Muhai Tang

Who is Muhai Tang?

Muhai Tang is a Chinese conductor. He is the youngest son of celebrated Chinese film director Tang Xiaodan and brother of painter and poet Tang Muli.

Tang initially learned music with his parents, and later studied composition and conducting at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, receiving his diploma in both. He furthered his studies in conducting with Hermann Michael, at the Hochschule für Musik in Munich, Germany.

His international career started when Herbert von Karajan invited him to conduct the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra during the 1983-1984 season. This invitation was later renewed. He was the chief conductor of the Gulbenkian Orchestra in Lisbon from 1988 until 2001. From 1991 to 1995, he was chief conductor of DePhilharmonie. He made his US debut with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra in 1988.

Tang was chief conductor of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, the last chief conductor prior to the orchestra's renaming as the Queensland Orchestra. In November 2005, he became the orchestra's conductor laureate.

From 2003 to 2006, Tang served as Chief Conductor of the Finnish National Opera. He has also served as principal conductor with the Flanders Orchestra and the Gulbenkian Foundation Orchestra. From 2006 to 2011, Tang was artistic director and principal conductor of the Zürcher Kammerorchester, and became principal guest conductor in 2011. In 2010, he became chief conductor of the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra.