not only a platform for cultural dialogue between Taiwanese and German musicians, but also a meaningful milestone: as Merck, with its deep roots in Taiwan, continues to strengthen international connections through the arts.

On this bridge built of music, every phrase is an invitation—an invitation to encounter one another's culture, to listen to one another's stories, and to discover shared emotions within sound. This is more than a concert; it is a cultural meeting, a gathering of hearts.

  Program  

Jiang Wen-Ye: Formosa Dance

Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No.5 in C minor, Op.67

Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No.7 in A major, Op.92

Tyzen Hsiao: The Angel from Formosa

◎The organizer reserves the right to change the program

  Creative and Production Team  

Conductor｜Gaudens Bieri, Yao-yu WU

Deutsche Philharmonie Merck

Kaohsiung Symphony Orchestra