The Taipei Symphony Orchestra’s (台北市立交響樂團) production of Verdi’s Aida at the Taipei Arena (台北小巨蛋) opens on Oct. 23, with a second performance on Oct. 25. Salvatore Licitra, who was originally to perform the role of Radames, died earlier this month as a result of a traffic accident. He will be replaced by tenor Mario Malagnini, a winner of the Tito Gobbi Competition, the Belvedere Competition and other prestigious awards. He will be supporting soprano Isabelle Kabatu in the title role, with mezzo-soprano Rossana Rinaldi as Amneris, counter tenor Juan Pons and bass Giacomo Prestia. Ticket sales have resumed after temporarily being halted following the news of the tenor’s death. Tickets are NT$500 to NT$4,800 and are available through NTCH ticketing, online at www.artsticket.com.tw, by calling (02) 3393-9888, or at 7-Eleven ibon kiosks. Because of the change in lineup, refunds without deduction can be obtained by calling NTCH ticketing during office hours (Taipei office: 02-3393-9888) or at the ticketing office of the National Theater or the National Concert Hall.
Photo courtesy of TSO
Taiwan’s semiconductor industry consumes electricity at rates that would strain most national grids. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) alone accounted for more than 9 percent, or 2,590 megawatts (MW), of the nation’s power demand last year. The factories that produce chips for the world’s phones and servers run around the clock. They cannot tolerate blackouts. Yet Taiwan imports 97 percent of its energy, with liquefied natural gas reserves measured in days. Underground, Taiwan has options. Studies from National Taiwan University estimate recoverable geothermal resources at more than 33,000 MW. Current installed capacity stands below 10 MW. OBSTACLES Despite Taiwan’s significant geothermal potential, the
In our discussions of tourism in Taiwan we often criticize the government’s addiction to promoting food and shopping, while ignoring Taiwan’s underdeveloped trekking and adventure travel opportunities. This discussion, however, is decidedly land-focused. When was the last time a port entered into it? Last week I encountered journalist and travel writer Cameron Dueck, who had sailed to Taiwan in 2023-24, and was full of tales. Like everyone who visits, he and his partner Fiona Ching loved our island nation and had nothing but wonderful experiences on land. But he had little positive to say about the way Taiwan has organized its
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Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chair Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) returned from her trip to meet People’s Republic of China (PRC) dictator Xi Jinping (習近平) bearing “a gift” for the people of Taiwan: 10 measures the PRC proposed to “facilitate the peaceful development of cross-strait relations.” “China on Sunday unveiled 10 new incentive measures for Taiwan,” wrote Reuters, wrongly. The PRC’s longstanding habit with Taiwan relations is to repackage already extant or once-existing policies and declare that they are “new.” The list forwarded by Cheng reflects that practice. NEW MEASURES? Note the first item: establishing regular communication mechanisms between the Chinese Communist Party
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