Tan Dun

The world-renowned artist and UNESCO Global Goodwill Ambassador Tan Dun has made an indelible mark on the world’s music scene with a creative repertoire that spans the boundaries of classical music, multimedia performance, and Eastern and Western tradition. He is the winner of today’s most prestigious honours, including the Grammy Award, the Academy Awards (Oscar), Grawemeyer Award and Shostakovich Award; the Bach Prize in Germany; and, most recently, Italy’s Golden Lion Honorary Award for Lifetime Achievement. Tan’s music has been played throughout the world by leading orchestras, opera houses, international festivals, and on radio and television. He was recently named Dean of the Bard College Conservatory of Music.

As a conductor of innovative programmes around the world, he has led the Mainland tours of the Mahler Chamber Orchestra and Japan’s NHK Symphony. His current season includes leading L’Orchestre National de Lyon in a six-city tour; a four-city tour of Switzerland and Belgium with the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra; and engagements with the RAI National Symphony Orchestra, the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, where he was recently named Artistic Ambassador. Next season, highlight include conducting the Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, L’Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and the Philadelphia Orchestra. He also serves as the Honorary Artistic Director of the China National Symphony Orchestra.

Tan records for Sony Classical, Deutsche Grammophon, EMI, Opus Arte, BIS, and Naxos. In 2016, Tan conducted the grand opening celebration of Disneyland Shanghai which was broadcast to a record-breaking audience worldwide. Most recently, his work Prayer and Blessing was also live streamed using 5G technology and subsequently broadcast worldwide by UNESCO. His recordings have garnered many accolades, including a Grammy Award for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and nomination for The First Emperor, Marco Polo and Pipa Concerto, Japan’s Recording Academy Award for Best Contemporary Music CD for Water Passion after St. Matthew, and the BBC’s Best Orchestral Album for Death and Fire.

Source: Leisure and Cultural Services Department