Taipei Symphony Orchestra Announces Next Chief Conductor

Alexander Liebreich will assume the role as of 2026 for an initial three years

The German conductor Alexander Liebreich, who first conducted the Taipei Symphony Orchestra (TSO) as a guest in 2008, will be succeeding Eliahu Inbal, who will become Conductor Laureate.

Liebreich has previously served in leading roles at the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, and the Munich Chamber Orchestra. In 2011, he became the first European Artistic Director of the Tongyeong International Music Festival in South Korea. 

Since 2022, he has been Music Director of the Orquestra de Valencia and Artistic Advisor of the Palau de la Musica Valencia. He has also performed with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Radio Symphony Orchestra Berlin, Munich Philharmonic, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, and many more. 

Highlights of his 2026/27 season include conducting cellist Gautier Capuçon and Batiashvili in the world premiere of Chen Qigang’s “Double Concerto for Violin and Cello” with the TSO, and the staging of Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde. 

Before his chief conductor role formally begins, Liebreich will return to TSO on November 27, 2025, to conduct Webern’s adaptation of Bach’s “Music Offering,” and Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 5 “The Reformation,” and Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1 with cellist Alban Gerhardt, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Shostakovich’s death.

“It is personally meaningful to me to have received the democratic consensus of the TSO and its musicians for the position of chief conductor, especially given my 17-year relationship with the orchestra,” Liebreich said. “I have had the pleasure of performing many outstanding concerts with them, which remain deeply engraved in my memory. I am thrilled to embark on this new musical journey with the TSO.”

“Maestro Liebreich is not only renowned in the international music scene, but also has a passion and new vision for musical interpretation, programme planning, international connections, and modern and contemporary repertoire," stated TSO Director Guo Peiyu. “Most importantly, he and TSO have a deep understanding of cooperation. I look forward to his joining the TSO to create new sparks and lead TSO to new artistic heights, so that the light of music will continue to shine in our city.”

“During my tenure as the orchestra’s concertmaster, I have experienced the leadership of different chief conductors,” expressed TSO Concertmaster Jiang Zhiyi. “The orchestra has gradually developed a diverse style and unique musical vocabulary, and has become one of the important promoters of classical music. 

“Now, after years of guest cooperation and high attention from music fans, TSO is about to welcome its new chief conductor, Maestro Liebreich … [who] has a meticulous understanding and research of the works, and can always lead the orchestra to explore the rich layers and diverse tensions of the music through clear and inspiring guidance. I sincerely trust that in the future cooperation with Maestro Lieberrich, TSO can expand its musical horizons.”