When the icy northern winds meet the fiery passion of Romanticism, a striking musical journey unfolds—uniting Nordic clarity with Romantic fervor. This September, the Evergreen Symphony Orchestra (ESO) proudly presents a major highlight of its 2025 season: “Jerry Hou, Esther Yoo & ESO.” The highly anticipated concerts will take place on September 12 at the National Concert Hall in Taipei, and September 14 at the Weiwuying Concert Hall in Kaohsiung. Under the baton of Associate Conductor Jerry Hou and featuring internationally acclaimed Korean-American violinist Esther Yoo, the program offers a profound emotional arc. It juxtaposes the haunting solitude of Sibelius’ Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47, with the searing intensity of Schumann’s Symphony No. 4 in D minor, Op. 120.

The concert opens with Sibelius’ tone poem Pohjola’s Daughter, a vivid musical narrative that draws listeners into the mythical world of the Kalevala, a compilation of epic Finnish poetry. Like an arctic wind sweeping across frozen plains, the piece evokes the vast Nordic landscape. Deep, resonant cello lines rise like echoes from an ancient, ice-bound land, while intricate layers of woodwinds and strings build a rich sonic tapestry that conjures the wonder and mystery of Nordic legend.

The program continues with Sibelius’ iconic Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47, widely hailed as one of the most significant violin concertos of the 20th century. Interpreting this evocative masterpiece is Esther Yoo, the youngest prizewinner of the International Jean Sibelius Violin Competition. Acclaimed for her musical integrity and technical refinement, Yoo brings a compelling blend of sensitivity and precision to her artistry. The concerto’s subdued opening—like a whisper in the winter night—blooms into a solo line of ethereal delicacy. This performance also marks Yoo’s Taiwan debut with the ESO, a collaboration warmly anticipated by local music aficionados.

The second half of the concert turns to the warmth of the Romantic spirit with Schumann’s Symphony No. 4 in D minor, Op. 120. Originally composed as a wedding gift to his wife Clara and later revised over a decade, this work stands as a deeply personal testament to both love and artistic mastery. From its introspective introduction to the passionate, blazing finale, the symphony’s seamlessly connected movements pulse like the heartbeat of life itself. As Schumann’s most frequently performed symphony, it serves as a cornerstone of 19th-century orchestral repertoire. Trained under Finnish maestro Jorma Panula, Jerry Hou brings refined insight and expressive range to the podium. His interpretation with ESO promises both emotional depth and a fresh perspective.

The Evergreen Symphony Orchestra is honored to present “Jerry Hou, Esther Yoo & ESO” on Friday, September 12 at 7:30 p.m. at the Taipei National Concert Hall, and on Sunday, September 14 at 2:30 p.m. at the National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts Weiwuying Concert Hall. We cordially invite you to embark on a poetic journey of ice and fire. Tickets are now available online through OPENTIX. For more information regarding the Evergreen Symphony Orchestra and its concert series, please visit the ESO website for further inquiries.