Kah Chun Wong 747th Tokyo Subscription Concert Interview

Conductor talks about the next Tokyo regular concert: Kah-Chun Wong

ⒸAngie Kremer

　At our first regular Tokyo concert of the new year on January 20th and 21st, we plan to delve deeper into Akira Ifukube's Sinfonia Tapkala and Bartók's Concerto for Orchestra.
　In May of this year, I welcomed the gifted pianist Keigo Tsugawa to perform Akira Ifukube's "Ritmica Ostinata for Piano and Orchestra," and ever since then, I have maintained a strong interest in further exploring Ifukube's music. At the first rehearsal for the May concert, the Japan Philharmonic gave an intense and moving performance, as if they had been playing this work every season, and I was completely blown away. I felt a natural understanding and phrasing of Akira Ifukube's music, reminiscent of a Viennese performance of Johann Strauss or a Finnish performance of Sibelius.
　The "Sinfonia Tapkara," which we will perform in January, was composed before the "Ritmica Ostinata" and premiered in 1955 with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra conducted by Fabien Sevitsky. Incidentally, Sevitsky was the nephew of the famous American conductor Sergei Koussevitzky, who later premiered Bartók's "Concerto for Orchestra," another piece to be performed at the next Tokyo Subscription Concert, with the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
　"Sinfonia Tapkara" is strongly influenced by the Ainu. On a personal note, my wife's maternal ancestors are Ainu, and this was the first time I learned about the name and existence of the Ainu. The piece is very rhythmic and reminds me of the various festivals and cultural ceremonies I experienced in Singapore as a child. I would like to perform Ifukube's works with a deep understanding of the music in countries other than Japan in the future.
　Ifukube is surprisingly well-suited to the music of Stravinsky, Revueltas, Khachaturian, and Shostakovich. I considered adding their works to the program, but at the same time, I was also drawn to the works of Bartók. Bartók's exceptional compositional technique is a testament to his deep connection with Hungarian, Slovak, and Romanian folk music, which unwaveringly aligns with Ifukube's aesthetic.
　Both Ifukube and Bartók created music that blended modernist dissonance with nationalistic elements in a style known as musical primitivism. This is something that I find extremely fascinating, and I hope to continue studying their music. I am deeply pleased to be able to study with my wonderful colleagues in the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra and share this valuable musical experience with everyone at Suntory Hall.
　Furthermore, I am very excited about the opportunity to work on a fascinating program over three weeks in January 2023, including my favorite symphonies by Beethoven and Rachmaninoff.
　We look forward to seeing you all at the venue.

747th Tokyo Subscription Concert
Friday, October 20, 2023 19:00
Saturday, November 21, 2023 14:00
Suntory Hall
Conductor: Kah-Chun Wong [Principal Guest Conductor]

Akira Ifukube: Sinfonia Tapkara
Bartok: Concerto for Orchestra

Kah Chun Wong's performances

January 14, 2023 (Sat) 14:00 Saitama Kaikan
Sunday, January 15, 2023, 14:00 Suntory Hall
Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez (Guitar: Kaori Muraji)
Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 "Eroica"

January 28, 2023 (Sat) 17:00 Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall
Sunday, January 29, 2023 14:00 Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre
Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 3 (piano: Yu Kosuge)
Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 2