Note: This website was automatically translated, so some terms or nuances may not be completely accurate.
"Tohoku Youth Orchestra" Non-san and Yoshinaga-san also participated in the concert.
The Tohoku Youth Orchestra, which continues its activities primarily with elementary school students through university students from the three prefectures affected by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake (Iwate, Miyagi, Fukushima), held a concert on March 21 at the Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall in Shinjuku Ward. (Organizer: The Tohoku Youth Orchestra Executive Committee; Sponsors: National Mutual Insurance Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives, Fuji Xerox Advanced Technology, Isetan Mitsukoshi, Morinaga Angel Foundation; Supported by: Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Yamaha Music Japan, Save the Children Japan, Sony Video & Sound Products, Dentsu Inc. Public Relations, Brilliant; Sponsored by: J-WAVE).
This orchestra is one of the reconstruction support projects initiated by world-renowned musician Ryuichi Sakamoto. Sakamoto has been dedicated to producing the orchestra while also conducting music-related support activities for schools in the disaster-affected areas, including instrument inspections and repairs.
Regarding the repertoire for this third concert, Sakamoto explained, "We challenged ourselves with some very demanding pieces." Toshio Yanagisawa, the orchestra's director and conductor, praised the 102 young members who overcame this high hurdle, stating, "Because the pieces were so difficult, they initially didn't even know how to produce the notes, but they then practiced intensively for six months."
Following performances of Sakamoto's compositions "Behind the Mask," "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence," and "The Last Emperor," actress Non recited poetry. Accompanying "Still Life," in which Sakamoto also participated on piano, Non recited five poems, including Kenji Miyazawa's "Village Girl" and "Song of the Stars." Non commented, "I've visited Tohoku many times for work and it's a place that has been very kind to me. Your performance was wonderful and moving; I felt happy to be able to perform with you. I would like to participate again if the opportunity arises."
After completing two consecutive, highly challenging pieces totaling about 50 minutes—"Debussy: Symphonic Poem La Mer" and "Stravinsky: The Firebird Suite, 1919 Version"—the hall erupted in thunderous applause. Sakamoto, looking back at the children's smiling faces, expressed relief: "Until yesterday, I was sweating bullets, nervous about how it would turn out, but we made it to the performance."
On March 31st, a concert was also held at the Tokyo Electone Hall Miyagi in Sendai City. This marked the second concert in the Tohoku region, following the 2017 performance in Koriyama.
Actress Sayuri Yoshinaga recited poems written by children from Fukushima Prefecture shortly after the disaster, expressing their determination not to be defeated or give up, accompanied by orchestral music as background. A piece composed by a member from a disaster-affected prefecture was also performed, receiving enthusiastic applause from the audience.
Official website:
http://tohoku-youth-orchestra.org/
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