The Evergreen Symphony Orchestra will present two performances, “ESO x Jaap van Zweden x Zlatomir Fung,” on March 14 and 15, 7:30 p.m., at Taipei National Concert Hall and the National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts, Weiwuying Concert Hall.
For the concerts, ESO’s Artist-in-Residence Jaap van Zweden will join up with Zlatomir Fung, the youngest-ever first-prize winner in the cello category of the International Tchaikovsky Competition. The program will feature Wagner’s “Prelude to Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg,” Tchaikovsky’s “Variations on a Rococo Theme,” and the powerfully dramatic “Symphony No. 4 in F Minor.” The works promise to showcase a rich spectrum of musical color and emotion.
Maestro van Zweden made his debut with the Evergreen Symphony Orchestra in November, earning widespread acclaim for his electrifying energy and ability to elevate the orchestra’s performance to new heights.
For the March concerts, he has curated a compelling program. The evening begins with one of Wagner’s most widely performed orchestral works — “Prelude to Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg.” Unlike much of Wagner’s music, it adopts a more classical style, weaving together several themes from the opera in a lively and elegant narrative. Depicting the meistersinger (master singers), a guild of amateur poets and musicians during the Renaissance era, the piece carries a jubilant energy, setting an uplifting tone for the concert.
Another highlight of the program is Tchaikovsky’s “Variations on a Rococo Theme,” a work inspired by and paying tribute to the composer’s role model — Mozart.
The soloist, Zlatomir Fung, one of the most promising musicians of his generation, will bring this virtuosic piece to life with his extraordinary talent. Of Bulgarian and Chinese descent, Fung, 25, is celebrated for his technical brilliance and emotional depth. His interpretation of the “Variations on a Rococo Theme,” Tchaikovsky's most beloved and first composition for cello and orchestra, promises to captivate audiences on the evening.
The “ESO x Jaap van Zweden x Zlatomir Fung” concerts will take audiences on a musical journey, opening with Wagner’s vibrant prelude before delving into the profound and emotional interplay of light and darkness that lies between the two Tchaikovsky masterpieces.
ESO presents this unforgettable program on White Valentine’s Day, inviting audiences to immerse themselves in music under Maestro van Zweden’s masterful baton.
Early bird tickets with a 30% discount are now available online through OPENTIX. For more information about the Evergreen Symphony Orchestra and its concert series, please visit the ESO website.
