2023 Suntory Hall ARK Classics

The start of Fall is a time for art appreciation in Japan. For 4 years now, Nobuyuki Tsujii & his good friend Fumiaki Miura have been joint artistic directors of an annual event coordinated by Avex Classics and Suntory Hall: ARK Classics Concerts, as highlights of the ARK Hills Music Week サントリーホール ARKクラシックス

These concerts aim to promote classical music appreciation, and have been held uninterrupted even during the pandemic.  In the past, performances were projected live on widescreen outside Suntory Hall, to attract outdoor audiences. 

This year's program for the festival (4th edition) is announced by Avex Classics at https://avex.jp/classics/arkclassics2023/program/ and also by Suntory Hall at https://www.suntory.co.jp/suntoryhall/article/detail/001204.html

This year's foreign artists are trumpet player Sergei Nakariakov& cellist Jonathan Rosemann -- both have appeared in previous years and apparently got on well with Nobu & Fumi!

The image below is from last year's ARK Classics:  Sergei Nakariakov (leftmost) , pianist Ryoma Takagi, Nobuyuki Tsujii, [unidentified staff in background], Jonathan Rosemann, Fumiaski Miura

This year's program, translated from Japanese, is listed below.

September 29th (Friday) 19:00 Blue Rose (Small Hall)

September 30th (Sat) 17:00 Start at Large Hall

[Performance 5] ARK Sinfonietta GALA First Night
Appearance: Nobuyuki Tsujii Kazune Shimizu Ryoma Takagi Fumiaki Miura ARK Sinfonietta
PROGRAM: Mozart: Rondo, Concerto for 2 Pianos; Beethoven: Concerto No. 4; Brahms: Symphony No. 2

October 1st (Sun) 12:00 Start at Large Hall

[Performance 6] ARK Chopin Special Nobuyuki Tsujii
Appearance: Nobuyuki Tsujii
PROGRAM Chopin: Impromptu (all 4 pieces), etude Op. 25 (all 12 pieces)

October 1st (Sun) 14:00 Blue Rose (Small Hall)

[Performance 7] ARK DUO Duo's charm
Starring: Sergey Nakariakov, Rina Matsuda, Yunson, Ryoma Takagi

October 1st (Sunday) 17:00 Start Large Hall

[Performance 8] ARK Sinfonietta GALA 2nd Night
Appearance: Nobuyuki Tsujii Kazune Shimizu Fumiaki Miura ARK Sinfonietta
PROGRAM Mozart: Adagio; Schumann: Piano Concerto; Beethoven Piano Concerto no. 5 "Emperor"; Brahms: Symphony No. 4

October 2 (Monday) 19:00 Blue Rose (Small Hall)

[Performance 9] ARK BRASS Special Guest: Sergei Nakariakov
Cast: ARK BRASS Sergei Nakariakov

October 3 (Tue) 12:00 Blue Rose (Small Hall)

[Performance 10] ARK Lunchtime Concert
Appearances: Nobuyuki Tsujii Fumiaki Miura Jonathan Rosemann Maika Miura Regulus Quartet
PROGRAM Monti: "Czardas"; Elgar: Greetings of Love, Takayuki Hattori:Sanadamaru, etc.

October 3 (Tue) 19:00 Blue Rose (Small Hall)

[Performance 11] ARK Closing Night
Cast: Nobuyuki Tsujii, Kazune Shimizu, Ryoma Takagi, Fumiaki Miura, Sergey Nakariakov, Yunson, Jonathan Roseman
PROGRAM Brahms: Violin Sonata no. 2; Beethoven: Violin Sonata No 5 "Spring", etc.

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Nobu does not participate in every program, and in some of the programs there are other pianists appearing.  For example, it is not clear that Nobu will play Monti's "Czardas"& Elgar's "Greeting of love" with Fumi in Performance 10 on October 3, although it is likely -- since they have performed those pieces together in the past.

But the one peroformance the I would not miss, if I were in Japan, is this:
OCT 1 Nobuyuki Tsujii recital: Chopin 4 impromptus & etudes Op.25 (12 pieces)

Let's hope those of us overseas will get to see clips of some of these performances!

Here is another memorable image from last year, compliments of pianist Ryoma Takagi.

And, a photo of the principal players at the final performance of last year

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