Memory—Nai-Yuan Hu & Friends Quartet

➜ About the musicians

❍ Free with Art Center admission.

Seated by the Serenity Pond at the Art Center, gazing through the framed window toward Green Island—what do you see?

For violinist Nai-Yuan Hu, the distant shore holds his father’s story. Dr. Hsin-Lin Hu, former head of ophthalmology at NTU Hospital, was imprisoned on Green Island for ten years during the White Terror.

Decades later, on the Jinzun coast facing that same island, Nai-Yuan Hu and fellow musicians perform two C minor quartets—works shaped by hardship.

Amid the tides of fate, music endures—guarding inner freedom, and reminding us that some memories must not be forgotten.

Program—Selected Movements

Schubert: Quartettsatz in C Minor, D 703

Originally conceived as a four-movement string quartet, Franz Schubert stopped after completing the first movement. Despite consisting of only a single movement, it is renowned for its intense dramatic tension and striking, almost orchestral sonority, and is considered a defining work of his style. The opening evokes a dark, anxious atmosphere, later giving way to a more lyrical theme with a warmer hue.

Shostakovich: Quartet No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 110

In 1960, after visiting the war-ravaged city of Dresden, Dmitri Shostakovich composed this work in just three days. Ostensibly dedicated to the “victims of fascism and war,” it is in fact a deeply personal reflection on his own condition.

The five movements are played without pause, unified by the DSCH motif (his musical signature). The atmosphere shifts from somber introspection to violent outbursts, circling between repression, irony, and mourning, before returning to a deathly stillness.

🔔 Visitor Tips

• During the performance (approx. 40 minutes), entry and re-entry will be paused for a quieter listening experience.

• Please arrive at Cheng-Han Gallery (Gallery 2) by 15:28; access will resume after the performance.

• Restrooms are not available in this gallery—please use facilities in other buildings beforehand.

• As we expect a lively audience, visitors seeking a quieter experience are welcome to explore other galleries during the concert.

• Space is limited; for safety, entry will close once capacity is reached.

🔔 A Note on Photography & Recording

The music performance in the galleries of the Art Center (Bach in the Light of Taitung) will be photographed and recorded.

By entering the performance space with a ticket, attendees are deemed to have consented to such photography and recording.

The Art Center reserves the right to use, or to authorize others to use, on a perpetual, royalty-free, and worldwide basis, any attendee’s likeness or voice that appears in live streaming, photography, video, audio, or other reproductions of the performance. Such content may be used in whole or in part, including but not limited to public transmission, broadcasting, public screening, reproduction, or other forms of exploitation (including, without limitation, through the Art Center’s official social media accounts or various promotional materials).

Additionally, recording is not permitted during this concert. The musicians warmly invite you to be fully present and enjoy the moment.