Tan Dun receives Venice Biennale Golden Lion Award
30th September 2017
The award, which was handed to Tan following a concert of his works at the 61st International Contemporary Music Festival in Venice's Teatro alle Tese, honours artists for significant contributions to the world of contemporary music. The Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della Rai performed Passacaglia: Secret of Wind and Birds, The Tears of Nature and Concerto for Orchestra under the baton of Tan Dun himself. He is the youngest recipient of this honour for music, recognised for work that links tradition with innovation, history with current events in a time of rapid globalisation. The Biennale also acknowledges Tan Dun for his defense of nature, a common theme in his "organic music" which spotlights water, stones, paper, and ceramics alongside traditional musical instruments.
From the Biennale:
The world-renowned artist and UNESCO Global Goodwill Ambassador Tan Dun, has made an indelible mark on the world's music scene with a creative repertoire that spans the boundaries of classical music, multimedia performance, and Eastern and Western traditions. A winner of today's most prestigious honors including the Grammy Award, Oscar/Academy Award, Grawemeyer Award, Bach Prize, Shostakovich Award and most recently Italy’s Golden Lion Award for Lifetime Achievement, Tan Dun's music has been played throughout the world by leading orchestras, opera houses, international festivals, and on radio and television. This past year, Tan Dun conducted the grand opening celebration of Disneyland Shanghai which was broadcast to a record-breaking audience worldwide.
Visit labiennale.org to read the full press release.
