National CKS Cultural Center started hosting Taiwan International Festival in 2009 with the concept of crossover-cross country and cross culture. With a spirit of authenticity and originality, we invited many performing companies to present their exciting and challenging premieres. We aim to enhance the theme "Vision of the future" with in-depth meanings and this represents our ambition to promote Taiwanese artists and programs with a global vision.

With high expectations from the entire world, we designed a new theme this year -- Diversity and Sustainability. We hope to present the diversified cultures in Taiwan and countries around the world and stress on environmental issues such as global warming and pollution in the ocean. Meanwhile, the international movement of female theatre artists "Magdalena Project" will join TIF for the first time and bring the importance of females in theatre into focus.

2010 TIF will be composed of performing companies from 9 countries and 15 programs with 45 performances in total. five of the programs will be world premiere while another seven will be Asian premiere. You will be able to witness the avant-garde works from Europe and reinvented Taiwanese traditional art as well as original productions that feature "indigenous fashion" spirit. These wonderful works represent the integration of artists from Taiwan and all over the world.

Chairperson of the Broad, National Chiang Kai-Shek Cultural Center Taiwan Performing Arts Center

In 2010 Taiwan International Festival, twelve programs will be premiered in Taiwan, among them is 1433-The Grand Voyages, a flagship production directed and designed by well-known director Robert Wilson. And the musical On the Road of aboriginal spirit leads a quest of dreams with the sound of mountains and the ocean.

World-famous composer TAN Dun will bring a new version of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon orchestrated for a symphony orchestra featuring both oriental and occidental instruments. LIN Hwai-Min, the founder and director of Cloud Gate Dance Theater, will present his new work Listening to the RIVER with Tamshui river as the source of inspiration. Xin Xin Nanguan reinvents emotional and poetic Nanguan music with poets written in Song dynasty. The artistic Director of Tanztheater Darmstadt Staatstheater, LIN Mei Hong , will present her newest work Schwanengesang in Taiwan.

In response to the environment protection and marine ecology, we arranged a few programs such as the Sirena a la plancha by Sol Picó from Spain and The Blue Planet LIVE, the multimedia concert conducted by British composer George Fenton. Meanwhile, Thomas Ostermeier (Germany) and Angelin Preljocaj (France), who are among the best directors and choreographers working today, will bring the avant-garde trends from European stages. And LÜ Shao-Chia will be conducting NSO in performance of Mahler's Symphony No.1 along with percussionist Martin Grubinger from Austria.

2010 Taiwan International Festival features 15 excellent programs that will surely amaze you and we look forward to seeing you in the festival!

Artistic Director, National Chiang Kai-Shek Cultural Center Taiwan Performing Arts Center