Yesterday Nov 18, the 2018 Iceland Symphony Japan Tour tour culminated with a final concert in Nagaoka City, Niigata, the conclusion of a 14 day marathon of 12 performances in as many venues in 11 cities.
As a long-time Nobu fan, I have observed many of these Japan tours over the years. I don't live in Japan, but I do enjoy following the events vicariously. I can honestly say that, of the many Japan tours of Nobu with a foreign orchestra, this is one of the most epic and memorable.
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ABOVE: A collage of some choice photos posted by the orchestra.
The opus of the Iceland Symphony Japan Tour,10 years in the making, started months ago, with Nobu making his Iceland Debut back in April. The sold-out performance with Maestro Vladimir Ashkeanazy & the Iceland Symphony Orchestra was a roaring success. In October, Japan's Fuji-TV aired a documentary of Nobu's Iceland visit. Among the memorable footage is that of a meeting of Nobu and Mo. Ashkenazy at the residence of the Japan ambassador in Iceland, former home of the maestro. (Video below). In the aftermath of the Japan tour, this priceless footage is now even more meaningful.
In late October, Nobu made a return visit to Iceland. The Oct 25 performance was live streamed and an archival video can still be viewed on YouTube (below). The concert was yet another success in Iceland, and it doubles as a practice run for Program A on their upcoming Japan Tour. The quality of live streaming was top-notch, and it was a sign of the things to come.
The orchestra spared no efforts. The tour was heralded with this thoughtful video posted on the orchestra's home page, as well as on its facebook page. The video featurs Mo. Ashkenacy and Nobu speaking asspokesman for Iceland and Japan respectively; subtitles are provided in English and Japanese.
The tour was a success from the start, as you can see in this clip from the opening performance on Nov 3 in Kawasaki. In this footage (below), Nobu is seen being guided on stage by Mo. Ashkenazy, choo-choo-train style, to the roar of an enthusiastic audience, for their performance of Rach 2.
And that enthusiasm of the audience was to grow throughout the tour, not just for Nobu, Japan's national pride, but also for Mo. Ashkenazy & the orchestra.
Japanese audiences can always be expected to be courteous, but to my ear their comments ring especially true on this tour.
A blog post on the first concert of the Iceland Symphony Orchestra in Japan
Among the steady stream of comments about the concerts, there are the usual praises for Nobu, who is perhaps the one who brought a lot of the people to the concert hall. But the love and respect for Mo. Ashkenazy is also unmistakable. He is remembered by seasoned concert goers as the great pianist in years past. Many marveled at the energetic octogenarian who has transformed himself into an active conductor, and the there was genuine concern for him .https://twitter.com/yamakikazuhiro/status/1064154473625378816
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I
I SO miss these photos/videos.
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https://twitter.com/ruukao1/status/1061208781600641024
https://ameblo.jp/hiko-hikonyan/entry-12417642195.html [Tokyo female blogger]
on Instagram. (It seems she visited many of the same tourist attractions as I, when I traveled to Japan in 2013 for another of Ashkenazy Japan tour with Nobu.)
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The accompanying photo shows Mrs. Itsuko Tsujii in a splendid formal silk kimono [$$$], standing proudly next to son Nobu (dressed in blue long-sleeve shirt and dark slacks), both smiling happily. This pic was apparently taken backstage after the Nov 6 concert at Tokyo Metropolitan.
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And, in another photo, Ashkenazy is seen guiding Nobu, choo-choo train style,threading their way on a crowded stage.
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[Twitter sunsoon reported that at the Nov 14 Okayama concert, the choo-choo train positions were reversed, with Nobu leading the maestro, drawing laughter from the audience.]
More than one concert goer suggested that Nobu's performance is enhanced by a conductor who is himself a [esteemed] pianist.
https://twitter.com/straightedge_y/status/1063443624741019650
[Translated from Japanese]
And twitter sumie probably speaks for many in this post:
https://twitter.com/aomidori0027/status/1058726618926002176
Mrs. Itsuko Tsujii is reportedly a long-time fan of pianist Ashkenazy, and I can only imagine her pride when she took this photo of the maestro giving her son a thumbs-up, backstage after the first Tokyo performance.
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In the U.S. , it is Thanksgiving week -- I count my blessing. I would like to echo these words of a blogger who was at one of the 12 performances:
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Image source: https://www.theholidayspot.com/
RELATED ARTICLES
Iceland Symphony Orchestra page for the tour
2018 Iceland Symphony Japan Tour, as it unfolds
Vladimir Ashkenazy, Nobuyuki Tsujii, Japan, Iceland
Nobuyuki Tsujii's 2018 ICELAND Debut with Ashkenazy & the Iceland Symphony Orchestra April 20 2018
Nobuyuki Tsujii in Iceland, 2018 BS-Fuji TV documentary
2018 Japan Tour with Iceland Symphony Orchestra
"Nobu and Ashkenazy On the way to Japan"Rach 2 with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra and Vladimir Ashkenazy
Nobuyuki Tsujii returns to Iceland, October 25 2018
Iceland Symphony Orchestra interviews Nobuyuki Tsujii "Good press to play Rachmaninov with Ashkenazy
As a long-time Nobu fan, I have observed many of these Japan tours over the years. I don't live in Japan, but I do enjoy following the events vicariously. I can honestly say that, of the many Japan tours of Nobu with a foreign orchestra, this is one of the most epic and memorable.
