Muhai Tang

Muhai Tang has been Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of Zurich Chamber Orchestra since 2006. In seaon 2009/10, he becomes Artistic Director of Shanghai Philharmonic and Zhenjiang Symphony. Since 2009, he has been Principal Guest Conductor of Hamburg Symphony.

Son of a famous film director in China, he has always been drawn to the musical stage, and conducted operas on several continents. He has led in many productions while he was Chief Conductor of the Finnish National Opera in Helsinki. In 2007, he conducted fully-staged performances of Tan Dun's opera Tea.

His international recognition began when Karajan invited him to conduct the Berlin Philharmonic in 1983. The success led to reengagement with Berlin and invitations from leading orchestras such as the London Philharmonic, Leipzig Gewandhaus, Staatskapelle Dresden, Orchestre de Paris, Sydney Symphony and San Francisco Symphony among others. He has worked with great artists such as Rostropovich, Menuhin, Perlman, Rampal, Argerich and Mutter to name just a few.

Under his leadership, Zurich Chamber Orchestra has explored many chamber works, and received great accliams for performances of Haydn in particular. He has also held Principal Conductor positions with Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of Flanders, China National Symphony, Queensland Orchestra in Australia (currently their Conductor Laureate and Artistic Advisor), and Gulbenkian Orchestra in Lisbon, where his 12 years tenure enhanced the orchestra's reputation with international tours and recordings.

In 2005 and 2006, he conducted the orchestra of the Shanghai Conservatory (where he himself studied as a student) in Berlin, as part of the Young Euro Classic Festival. In 2007, he brought students from the Shanghai Conservatory to collaborate with the German Youth Orchestra, culminating in two performances at the Berlin Konzerthaus, a tour through six major cities of China, and in 2009 a Chamber Orchestra Tour. In 2007, he became Head of the Conducting Department at the Shanghai Conservatory, and Artistic Director of Shanghai Concert Hall. He is also Conductor Laureate of National Symphony Orchestra of China.

Among Muhai Tang's many recordings, he won a Grammy award in 2002 for the Guitar Concertos by Tan Dun and Christopher Rouse with guitarist Sharon Isbin and the Gulbenkian Orchestra, for Teldec.