Felix Chen

Felix Chen 陳秋盛

Background information
Birth name	Chen Chiu-sen
Born	(1942-07-09)9 July 1942 Taihoku, Taiwan, Empire of Japan
Died	9 April 2018(2018-04-09) (aged 75) Taipei, Taiwan
Genres	Western Classical
Occupation(s)	Conductor
Instrument(s)	Violin
Years active	1971–2014

Felix Chen or Chen Chiu-sen^[1] (Chinese: 陳秋盛; pinyin: 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.^[2] 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.^[2]

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Early life

Chen was born in Taihoku Prefecture, Taiwan on 9 July 1942.^[3] He began his musical career studying the violin,^[4] and won first prize in Taiwan's provincial violin competition in 1959.^[4] Later, he studied at the Munich Conservatory in Germany.^[2] He returned to Taiwan in 1969 and played violin in several orchestras.^[5]

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]} He later moved to the Taipei Symphony Orchestra (TSO), which he led for 17 years.^{[citation needed]} 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.^[6] He was praised for his work at the podium conducting both orchestral and operatic works.^[4] Every year Chen and the TSO produced one or two operas (among them Aida, Otello and Turandot) which became major musical events in Taiwan.^[6]

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."^[5]

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.^[7] 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.^[7] The conductors Lü Shao-chia and Chien Wen-pin were both students of Chen.^[5]^[6]

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]}

Firing

In September 2003, Chen was accused of corruption and involvement in a forgery scandal.^[6] As a result, the Department of Culture Affairs of the Taipei City Government decided to relieve him of his post.^[6] Chen eventually chose to retire, and some people believed he was forced to do so.^{[citation needed]} 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."^[6] Chen meanwhile returned to university teaching, making occasional appearances as a guest conductor.^[6]

Death

Chen died on 9 April 2018 in Taipei at the age of 75.^[3]^[8]

Partial discography

Ritual Incantations^[9]
Concerto for Cello and Orchestra in B Minor, Op. 104: I. Allegro^[10]
Concerto for Cello and Orchestra in B Minor, Op. 104: II. Adagio ma non troppo^[10]
Concerto for Cello and Orchestra in B Minor, Op. 104: III. Finale: Allegro moderato^[10]
Ritual Incantations: I. Majestic: Driving and Persistent — Cantabile^[10]
Ritual Incantations: II. Mysterious and Expansive — Longing — Yearning^[10]
Ritual Incantations: III. Spirited — Passionate — Bold and Lyrical^[10]