On 12 October 2026, I had the opportunity to attend the Listening to Taiwan – NTSO 2026 Asia Tour Concert at Dewan Filharmonik PETRONAS, KLCC. This time, I was accompanying Bella, a colleague from the office. It turned out to be a lovely evening, although getting there was quite an adventure.

I left the office in the afternoon and headed towards KLCC, but it was raining heavily along the way from Putrajaya to Kuala Lumpur. To make things a little more stressful, I also encountered a minor problem with my car. At one point, I honestly wondered whether I would make it in time for the concert. Thankfully, everything worked out in the end. I managed to get there, found parking without much trouble and met Bella before we headed inside. Alhamdulillah!

And there we were, finally, ready to enjoy an evening of music presented by the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra. I have attended a few performances at Dewan Filharmonik PETRONAS before, but somehow, being there always feels special. There is something about sitting inside the hall, waiting for the performance to begin, and watching the musicians prepare themselves for what is to come.

This concert featured works by different composers, including Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor and Rachmaninoff's Symphonic Dances. I am not going to pretend that I know everything about classical music, but I do enjoy the experience of listening to a live orchestra.

Watching so many musicians perform together is fascinating. Every instrument has its own part, yet everything comes together to create one complete performance. It takes coordination, concentration and a great deal of practice to make it all work and when the music fills the entire hall, you begin to appreciate the experience in a different way compared to listening to a recording.

One of my favourite moments was at the end of the performance, when the musicians received their applause. It was lovely to see the audience showing their appreciation for the performers and the work they had put into the concert. I think this is one of the things I enjoy about attending live performances. Beyond the music itself, there is the shared experience of being in a room with other people, all taking in the same moment. For a while, everyone is simply there to appreciate what is happening on stage.

The concert was also a reminder of how the arts can bring people and cultures together. This was a Taiwanese orchestra performing in Kuala Lumpur, sharing music with a Malaysian audience. We may come from different backgrounds and speak different languages, but music gives us a common experience to enjoy. After the concert, Bella and I had dinner together before heading home. It was a nice way to end the evening, especially after the slightly stressful journey earlier.

When I finally got home, I found myself thinking about the experience. It was not a particularly complicated evening. We went to a concert, enjoyed the performance, had dinner and returned home. But sometimes, these simple experiences are the ones that make our days a little more meaningful. Life can get quite routine, especially when most of our time is spent working and dealing with everyday responsibilities. Having the opportunity to step away from that routine, even for a few hours, can be refreshing.

I guess I should make more time for experiences like this. We do not always have to wait for a special occasion or a holiday to enjoy something different. Sometimes, all it takes is saying yes to an invitation and making the effort to show up. I am glad I made it that evening. Despite the heavy rain and the little hiccup with the car, it turned out to be a wonderful experience. Another evening, another performance and another memory to keep.

P.S. A little rain, a minor car problem and a concert I almost missed. Thankfully, the evening ended on a much better note. Literally. Haha.