Let's Experience the City of Kyoto Symphony Orchestra at Asia Orchestra Week！
Hi! My name is Mer-chan the Merlion. Call me 'Mer-chan'!
I am now on my exciting trip to Kyoto for the first time.
My friend, Mr. Merlion, sent me to experience this beautiful city.
I would like to introduce you to my Japanese friend, Asuka, who works at the Association of Japanese Symphony Orchestras. She is my special guide for this trip!
I now hear you saying, 'Why are you in Kyoto?'. It's because…
I came to watch the City of Kyoto Symphony Orchestra's concert!
Here is the photo of me at the Kyoto Concert Hall, the home of CKSO!
Ta-da!
Kyoto Concert Hall is the venue where The 79th ACA National Arts Festival 2024 'Asia Orchestra Week' will take place on 19th and 22nd October: Singapore Symphony Orchestra appears on 19th, and the City of Kyoto Symphony Orchestra appears on 22nd.
If you plan to visit Kyoto in October, why don't you visit the Kyoto Concert Hall and immerse yourself in the live orchestra sound?
Here, I introduce three tips for enjoying the CKSO at the Asia Orchestra Week.
Three Tips to Enjoy the City of Kyoto Symphony Orchestra at AOW
Tip 1: Witness the stunning 'koto' performance by LEO!
You will have the opportunity to experience the sound and live performance of the koto, a traditional Japanese string instrument, performed by the acclaimed koto artist LEO.
Born in 1998, LEO won the Japanese Hogaku Music Competition in Kumamoto at the age of sixteen, becoming the youngest winner in its history. He was the first koto player to give a live concert at Blue Note Tokyo. He also garnered attention for his performance at the Summer Sonic.
In the AOW, LEO will be on the stage with the orchestra to perform two works:
Miyagi Michio=Ikebe Shin-ichiro: Haru no Umi (The Sea in Springtime) for Orchestra
'Haru no Umi' (The Sea in Springtime) was composed originally for koto and shakuhachi (also a Japanese traditional end-blown flute made of bamboo) by Miyagi Michio. The tune of the piece is very familiar to Japanese people because they hear it from the media all over New Year's Day. In the concert, you will listen to the special version of Haru no Umi for solo koto and orchestra arranged by Japan's prominent composer, Ikebe Shin-ichiro.
Konno Leo: Matsukaze (strings arrangement by Iga Takuro)
Konno Leo is LEO's artist name for his composition works. He wrote 'Matsukaze' originally for solo koto. 'Matsu' means 'a pine', and 'kaze' means 'wind'. The source of inspiration for him to write the piece was the Nijo-jo Castle, one of the World Heritage Sites in Kyoto, where you can observe a beautiful 'Matsutaka-zu' wall painting of a hawk perched on a massive pine tree. LEO will perform 'Matsukaze' in the concert with a string ensemble, the version of which is the world premiere.
Tip 2: Hear the live performance of the 'Godzilla' Theme!
CKSO will open the concert with Ifukube Akira's Symphonic Fantasia No.1.
Have you ever watched the 'Godzilla' series in films?
Did you know that the very first of the Godzilla series was born in Japan in 1954? (It was exactly 70 years ago!)
The Guinness World Records recognises the Godzilla film series as the "longest continuously running film series. " The films were produced and distributed by Toho Co., Ltd., one of Japan's major film production and distribution companies.
Ifukube Akira composed the iconic soundtrack of Godzilla. Symphonic Fantasia No. 1 features the legendary theme music from several films, including Godzilla, which were all composed by Ifukube.
Once you hear the tune of Godzilla, it will sure to loop endlessly inside your head!
Tip 3: Enjoy the masterpiece of Brahms!
The main dish for CKSO's concert is Brahms's Symphony No.1 in C minor! The conductor, Otomo Naoto, is the Conductor Laureate of the CKSO.
Born in 1958 in Tokyo, Otomo graduated from the Toho Gakuen School of Music having studied conducting under Ozawa Seiji, Akiyama Kazuyoshi, Otaka Tadaaki and Okabe Morihiro. Otomo was also trained at the Tanglewood Music Festival where he worked with André Previn, Leonard Bernstein and Igor Markevitch.
He also holds posts at the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra as Honorary Guest Conductor, Ryukyu Symphony Orchestra as Music Director, and Takasaki City Theatre as Artistic Director.
Enjoy the masterpiece of Brahms performed by the CKSO under Otomo's baton!
To find the details of the concert and ticket information, please visit the Asia Orchestra Week website from the banner below!
I hope you find my tips useful, and I look forward to seeing you at the Kyoto Concert Hall!
Mer-chan enjoys his visit to Kyoto…
