“Secrets of the Whales” makes its Asia premiere in Taichung! Organized by the Taichung City Government’s Cultural Affairs Bureau and sponsored by TSMC and the TSMC Education and Culture Foundation as part of their ESG initiative, the Secrets of the Whales concert by National Geographic premiered at the Fulfillment Amphitheater on October 4. The one-and-a-half-hour performance combined breathtaking visuals with symphonic music, offering audiences an extraordinary feast for the senses.

October 4, World Animal Day, coincided with the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday this year. To mark the occasion, the Cultural Affairs Bureau joined hands with TSMC to present this special performance, featuring a curated selection of classic National Geographic footage accompanied by a magnificent live performance by the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO). Through the power of music and imagery, the event sought to inspire compassion for the planet’s ecosystems and deepen public awareness of our precious ocean—making the performance especially meaningful.

Mayor Lu Shiow-Yen remarked, “Tonight, please enjoy the very first Asian performance of National Geographic’s Secrets of the Whales concert, presented by TSMC and the Taichung City Government!”—a statement that drew enthusiastic applause from the audience. According to the Cultural Affairs Bureau, the concert featured visuals from the Disney Original Series—Secrets of the Whales, produced by acclaimed filmmaker and environmental advocate James Cameron, known for Titanic and Avatar. The performance was conducted by Cheng Li-Pin, leading the National Symphony Orchestra, and featured original compositions by composer and producer Raphaelle Thibaut, guiding the audience through the awe-inspiring beauty of the ocean and the mysterious allure of whales.

The Cultural Affairs Bureau noted that, as Taiwan is surrounded by the sea and closely connected to the ocean, this performance aimed to inspire audiences to reflect on the importance of ecological sustainability through an artistic experience that integrates art, science, and environmental education—encouraging them to translate their emotional response into everyday action.

The Bureau also invited citizens to further explore Taichung’s rich lineup of cultural events this October. The National Museum of Natural Science is currently presenting the special exhibition Giant Unearthed—A Taiwan Whale's Tale, which showcases the rediscovery of “the most complete baleen whale fossil ever found in Taiwan” through multimedia technology, immersive spatial design, and a fossil laboratory. Following that, the highly anticipated 2025 Taichung Jazz Festival will take place from October 17 to 26 at the Taichung Civic Square. This October, Taichung offers a vibrant array of arts and cultural events. For more information, please visit the Taichung City Government’s Cultural Affairs Bureau website (https://www.culture.taichung.gov.tw) or the Facebook page “Taichung Cultural Vanguard” (https://www.facebook.com/TaichungCulture).