Report from Korea Performance - Watanabe Kazu - (November 1st and 2nd, 2018)
Japan Philharmonic Orchestra
Text and photos by Kazu Watanabe
On the afternoon of October 30, 2018, Eiji Oue stood before the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra members gathered at a practice space in Suginami Ward. The maestro stunned everyone with his highly distinctive interpretation of "From the New World" at their first meeting at the New Year's Concert two years ago. Taking to the stage before practice, Oue sat in the seat of concertmaster Masaaki Tanokura, a familiar face from his time as director of the Osaka Philharmonic Orchestra, to check his bowing. During practice, he actively instructed on subtle agogics and accents in musical transitions and transitions. After the rehearsal, he headed straight to his hotel at Narita Airport, and tomorrow, the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra's first visit to Korea. The second day's Seoul performance also commemorates the 20th anniversary of the 1998 Japan-Korea Joint Declaration between then-Prime Minister Obuchi and President Kim Dae-jung. A sense of tension hangs over the air, musically and otherwise, before the departure.
◆11Mon1Sun (Thurs) Daegu Concert House
The Japan Philharmonic's performance in Daegu is part of the "International Orchestra Series." Organized by the Daegu Concert House since its opening in 2013, this series, which began with the Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Salonen, will feature 22 performances this year, including not only the Japan Philharmonic, but also the Slovak Philharmonic conducted by Pichler, the Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Basel Festival Orchestra, and the Bremen Chamber Orchestra conducted by Järvi, as well as domestic professional and amateur orchestras and wind bands. "We want to invite orchestras from Asia. Why the Japan Philharmonic? Of course, because it's Japan's top orchestra," said Director Lee Hyun-keun.
At 7:30, the concert began, with a noticeable younger audience filling the 1284-seat space, lauded for its acoustics, some of the best in Korea. The performance wasn't filled by anyone with ties to Japan; it was purely for local music fans. The Japan Philharmonic members took the stage to thunderous applause, followed by Maestro Oue. Oue waved his hands down at the percussionists, clappers beat out rhythm, and Yuzo Toyama's Rhapsody for Orchestra began. The audience, bracing for a quintessentially Japanese repertoire and some challenging contemporary music, instantly relaxed. Following Lise de la Salle's C minor Piano Concerto, a direct confrontation with Beethoven, came Brahms' Symphony No. 1. The Japan Philharmonic, accustomed to the opposing arrangements at Inkinen, responded well to Oue's tempo and dynamic changes and emphasis on counterpoint, thrilling the audience with music that combined attention to detail with powerful music.
In response to the endless encores, the wind and percussion players reappeared. With a wave of the maestro's hand, the clappers rang out again, and the final section of Toyama's work began. As the Japan Philharmonic played "Yagibushi," Oue stepped down from the podium, spread his arms to the audience, and began clapping along. The audience also rose to their feet and clapped along with the orchestra, sending the Daegu Concert House into a frenzy. After the performance, an elderly man was waiting in front of the orchestra bus. As soon as he realized I was a member of the orchestra, he approached me, pointed to Toyama's name on the program with a broad smile, and asked for a warm handshake.
◆11Friday, February 2nd, Lotte Concert Hall, Seoul
They are finally in Seoul, the capital. It has been decided that the concert will be broadcast live on KBS. The Japan Philharmonic Orchestra braces themselves as they sway on the bus, but they get caught in construction traffic on the way and don't make it to their lodgings at the foot of Lotte Tower until four and a half hours before the start of the concert. Without a moment to rest, they rush to the Lotte Concert Hall next door. Today's concerto is Brahms' No. 1, and the soloist is local composer Moon Ji-young. The professionals are competing to see how well they can produce this masterpiece within the limited time.
Watching these musicians from the center of the first row of the audience, and commenting on the conductor and soloists, is the festival's artistic director and composer, Ryu Jae-jeong. "Each year, we focus on a specific country as our theme and offer a wide variety of music, from orchestral to chamber and vocal music," Ryu says. The festival is held almost every day for two weeks in autumn at various venues in Seoul, and this year, to commemorate its 10th anniversary, one organization and musician from each country in the world has been invited. The Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, representing Japan, has the honor of representing this large orchestra. The director, who is well-versed in the state of Japanese orchestras, spoke highly of the appeal and power of the Japan Philharmonic while touching on the character of each organization. Conductor Oue Eiji also expressed his interest in the Japan Philharmonic after meeting them at Bayreuth. "I asked the Japan Philharmonic to perform Japanese works here and Korean works in Japan. They performed works by Yi Sang Yun," Ryu says.
The lobby was crowded before the 8 PM start. Members of the orchestra and the Japan Philharmonic's supporters, who had come from Tokyo, exchanged cheers. The concert began with "Rhapsody for Orchestra" at 8 PM, and the audience quickly erupted in bravos. The following Brahms piece was more impressive for its fierce soft notes in the second movement than for its heaviness. "We'll play the best Brahms we can," declared the maestro as he stepped onto the stage in the second half. Backstage, the percussionists wore twisted headbands, ready to further enthuse the audience, already enthralled by the Brahms, which was more free-flowing than yesterday. The "Yagi-bushi" performance also brought the Seoul audience to their feet, eliciting a standing ovation once again.
The power of music knows no borders. The Japan Philharmonic's first tour of Korea made this obvious fact clear to us.
The hot program that excited Korea will be back for the New Year!
226th Sunday Concert
Sunday, April 2019, 1 6:14
Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre
