Muhai Tang
Encyclopedia
Muhai Tang (born 1949 in Shanghai
) is a Chinese conductor
. He is the youngest son of celebrated Chinese film director Tang Xiaodan and brother of painter and poet Tang Muli.
Tang initially learned music with his parents, and later studied composition and conducting at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music
, receiving his diploma in both. He furthered his studies in conducting with Hermann Michael, at the Hochschule für Musik
in Munich
, Germany
.
His international career started when Herbert von Karajan
invited him to conduct the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
during the 1983-1984 season. This invitation was later renewed. He was the chief conductor of the Gulbenkian Orchestra
in Lisbon
from 1988 until 2001. From 1991 to 1995, he was chief conductor of DePhilharmonie (Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of Flanders). He made his US debut with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra in 1988.
Tang was chief conductor of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra
(QSO), the last chief conductor prior to the orchestra's renaming as the Queensland Orchestra. In November 2005, he became the orchestra's conductor laureate.
From 2003 to 2006, Tang served as Chief Conductor of the Finnish National Opera
. He has also served as principal conductor with the Flanders Orchestra and the Gulbenkian Foundation Orchestra. From 2006 to 2011, Tang was artistic director and principal conductor of the Zürcher Kammerorchester
(Zurich Chamber Orchestra), and became principal guest conductor in 2011. In 2010, he became chief conductor of the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra
.
As conductor, he was awarded the 2002 Grammy Award
for Best Classical Contemporary Composition
for Concert de Gaudí for Guitar and Orchestra.
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
) is a Chinese conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
. He is the youngest son of celebrated Chinese film director Tang Xiaodan and brother of painter and poet Tang Muli.
Tang initially learned music with his parents, and later studied composition and conducting at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music
Shanghai Conservatory of Music
The Shanghai Conservatory of Music , as the first music institution of higher education in China, was founded on November 27, 1927. The teachers and students have won numerous awards both home and abroad, thus earning the conservatory the name, “the cradle of musicians”.-History:The Shanghai...
, receiving his diploma in both. He furthered his studies in conducting with Hermann Michael, at the Hochschule für Musik
Hochschule für Musik und Theater München
The Hochschule für Musik und Theater München is one of the most respected traditional vocational universities in Germany specialising in music and the performing arts. The seat of the Hochschule is the former Führerbau of the NSDAP, located at Arcisstraße 12, on the eastern side of the Königsplatz...
in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
His international career started when Herbert von Karajan
Herbert von Karajan
Herbert von Karajan was an Austrian orchestra and opera conductor. To the wider world he was perhaps most famously associated with the Berlin Philharmonic, of which he was principal conductor for 35 years...
invited him to conduct the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
The Berlin Philharmonic, German: , formerly Berliner Philharmonisches Orchester , is an orchestra based in Berlin, Germany. In 2006, a group of ten European media outlets voted the Berlin Philharmonic number three on a list of "top ten European Orchestras", after the Vienna Philharmonic and the...
during the 1983-1984 season. This invitation was later renewed. He was the chief conductor of the Gulbenkian Orchestra
Gulbenkian Orchestra
The Gulbenkian Orchestra is a Portuguese symphony orchestra based in Lisbon. The orchestra primarily gives concerts at the Grande Auditório of the Gulbenkian Foundation....
in Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
from 1988 until 2001. From 1991 to 1995, he was chief conductor of DePhilharmonie (Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of Flanders). He made his US debut with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra in 1988.
Tang was chief conductor of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra
Queensland Symphony Orchestra
The Queensland Symphony Orchestra is an Australian orchestra, based principally in Brisbane in the state of Queensland.The QSO played its first concert on 26 March 1947, with the orchestra consisting of 45 musicians, conducted by Percy Code. John Farnsworth Hall was recruited from the Sydney...
(QSO), the last chief conductor prior to the orchestra's renaming as the Queensland Orchestra. In November 2005, he became the orchestra's conductor laureate.
From 2003 to 2006, Tang served as Chief Conductor of the Finnish National Opera
Finnish National Opera
The Finnish National Opera in Helsinki is the leading opera company in Finland. Its home base is the Opera House on Töölönlahti bay in Töölö which opened in 1993, and is state-owned through Senate Properties...
. He has also served as principal conductor with the Flanders Orchestra and the Gulbenkian Foundation Orchestra. From 2006 to 2011, Tang was artistic director and principal conductor of the Zürcher Kammerorchester
Zurich Chamber Orchestra
The Zurich Chamber Orchestra is a Swiss chamber orchestra based in Zurich. The ZKO's principal concert venue in Zurich is the Tonhalle. The ZKO also performs in Zurich at the Rietberg Museum, the ZKO-Haus in the Seefeld quarter of the city, and such churches as the Fraumünster and the Kirche St....
(Zurich Chamber Orchestra), and became principal guest conductor in 2011. In 2010, he became chief conductor of the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra
Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra
The Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra is an orchestra in Serbia, regularly considered as one of the finest in the country. Its home base is in Belgrade.- History :...
.
As conductor, he was awarded the 2002 Grammy Award
Grammy Awards of 2002
The 44th Grammy Awards were held on February 27, 2002. The biggest was Alicia Keys, winning 5 Grammys, including Best New Artist and Song of the Year for "Fallin'". U2 won 4 awards including Record of the Year and Best Rock Album.-Award winners:...
for Best Classical Contemporary Composition
Grammy Award for Best Classical Contemporary Composition
The Grammy Award for Best Classical Contemporary Composition was first awarded in 1961. This award was not presented from 1967 to 1984.The award has had several minor name changes:...
for Concert de Gaudí for Guitar and Orchestra.