Felix Chen

Felix Chen

Felix Chen (Chinese: 陳秋盛) is a Taiwanese conductor. He was resident conductor and Music Director of the Taipei Symphony Orchestra from 1986 until he resigned in 2003 under "extremely controversial circumstances."^[1]

Chen began his musical career by studying violin. He was the first prize winner in Taiwan's provincial violin competition in 1959.^[2] Later he studied in the Munich Conservatory in Germany. He returned to Taiwan in 1969 and played violin in several orchestras. In 1971, he moved to Austria to study conducting, returning again to Taiwan in 1973 to work for the Taiwan Provincial Symphony Orchestra. He later moved to the Taipei Symphony Orchestra (TSO), which he led for 17 years. During his service for the TSO, Chen was not only praised for his orchestral conducting, but he was also a noted opera conductor.^[2] Every year Chen and TSO produced one or two operas, such as Aida, Otello or Turandot, which were major musical events in Taiwan.

However, in September 2003, Chen was involved in a forgery scandal and was accused of corruption. As a result, the Department of Culture Affairs of the Taipei City Government (Chinese: 臺北市政府文化局) decided to relieve him of his post. Chen eventually chose to retire, and some people believed he was forced to do so.^[3]

In a 2003 article in the local Taipei Times newspaper, Mr. Chen was described as "a veritable Taiwanese 'living national treasure,'" due to his "long line of magnificent concerts and opera productions." ^[4]

Taiwanese conductors Lü Shao-chia and Chien Wen-pin were both Chen's students.

After his retirement, Chen turned his career focus to teaching. Currently he teaches at the National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei National University of the Arts, and Tainan National University of the Arts. He is also sometimes invited to give guest performances with the National Symphony Orchestra and the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra.^[5]

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