By Assunta Ng When the Seattle Symphony Orchestra (SSO) was planning to perform in China and South Korea in 2016 last year, it didn’t know that a Chinese symphony orchestra, hosted by Dr. Austin Huang, had already booked a concert in its own backyard in Benaroya Hall, here in Seattle on Feb. 25. Not […]
Seattle Symphony celebrates Asia
By Andrew Hamlin Northwest Asian Weekly The Seattle Symphony’s “Celebrate Asia” Concert, upcoming Sunday, March 1, features guest conductor Carolyn Kuan. Amongst other pieces, the symphony will be performing the U.S. premiere of “Revive,” a concerto for koto and shakuhachi written by Japanese composer Yugo Kanno. Another prominent piece, “Xizi,” from Chinese composer Ye Yanchen, […]
BLOG: Celebrate Asia!’s success formula
I was completely lost during the first half of Celebrate Asia! at Benaroya Hall last Friday. I was the problem. Pipa, a traditional Chinese instrument similar to a guitar (except it’s played vertically), is too profound for me.
Blog: The Korean community on cloud nine
Historically, Chinese and Japanese Americans have dominated the spotlight in performances. At the Celebrate Asia! concert, however, it was a Korean opera singer
Jan. 18: Carolyn Kuan selected as Hartford music director
The Hartford Symphony Orchestra (HSO) selected Carolyn Kuan to become the 10th music director in its 68-year history.
Jan. 22: Celebrate Asia! performers dazzle audience
The Seattle Symphony held its third annual Celebrate Asia! concert at Benaroya Hall. Carolyn Kuan conducted the 84-member Seattle Symphony
Blog: China’s Romeo and Juliet a missed opportunity
It was a rare treat to see China’s Romeo and Juliet dance concert performed by the Beijing Dance Academy Youth Dance Company at the Paramount Theater last weekend. I stayed for the 25-minute dance drama even though it was placed last on the program.
Nov. 27: Kuan and Yan act as PNB guest conductors
Carolyn Kuan, former associate conductor of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, and Judith Yan, music director/principal conductor of Opera on the Avalon in Canada, were two of four guest conductors for the performances of the Stowell/Sendak version of “The Nutcracker” by the Pacific Northwest Ballet (PNB).
Q&A with Carolyn Kuan, an esteemed Seattle Symphony conductor
Born in Taiwan, Carolyn Kuan is not only Seattle Symphony’s first woman assistant conductor, she is also the first Asian American to hold the position. On Jan. 22 Kuan is slated to conduct the symphony for Celebrate Asia!, an event which will feature violinist Chuanyun Li and instrumentalist Li Bo, who plays the Mongolian morin khuur.