Wiener Philharmoniker Week In Japan 2019

Suntory Hall hosts Wiener Philharmoniker Week in Japan 2019.

The orchestra has been closely associated with the rich musical history and tradition of Vienna, the capital city of music, and it continues to enthrall audiences all over the world with its unique and incomparable sound. This year, Japan and Austria celebrate 150th anniversary of Friendship between 2 nations.

Christian Thielemann (Photo credit: Matthias Creutziger)

Wiener Philharmoniker Week in Japan, an annual residency similar to Wiener Philharmoniker Week in New York, began in 1999 to give Japanese audiences a regular opportunity to enjoy this renowned orchestra. This year is its 17th edition, and continues to contribute to the development of Japan music culture. The orchestra will be performing under the batons of two conductors, Christian Thielemann, the Artistic Director of the Osterfestspiele Salzburg, has been conducting the world’s top orchestras and conducted Wiener Philharmoniker for their famous New Year Concert in 2019. Columbia born Andrés Orozco-Estrada, one of the most important conductors of the age, is the Chief Conductor of the Frankfurt Radio Symphony and also Music Director of the Houston Symphony Orchestra. In 2015, the London Philharmonic Orchestra appointed him to the post of Principal Guest Conductor. With Wiener Philharmoniker, he conducted the orchestra at the Mozartwoche Salzburg as his career highlight of 2018/19 season.

Wiener Philharmoniker (Photo credit: Lois Lammerhuber)

This year, Wiener Philharmoniker Week at Suntory Hall will open with a special programme on 5 Nov with Wiener Waltz or Operette such as Johann Strauss Jr’s Overture to Der Zigeunerbaron, Eduard Strauss’s Mit Extrapost Polka schnell, or Josef Strauss’s Sphärenklänge Waltz – which were performed at the New Year Concert 2019 in Vienna. This concert also commemorates the 50th anniversary of Suntory Foundation for the Arts.

There are three main orchestral concerts on 11, 13 and 15 Nov. The soloist in Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3 on 13 Nov is Yefim Bronfman.

As in previous years, there are education and outreach events including a tuba masterclass by the orchestra tuba player Paul Halwax on 12 Nov, a free open rehearsal on 11 Nov and a school programme on 13 Nov.

Andrés Orozco-Estrada (Photo credit: Werner Kmetitsch)

The Wiener Philharmoniker has built close ties with Japan, and after the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, the orchestra offered a donation of one million euros to help people recover from the disaster. The Suntory Group matched the amount and set up “The Vienna Philharmonic and Suntory Music Aid Fund”, which continues to provide support through music in the Tohoku region as well as in Kumamoto.

A special event The Exhibition from Archive-Library-Collection of The Gasellschaft der Musikfreunde in Wien is also held to commemorate the friendship of Japan and Austria at the hall’s neighbouring Hotel Okura from 2 to 17 Nov. Musikverein is also known for its valuable archival collection of modern music history since its inauguration in 1812. Japanese culture was also introduced to the West through World Expositions in the end of 19th century, which inspired European arts, when was the very time Brahms, Bruckner, Liszt, or Strauss lived in Vienna. During the exhibition, some lectures and mini-concerts will be held for the visitors to see and listen to the history of music.

Full listings of the Wiener Philharmoniker Week in Japan 2019 can be found here.