[Announcement] Performers and programs for the 392nd Yokohama Regular Concert in November, the 248th Gekijyo Series, and the 756th Tokyo Regular Concert in December have been decided.
アレクサンドル・ラザレフ［桂冠指揮者兼芸術顧問］の来日について（6月30日）にて発表しました通り、2023年11月25日（土）第392回横浜Subscription Concert、11月26日（日）第248回芸劇シリーズ、12月8日（金）、9日（土）第756回東京Subscription Concertは、出演者及びプログラムを変更して開催いたします。
We are pleased to announce that the new performance details have been decided.
We will make an announcement regarding the June 2024 performance at a later date. We apologize for the delay in the announcement.
[The Chief Conductor Presents a New Bond with the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra: Ka-Chung Wong's Pathétique and Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5!]
Originally, the conductor for this performance was scheduled to be Alexander Lazarev, Conductor Laureate and Artistic Advisor, but due to the cancellation of his Japan tour, Ka-Chun Wong, who will become Principal Conductor from September, will take over for the Yokohama Regular Concert in November, the Gekijyo Series, and the Tokyo Regular Concert in December.
After careful consideration, he has decided on a program that will forge new bonds with the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, taking over from Lazarev, who has supported the orchestra for many years as its principal conductor.
392th Yokohama Subscription Concert-The 248nd Geigeki Series
The first piece to be performed at the Yokohama Regular Concert in November's Geigeki Series will be Kiyoshige Koyama's "Kibikika for Orchestra," which premiered in 1957 by the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra's founding conductor, Akio Watanabe, and the orchestra. This masterpiece, which incorporates folk songs and Japanese drums throughout, is sure to stir the DNA of the Japanese people.
The concerto, featuring the popular pianist Kotaro Fukuma, who is active both in Japan and abroad, features Prokofiev's No. 3. This masterpiece is packed with highlights, including sections that evoke the melody of "Echigo Lion," a traditional Japanese piece, and high-speed virtuosity.
Finally, we present Tchaikovsky's final symphony, "Pathétique," originally scheduled to be performed with Lazarev. The timeless, heart-pounding melody that colors the first movement, the slightly distorted 5/4 second movement, the extraordinary voltage of the third movement that captivates the listener, and the finale that is literally filled with pathos and mystery...
From the Woodcutter's Song to the Concerto and the final Symphony, enjoy the dizzying drama unfolding under the direction of Kar-Chung Wong.
November 25th (Sat) 17:00 Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall
Sunday, November 26th, 14:00 Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre
Conductor: Kahchun Wong [Chief Conductor]
Piano: Kotaro Fukuma
Kiyoshige Koyama: Kobiki-song for Orchestra
Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 3 in C major, Op.26
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6 "Pathétique" in B minor, Op.74
General release date: Thursday, August 31, 2023
Piano: Kotaro Fukuma
ⒸT.Shimmura
At the age of 20, he became the first Japanese to win the Cleveland International Piano Competition and receive the Chopin Prize.
He studied at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris, the Berlin University of the Arts, and the Lake Como International Piano Academy. He has given recitals at venues including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Wigmore Hall, and Suntory Hall. He has performed over 50 piano concertos with renowned orchestras both in Japan and abroad, including the Cleveland Orchestra, Moscow Philharmonic, Israel Philharmonic, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, and NHK Symphony Orchestra. He has recorded numerous CDs, including "Bach Piano Transcriptions" (Naxos), and released his 19th CD, "In Search of Fantasy – Scriabin & Rachmaninoff," on April 21, 2023, through Naxos Japan. He also produces the concert series "Rare Piano Music," featuring rare piano works, and hosts programs on OTTAVA and Braavo web stations. He also hosts his own YouTube channel, where he posts performance videos, commentary videos, and live streams, drawing attention from a wide audience. With a diverse repertoire, expressive power, conceptual programs, and fluency in five languages, she is active both in Japan and abroad. She has also made numerous media appearances, including on TV Asahi's "Tetsuko's Room" and "Untitled Concert." She is the recipient of the 39th Japan Chopin Society Award.
Official Website https://kotarofukuma.com/
Official Fan Club https://shimmeringwater.net/
756th Tokyo Subscription Concert
The Tokyo regular concert in December will feature the new chief conductor, Kah-Chun Wong.
With deepest feelings for Conductor Laureate Alexander Lazarev, we present Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5. In today's increasingly chaotic world, we hope that each listener will take in the message this piece conveys.
The concert will begin with a performance of the symphonic poem "Matsura" in memory of the late Yuzo Toyama, a leading Japanese conductor and composer. This piece is deeply connected to the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra's annual Kyushu Tour and is one of its most treasured treasures. We look forward to reflecting on Professor Toyama's achievements and expressing our gratitude for his dedication to the orchestra. Next up will be Akira Ifukube's Marimba Concerto "Lauda Concertata." Wong and the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, known for their stunning performances of Ifukube's works, are sure to deliver a passionate performance. The soloist will be Hideki Ikegami, a leading Japanese marimba artist.
December 8th (Fri) 19:00, December 9th (Sat) 14:00 Suntory Hall
Conductor: Kahchun Wong [Chief Conductor]
Marimba: Hideki Ikegami
Yuzo Toyama: Symphonic Poem "Matsura"
Akira Ifukube: Lauda Concertata for Orchestra and Marimba
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5 in D minor, Op.47
General release date: Thursday, August 31, 2023
Marimba: Hideki Ikegami (percussion, marimba, performance)
ⒸYuji Hori
He won the top prize at the 46th Munich International Music Competition. He studied at the Paris Conservatoire and the Karlsruhe University of Music. He has received numerous awards, including second place at the 16th Japan Wind and Percussion Competition and the New Artist Award at the Agency for Cultural Affairs Arts Festival. After performing throughout Europe, he took a break to re-learn percussion music from scratch. He studied with renowned opera singers and began applying bel canto singing techniques to percussion. He has performed at music festivals around the world, including the Mt. Fuji Kawaguchiko Music Festival, La Folle Journée Japon, Tokyo Spring Music Festival, and the ROHM Music Festival, and has collaborated with orchestras both in Japan and abroad. He has appeared in TV Asahi's "Untitled Concert" program, "Percussionist Hideki Ikegami Appears!", and has appeared in many media outlets, including documentaries. He was the percussion soloist in Xenakis's "Oresteia," a performance celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Suntory Music Foundation. He has an extensive marimba repertoire and performed an all-Bach program at the Tokyo Spring Music Festival. After studying flamenco dance, he began presenting his own stage production, MOSAIC, in 2014, which combines dance, song, and other elements centered around percussion instruments. He is one of Japan's leading percussionists, pursuing a unique worldview.
