延續今年藝術節的主題，我很高興再次為大家打開一扇通往我第二個家鄉─瑞士的窗。我們非常榮幸能呈獻浪漫樂派晚期重要的瑞士作曲家沃爾克馬爾．安德烈亞（Volkmar Andreae）的作品，以及我先生法比安．穆勒（Fabian Müller）的創作。

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安德烈亞以唐代詩人李白詩作譜寫的作品，極有可能將是首度在臺灣音樂會中演出。身為布拉姆斯的摯友，安德烈亞是蘇黎世樂壇最受敬重的音樂人物之一，而蘇黎世也正是我目前居住的城市。同時，蘇黎世亦是備受推崇的臺灣作曲家潘皇龍求學深造之地。今年，我們也特別期待呈現他為紀念臺南建城四百年所創作的大提琴四重奏《古城新象》。這部作品不僅承載著深厚的歷史文化意涵，也為本屆藝術節增添來自臺灣的獨特聲音與風景。

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TWICF向來格外重視當代音樂。除了潘皇龍、藤倉大、譚盾、王乙聿及法比安．穆勒的作品之外，今年特別委託臺灣作曲家李元貞譜寫新作，並將於藝術節中世界首演。這部作品以中國十二生肖為靈感，透過短小且各具特色的樂章，並運用從大提琴二重奏至六重奏等多樣編制，生動描繪各具神韻的生肖形象。

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藝術節的盛大壓軸，將由普契尼歌劇《蝴蝶夫人》中多首經典詠嘆調以組曲形式為藝術節畫下燦爛句點。也許沒有任何樂器，能如大提琴般將歌劇旋律表現得如此深情動人，而這些改編為大提琴八重奏的作品，皆由法比安．穆勒特別為「2026臺灣國際大提琴藝術節」全新編曲，並將於本屆藝術節進行世界首演。
 

除了臺北，我們亦將於臺中與高雄呈現兩場精彩的菁華版音樂會；同時，並延續2024年的足跡，再度造訪雲林美麗的三秀園，今年更將與灣聲樂團及指揮曾維庸攜手合作。

今年，我們同樣為年輕音樂家提供寶貴的學習機會，由受邀大提琴家親自授課的大師班將再次登場。在兩場專題工作坊中，除了雷光夏與法比安．穆勒將深入探討本屆藝術節的主題理念，長年旅居臺灣研究的法蘭克．伯納德（Franck Bernède）則將帶領觀眾認識民族音樂學家、大提琴家、畫家與旅行者多采多姿的人生歷程。

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而持續推動「共鳴時刻」亦是本藝術節的重要願景。我們誠摯邀請業餘音樂愛好者與初學者攜琴與國際大提琴家共演同樂，在這場盛大的大提琴聚會中，一起分享音樂帶來的純粹喜悅。

 

敬請預留時間，我們期待與您一同體驗2026臺灣國際大提琴藝術節！

 

簡碧青

創辦人暨藝術總監

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Dear Friends of Music,

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Music connects cultures and peoples. Although classical music has its roots in Europe, by the beginning of the 20th century it had become a truly global art form. It found its way to Asia, where it encountered profound inspiration that significantly shaped its further development. One need only think of Debussy and the Impressionists, whose encounters with Asian aesthetics opened entirely new worlds of sound and imagery. Equally important are the outstanding composers of Asian heritage who created fascinating syntheses of Asian and Western musical traditions. This mutual convergence of East and West in music forms the central theme of this year's festival — naturally with a special focus on the cello.

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It gives me great pleasure to bring four of the most promising and outstanding young cellists of our time to Taiwan, most of them for the first time. Together with them — all winners of the most prestigious awards such as the ARD Munich, Queen Elisabeth, Brahms, Enescu and Casals International Competitions — France, Poland, Japan, and China are represented as guests this year, joined by highly esteemed cellists from Taiwan.

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The exciting bridge between East and West will resonate throughout all concerts. For the first time, TWICF collaborates with the Taipei Chinese Orchestra (TCO) and conductor Yinfang Chang. In a single concert evening, four fascinating concertante works for cello and Chinese orchestra will be performed. Victor Julien-Laferrière will interpret Fabian Müller's Taiwan Rhapsodies Nos. 1 and 3, bringing beloved Taiwanese melodies to life. Yo Kitamura will present the virtuosic Mongolian Fantasy by Yiu-Kwong Chung. Yibai Chen will lead us into colorful sound worlds with A World of Imagination, a cello concerto by Taiwanese composer Wang Yi-Yu. Krzysztof Michalski will reveal the astonishing virtuosity of Sarasate's Zigeunerweisen in a fascinating new Chinese sonic setting.

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It is my pleasure, in keeping with this year's festival theme, to open again a window onto my second home, Switzerland. We are delighted to present works by the distinguished Swiss late-Romantic composer Volkmar Andreae as well as by my husband, Fabian Müller.

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Most likely for the first time in Taiwan, Andreae's settings of poems by Li Bo will be heard in concert. Andreae, a friend of Brahms, was one of the most respected musical figures in Zurich, the city where I live. Zurich is also the city where highly esteemed Taiwanese composer Hwang-Long Pan pursued his studies, whose cello quartet Ancient City, New Impressions, written for the 400th anniversary of Tainan's founding is another work we are especially looking forward to presenting this year.

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A particular passion of TWICF is contemporary music. Besides works by Hwang-Long Pan, Dai Fujikura, Tan Dun, Wang Yi-Yu and Fabian Müller, this year's program again includes a specially commissioned composition: a world premiere by Taiwanese composer Yuan-Chen Li, inspired by the Chinese zodiac. In short movements and varied instrumentations from cello duo to sextet, the zodiac animals are portrayed musically.
 

In Mahler's time, when travel to Asia was still difficult, composers drew inspiration from Asian poetry and literature. The romanticized exoticism of fin-de-siècle works emerged partly through the first German and French translations of Li Bo's poetry. With settings of Li Bo by Gustav Mahler, alongside by Swiss late-Romantic composer Volkmar Andreae, we once again immerse ourselves in the orchestral sound world with eight cellists on stage!

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As a grand finale, a suite of famous arias from Puccini's Madame Butterfly will conclude the festival. No instrument can bring operatic arias to life as beautifully as the cello. All these adaptations for cello octet are world premieres specially arranged by Fabian Müller for TWICF 2026.

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In addition to the concerts in Taipei, we will be appearing in Taichung and Kaohsiung with two colorful best-of concerts, and — as in 2024 — once again at the wonderful Samsiu Garden in Yunlin, this year in collaboration with the OneSong Orchestra and conductor Wei-Yung Tseng.

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This year we will again offer valuable learning opportunities for young musicians through masterclasses with the invited cellists. Two workshops with Summer Lei and Fabian Müller will explore the ideas behind this year's theme, while another introduces the fascinating life journey of ethnomusicologist, cellist, painter, traveler, and Taiwan-based researcher Franck Bernède.

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Another important aim is to continue the Moments of Resonance as a lasting tradition. We warmly invite amateur musicians and beginners alike to join international cello stars in sharing the joy of music in a grand cello happening.

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Save the dates — we warmly look forward to experiencing the Taiwan International Cello Festival 2026 together with you.

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Pi-Chin Chien
Founder & Artistic Director