When I attend events and festivals in the city, I often see the local citizen orchestra performing on stage. Each time, I realize that "Kurashiki has many citizen orchestras," and I am reminded that Kurashiki is a city of arts.
Among the many citizen orchestras in the city, Kurashiki Orchestra is a long-established orchestra that will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2024.
The "50th Regular Concert," commemorating the 50th anniversary, is said to feature a special program that is different from previous concerts.
I have interviewed about the milestone 50th Regular Concert of the Kurashiki Orchestra.
About the "50th Regular Concert"
The 50th Regular Concert of the Kurashiki Orchestra is a classical concert that will be held on August 11, 2024 (Sunday).
The Kurashiki Orchestra, which performs, is a citizen orchestra formed in 1974. Initially, it was a small orchestra with 24 members, but after continuing music activities rooted in the community, it grew to about 80 members after 10 years.
As of July 2024, it still has about 80 members and is active mainly through its annual regular concert and performances at the Kurashiki Music Festival.
2024 is a milestone year as the Kurashiki Orchestra celebrates its 50th anniversary. The 50th Regular Concert will feature a special program that can be seen as a culmination of their efforts.
The highlight of the performance will be two musicians who will perform with the Kurashiki Orchestra.
The conductor will be Teraoka Kiyotaka. He studied classical music in Vienna, Austria, known as the city of music, and has conducted many orchestras both domestically and internationally. He is one of the world-renowned conductors, having won the Mitropoulos International Conducting Competition in 2000.
The pianist will be Ushida Tomoharu. He won first place at the 16th Hamamatsu International Piano Academy Competition at the youngest age. Since then, he has made his CD debut and performed as a soloist with orchestras around the world, gaining attention for both his skill and popularity as a young pianist.
It seems rare for Teraoka and Ushida to perform with an amateur orchestra, making this concert a valuable opportunity fitting for the 50th anniversary.
Elementary and middle school students can attend for free up to the first 100 people. For details, please check the Kurashiki Orchestra's website.
The 50th Regular Concert featuring luxurious guests. Nishijima Yayoi, the public relations officer of the Kurashiki Orchestra, shared her enthusiasm for the performance.
Interview with the Person in Charge
What are the highlights of the 50th Regular Concert?
Nishijima (no honorifics)
Since this will be a memorable concert for the 50th anniversary, we will challenge ourselves with special productions such as a large ensemble that has never been seen before and the use of rare instruments.
In terms of the ensemble, the number of members on stage will be very large this time. We will perform with two percussion instruments (such as a bass drum and timpani) instead of the usual one, and use two harps to create a more luxurious impression, so I believe it will be a stage that is visually impressive as well as rich in sound.
There will also be members performing behind the scenes, so I think the audience will have a mysterious experience of hearing sounds without seeing the performers.
Additionally, the sound of a rare instrument called the carillon will be a highlight.
The carillon is a bell-like instrument that will resonate during the final piece, "Symphonie Fantastique." I think it will give you the feeling of being in a European city, so please pay attention to it.
The conductor Teraoka and pianist Ushida, who will perform with us, are both wonderful individuals active around the world. It is rare for them to perform with an amateur orchestra, so I hope many people will take this valuable opportunity to attend.
What pieces will be performed?
Nishijima
The pieces we will perform this time were selected in consultation with pianist Ushida and conductor Teraoka. All the pieces are masterpieces created by composers of the Romantic era.
The first piece will be Johannes Brahms' Academic Festival Overture. This piece was composed by Brahms as a gift to a German university that awarded him an honorary doctorate, making it a brilliant piece suitable for the beginning of the concert.
The second piece, Piano Concerto, was composed by Robert Schumann, who was Brahms' mentor. Ushida will be the soloist, so please pay attention to the sound.
The third piece, Hector Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique, was chosen by all the members. This piece is often requested in audience surveys and is quite popular among classical music lovers.
It might be even more interesting to listen to the performance after researching the background of the pieces.
For example, the third piece, "Symphonie Fantastique," was composed by Berlioz after he experienced unrequited love for an actress and was inspired by the hallucinations and dreams he had after taking drugs. Knowing the background and story of the piece allows you to imagine the composer's emotional ups and downs, providing a new way to enjoy it.
Please share your enthusiasm for this concert marking the 50th anniversary.
Nishijima
The Kurashiki Orchestra was founded in 1974. Most of the early members who have been active since the beginning are no longer with us.
We have continued to operate while gradually replacing members, reaching our 50th year since establishment.
While the ages of the members are diverse, with many young members, we will deliver a passionate performance with our hearts united across various generations.
Who would you recommend this concert to?
Nishijima
Some people may feel that attending an orchestra performance is a "high hurdle," but if you come once, I believe it will become an enjoyable experience that feels close to you.
We want to deliver our sound to a wide range of people.
What are the next goals for the orchestra?
Nishijima
As an amateur citizen orchestra, we have faced our performances with high aspirations for 50 years.
In the future, we hope to have many new members, especially from the younger generation, and to grow while incorporating the trends of a new era.
And, we want to continue delivering high-quality classical performances so that the local community can develop a fondness for music.
We will work hard to convey the wonderful sounds of each instrument through our daily practice!
Finally, please share a message.
Nishijima
This concert will be a special program commemorating the 50th anniversary with valuable individuals performing together, so please come with your family!
Elementary and middle school students can apply for free admission for the first 100 people, so we look forward to your applications.
Additionally, the Kurashiki Orchestra is also recruiting members to perform together.
If you are interested in performing with a historically significant citizen orchestra, let’s create wonderful classical music together!
Conclusion
The 50th Regular Concert by the Kurashiki Orchestra will be a high-quality classical concert where you can enjoy collaborations with valuable musicians and special productions.
I believe that for fans who attend every year, it will be an enjoyable program that is different from previous ones.
I usually don’t listen to classical music much, but I have learned a new way to enjoy it by knowing the background of the pieces, so I would like to research beforehand and fully enjoy the live performance on the day.
How about experiencing authentic classical music as one of your summer memories?
Data of the 50th Regular Concert
| Name | 50th Regular Concert |
|---|---|
| Date | August 11, 2024 (Sunday) Doors open at 1:00 PM Concert starts at 2:00 PM |
| Location | 17-1 Honmachi, Kurashiki City |
| Admission Fee (including tax) | General: 1,500 yen (1,800 yen for tickets on the day) University students and below: 1,000 yen *Free admission for the first 100 elementary and middle school students on a first-come, first-served basis |
| Website | Kurashiki Orchestra |
