Alexandre Desplat / Taipei Symphony Orchestra “From Paris to Hollywood”

Media Comments

“Alexandre has the awareness, intelligence, and the ability to know when he needs to propel his voice or whisper. He is one of the greatest composers in the history of the genre.” - Guillermo del Toro.

About the Performance

After scoring 50 European films with legendary French directors including Philippe de Broca, Francis Girod and Jacques Audiard, Alexandre Desplat burst onto the Hollywood scene with his evocative score for “Girl with a Pearl Earring” in 2003. And over the last two decades, he’s become one of the most prolific film composers in the industry, having created the enticing sound worlds for “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”, and “The Shape of Water”, among countless other blockbusters.

A close collaborator of Wes Anderson, Desplat’s delightfully mischievous scores for “Fantastic Mr. Fox”, “The Grand Budapest Hotel”, and The French Dispatch continuously spark joy and delight among music and movie-lovers worldwide. For the first time at the Taipei Performing Arts Center, Desplat leads a program of his most acclaimed and beloved music.

Company Profile

Taipei Symphony Orchestra TSO

Founded in 1969, Taipei Symphony Orchestra has been evolving with great artistry for over half a century. Our mission is to share the beauty of music and to represent the most beautiful sound of Taipei. We use music to create dialogue and bring the sounds of Taiwan to the rest of the world.

TSO has always worked with prominent artists from around the world, including sopranos Angela Gheorghiu, tenor Jonas Kaufmann, violinist Maxim Vengerov, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, conductor Yuri Khatuevich Temirkanov and composer Tan Dun. Over the years, TSO has been conducted by renowned maestros such as Felix Chiu-Sen Chen, Andras Ligeti and Gilbert Varga, who have led TSO to the pinnacle of musical art. Between 2019 and 2022, TSO performed all of Mahler’s symphonies with Maestro Eliahu Inbal serving as Principal Conductor. These performances received critical acclaim. In 2023, Maestro Inbal was invited to take on the role of Conductor Laureate, and the distinguished German conductor Alexander Liebreich will be appointed Principal Conductor from 2026. Under their guidance, TSO is starting a new chapter.

In 1979, TSO launched the Taipei Music Festival and became a pioneer of opera performance in Taiwan. Since then, the TSO repertoire has accumulated 48 opera productions, which have received great attention, and it has become a must-see event for opera-lovers, while also playing a vital role in the development of Western opera in Taiwan. In addition to domestic performances, TSO regularly tours worldwide across more than 20 countries and cities. Furthermore, School Concerts designed for fifth grade students, Community Concerts and Open-air Concerts are three major events that are well loved by Taipei students and citizens.

TSO has gathered brilliant and virtuosi musicians who work hard to fulfill our vision. Recent TSO album releases include live recordings of Beethoven Symphonies Nos 6 & 7 conducted by Maestro Inbal in November 2021. In 2023, TSO and Maestro Inbal had finished recording symphonies by Bruckner and Brahms, reaching a significant milestone.

With our depth of experience and musical accomplishment for over half a century, we believe TSO can bring the audience the greatest listening experiences by combining virtuosity in musical performance.