Felix Chen
{{Short description|Taiwanese conductor and violinist (1942–2018)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Felix Chen
| image = Felix Chiu-sen Chen.jpg
| birth_name = Chen Chiu-sen
| native_name = 陳秋盛
| native_name_lang = zh-Hant
| birth_date = {{birth date|1942|07|09|df=y}}
| birth_place = Taihoku, Taiwan, Empire of Japan
| death_date = {{death date and age|2018|04|09|1942|07|09|df=y}}
| death_place = Taipei, Taiwan
| instrument = Violin
| genre = Western Classical
| occupation = Conductor
| years_active = 1971–2014
| associated_acts = {{Unbulleted list|Taipei Symphony Orchestra|National Symphony Orchestra of Taiwan}}
}}
Felix Chen or Chen Chiu-sen{{cite web|url=http://english.tso.gov.taipei/cp.aspx?n=6789B079B93B6902|title=Taipei Symphony Orchestra|publisher=TSO.gov|access-date=April 10, 2018|date=December 5, 2017}} ({{zh|t=陳秋盛|p=Chén Qiūshèng}}; 9 July 1942 – 9 April 2018) was a Taiwanese conductor and violinist. He was resident conductor and music director of the Taipei Symphony Orchestra from 1986 until his dismissal in 2003. He taught both Chien Wen-pin, musical director of the Taiwan National Symphony Orchestra from 2001 to 2007; and the same orchestra's current maestro, Lü Shao-chia.
Early life
Chen was born in Taihoku Prefecture, Taiwan on 9 July 1942. He began his musical career studying the violin, and won first prize in Taiwan's provincial violin competition in 1959.{{cite web
|script-title = zh:客席指揮／陳秋盛 簡介
|url = http://www.ntso.gov.tw/performance/2006/95_06_26_ChenChiuSen.htm
|publisher = National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra
|access-date = 2008-04-29
|language = zh
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120211184856/http://www.ntso.gov.tw/performance/2006/95_06_26_ChenChiuSen.htm
|archive-date = 2012-02-11
}} Later, he studied at the Munich Conservatory in Germany.{{cite news
| title=TSO announces crucial appointment
| url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2008/01/11/2003396711
| newspaper=Taipei Times
| date=January 11, 2008
| author=Bradley Winterton
}} He returned to Taiwan in 1969 and played violin in several orchestras.
Career
= Early career =
In 1971, Chen moved to Austria to study conducting, returning again to Taiwan in 1973 to work for the Taiwan Provincial Symphony Orchestra.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}} He later moved to the Taipei Symphony Orchestra (TSO), which he led for 17 years.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}} He began staging operas with them. In this era, the TSO had not yet begun to stage operas; consequently, Chen's were almost the only Western operas known at that time in Taiwan. He was praised for his work at the podium conducting both orchestral and operatic works. Every year Chen and the TSO produced one or two operas (among them Aida, Otello and Turandot) which became major musical events in Taiwan.{{cite news|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/images/2010/08/27/TT-990827-P13-IB.pdf|title=Felix Chen and 'Rigoletto' return to the Taipei Symphony Orchestra|author=Winterton|first=Bradley|date=2010-08-27|access-date=April 9, 2018|newspaper=Taipei Times}}
In a 2003 article in the Taipei Times newspaper, Chen was described as "a veritable Taiwanese 'living national treasure'", due to his "long line of magnificent concerts and opera productions."{{cite news
| title='Salome' is revisited and reconstructed in Felix Chen's new production at National Theater
| url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2003/10/17/2003072306
| newspaper=Taipei Times
| date=October 17, 2003
| author=Bradley Winterton
}}
= Later career =
After his retirement, Chen taught at the National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei National University of the Arts, and Tainan National University of the Arts. He was invited to give guest performances with the National Symphony Orchestra of Taiwan (NSO) and the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra in his later years.{{cite news
| script-title=zh:培養南藝大音樂奇才－指揮家陳秋盛 婉拒於上海音樂院任課
| url=http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2007/new/jul/11/today-art2.htm
| publisher=Liberty Times
| date=July 11, 2007
| language=zh
}} The conductors Lü Shao-chia and Chien Wen-pin were both students of Chen.
In March 2014, Chen came out of retirement and for the first time publicly praised Shen Yun Performing Arts for their "staging techniques" while reflecting that the institution deserved its reputation.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}
= Firing =
In September 2003, Chen was accused of corruption and involvement in a forgery scandal. As a result, the Department of Culture Affairs of the Taipei City Government decided to relieve him of his post. Chen eventually chose to retire, and some people believed he was forced to do so.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}} In 2010, the Taipei Times asserted that "according to many in Taipei's classical music scene, not a shred of evidence involving Chen in any wrongdoing was ever discovered." Chen meanwhile returned to university teaching, making occasional appearances as a guest conductor.
Death
Chen died on 9 April 2018 in Taipei at the age of 75.{{cite news |script-title=zh:「台灣指揮教父」陳秋盛辭世 享壽76歲|url=https://udn.com/news/story/7266/3077066|access-date=9 April 2018|work=United Daily News|date=9 April 2018|language=zh}}{{cite news |script-title=zh:台灣一代指揮家陳秋盛睡夢中辭世樂壇悲痛|url=http://www.chinatimes.com/realtimenews/20180409003098-260405|access-date=9 April 2018|work=China Times|date=9 April 2018|language=zh}}
Partial discography
- Ritual Incantations{{cite web|url=https://lawostore.no/cd/thomas-augusta-read-ritual-incantationes-15819|title=Thomas, Augusta Read: Ritual Incantationes — Finckel, David — cello — Taipei Symphony Orchestra — hen, Felix Chiu-Sen — conductor|publisher=Lawostore|access-date=April 10, 2018}}
- Concerto for Cello and Orchestra in B Minor, Op. 104: I. Allegro{{cite web|url=https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/davidfinckel|title=Dvorak: Cello Concerto — Thomas: Ritual Incantations|publisher=CDBbay|access-date=April 10, 2018}}
- Concerto for Cello and Orchestra in B Minor, Op. 104: II. Adagio ma non troppo
- Concerto for Cello and Orchestra in B Minor, Op. 104: III. Finale: Allegro moderato
- Ritual Incantations: I. Majestic: Driving and Persistent — Cantabile
- Ritual Incantations: II. Mysterious and Expansive — Longing — Yearning
- Ritual Incantations: III. Spirited — Passionate — Bold and Lyrical
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://musiciantw.ncfta.gov.tw/list.aspx?c=&p=M123 Biography of Felix Chen] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180122125553/http://musiciantw.ncfta.gov.tw/list.aspx?c=&p=M123 |date=2018-01-22 }} at MusicianTW.gov
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chen, Felix}}
Category:Taiwanese conductors (music)
Category:People from Miaoli County
Category:Taiwanese people of Hakka descent
Category:Academic staff of the National Taiwan Normal University
Category:Academic staff of Tainan National University of the Arts
Category:Academic staff of Taipei National University of the Arts