Suntory Hall Season Highlights 2020

Suntory Hall hosts three world-class projects this autumn as the highlights of 2020 featuring MIDORI (October), the Vienna Philharmonic (November), and Mitsuko Uchida (November-December) with Mahler Chamber Orchestra.

Suntory Hall Special Stage 2020
MIDORI Beethoven 250th Anniversary & Isaac Stern 100th Anniversary of Birth
5 concerts between 20 and 24 October

Suntory Hall Special Stage focuses on the ‘Now’ of world’s top artists from various aspects of their music. MIDORI previously appeared in the Special Stage in 2014. This year, she features Beethoven to commemorate the 250^th anniversary of his birth and she dedicates to her mentor Isaac Stern to commemorate the 100^th anniversary of his birth. This year’s Special Stage focuses on three different aspects of Beethoven’s works, which are the complete violin sonatas in three days (20-22 October), piano trios (23 October), and concertos (24 October).

A message from MIDORI
“On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the birth year of Isaac Stern, I dedicate this week-long residency in honour of his legacy. For me, he was the greatest of mentors. Like for so many of my colleagues, he served as an artistic guide and as a source of inspiration. He instilled in me the understanding that a career in music also demands going beyond just playing the violin. Mr. Stern never stopped reaching out, and now, remembering him, I am able to follow a path serving where there is need, possibility, and opportunity for interconnection, as best and often as I can.”

Midori © Timothy Greenfield-Sanders

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WIENER PHILHARMONIKER WEEK IN JAPAN 2020

Valery Gergiev conducts Wiener Philharmoniker (The Vienna Philharmonic)

Founded in 1842, the internationally renowned orchestra is closely linked with the rich musical history and tradition of Vienna, and it continues to attract audiences all over the world with its unique and incomparable sound.

Since 1999, Suntory Hall has been hosting Wiener Philharmoniker Week in Japan, an annual residency that gives Japanese audiences a regular opportunity to enjoy this distinguished orchestra. This year’s edition, the eighteenth, features not one but two soloists: Denis Matsuev (piano, the winner of International Tchaikovsky Competition in 1998) and Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi (cello / President of Suntory Hall) who is appointed as the first Japanese instrumentalist. The orchestra is conducted by Valery Gergiev, the Artistic and General Director of the Mariinsky Theatre and the Music Director of the Munich Philharmonic. Gergiev’s previous visit to Japan with the Wiener Philharmoniker was sixteen years ago.

As well as concerts, regular educational programmes such as an open master class by the principal soloist and the School Programme for junior high and high school students are scheduled to nurture the next generations of musicians and audiences.

Valery Gergiev and the Vienna Philharmoinc
©Terry Linke

Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi © Naruyasu Nabeshima

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Mitsuko Uchida (Piano & Director) with Mahler Chamber Orchestra Japan Tour 2020

One of the most acclaimed pianists Mitsuko Uchida comes back to her ‘Japanese home’ Suntory Hall with Mahler Chamber Orchestra for the first time since 2016 to perform her specialty Mozart’s piano concertos as soloist and director. Mahler Chamber Orchestra was founded by Claudio Abbado in 1997 with 45 top-class musicians from 20 different countries and Mitsuko Uchida has developed the deep musical relationship with the orchestra as its Artistic Partner.

Mitsuko Uchida with Mahler Chamber Orchestra ©Suntory Hall

*Suntory Hall strives to realise as many scheduled concerts as we can until the very last minute under these challenging circumstances.

Full listing of Suntory Hall’s presenting events can be found at the following link.
https://www.suntory.com/culture-sports/suntoryhall/feature/2020_21/

For further information and press photos, please contact: suntoryhall-pr@suntory.co.jp
Public Relations, Suntory Hall

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