What this is
French conductor Lionel Bringuier takes the podium with Japan's oldest symphony orchestra — the Tokyo Philharmonic, founded in 1911 — for a two-night program pairing three of the most beloved orchestral showpieces in the repertoire. The night moves from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite through Stravinsky's Firebird to Gershwin's An American in Paris, a sequence that spans fairy-tale fantasy, blazing Russian modernism, and jazz-inflected New York swagger. Young virtuoso soloists join Bringuier, making this as much a showcase for emerging classical talent as for the orchestra itself.
Who should go
Classical music lovers who want a high-calibre international programme in one of Tokyo's finest concert halls. The repertoire — all crowd-pleasing, none of it obscure — also makes this a strong choice for first-time orchestral concertgoers.
Good to know
Tickets are sold through eplus.jp and pia.jp, both of which accept foreign credit cards; convenience store pickup at Lawson (combini) is the most reliable collection method for visitors without a Japanese delivery address. Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall seats approximately 1,632 and is a fully seated, tiered venue with outstanding acoustics — it was purpose-built for orchestral and chamber music and is widely regarded as one of the finest halls in Asia. Photography and video recording are not permitted during performances. The venue has a cloakroom for coats and bags. Bars and a lobby café are open before the concert and during the interval. The hall is a short walk from Hatsudai Station on the Keio New Line, or about 15 minutes on foot from Shinjuku Station.
This event was sourced and translated from Japanese by What's On Japan. Details may change — verify with the official source before attending.