ABOVE: A collage of some choice photos posted by the orchestra.
The opus of the Iceland Symphony Japan Tour,10 years in the making, started months ago, with Nobu making his Iceland Debut back in April. The sold-out performance with Maestro Vladimir Ashkeanazy & the Iceland Symphony Orchestra was a roaring success. In October, Japan's Fuji-TV aired a documentary of Nobu's Iceland visit. Among the memorable footage is that of a meeting of Nobu and Mo. Ashkenazy at the residence of the Japan ambassador in Iceland, former home of the maestro. (Video below). In the aftermath of the Japan tour, this priceless footage is now even more meaningful.
In late October, Nobu made a return visit to Iceland. The Oct 25 performance was live streamed and an archival video can still be viewed on YouTube (below). The concert was yet another success in Iceland, and it doubles as a practice run for Program A on their upcoming Japan Tour. The quality of live streaming was top-notch, and it was a sign of the things to come.
The orchestra spared no efforts. The tour was heralded with this thoughtful video posted on the orchestra's home page, as well as on its facebook page. The video featurs Mo. Ashkenacy and Nobu speaking asspokesman for Iceland and Japan respectively; subtitles are provided in English and Japanese.
Enthusiastic Audiences
The orchestra arrived in Japan on the first day of November.The tour was a success from the start, as you can see in this clip from the opening performance on Nov 3 in Kawasaki. In this footage (below), Nobu is seen being guided on stage by Mo. Ashkenazy, choo-choo-train style, to the roar of an enthusiastic audience, for their performance of Rach 2.
And that enthusiasm of the audience was to grow throughout the tour, not just for Nobu, Japan's national pride, but also for Mo. Ashkenazy & the orchestra.
Japanese audiences can always be expected to be courteous, but to my ear their comments ring especially true on this tour.
A blog post on the first concert of the Iceland Symphony Orchestra in Japan
これを聴くとなるほど、このオケがアイスランドの人たちの誇りであることがよく分かる。合奏能力も個々のソロ奏者の能力も、非常に高いレヴェルにあり、
"The more I listened to [the performance], the better I understand why this orchestra is the pride of the people of Iceland. Both the ensemble ability and the individual solo player's abilities are at a very high level
"The more I listened to [the performance], the better I understand why this orchestra is the pride of the people of Iceland. Both the ensemble ability and the individual solo player's abilities are at a very high level
Among the steady stream of comments about the concerts, there are the usual praises for Nobu, who is perhaps the one who brought a lot of the people to the concert hall. But the love and respect for Mo. Ashkenazy is also unmistakable. He is remembered by seasoned concert goers as the great pianist in years past. Many marveled at the energetic octogenarian who has transformed himself into an active conductor, and the there was genuine concern for him .https://twitter.com/yamakikazuhiro/status/1064154473625378816
【アシュケナージ×辻井伸行】当日にチケットを譲って頂き、幸運にも観れた札幌公演。深く感銘を受け、その後 大阪＆長岡公演を追いかける。振り返れば幸せな２週間でした。それにしても81歳にして、このハードな移動スケジュール。新人ロックバンドでも有り得ないタイトさ。アシュケナージ、恐るべし
[Ashkenazi × Nobuyuki Tsujii ] We were fortunate to have gotten tickets for the Sapporo performance . Impressed deeply, then followed them with the performances at Osaka & Nagaoka. Looking back, it was a happy two weeks.
Even so, this tight schedule is too tough for even a rookie, let alone someone 81 years old,
Mo. Ashkenazi, awesome.
[Ashkenazi × Nobuyuki Tsujii ] We were fortunate to have gotten tickets for the Sapporo performance . Impressed deeply, then followed them with the performances at Osaka & Nagaoka. Looking back, it was a happy two weeks.
Even so, this tight schedule is too tough for even a rookie, let alone someone 81 years old,
Mo. Ashkenazi, awesome.
A Daily Dose of Photos of Nobu's warm-up
Day after day, there was warm-up and rehearsal when the performers find themselves in yet another of Japan's impressive concert halls. The orchestra treated us to a daily dose of photos and video clips of Nobu warming up on the piano, usually in a vacant hall, before the arrival of the orchestra. Below is a collage of four of these photos. I wonder if any of the orchestra members can name these venues now. ^_^
II SO miss these photos/videos.
Top Notch Performance Photos
A tour like this is a massive undertaking. Belying the turmoils and efforts behind the scenes, the orchestra faithfully made postings before and after each concert, complete with top-notch photos such as the one below of the Nobu in performance in Tokyo.
Lighthearted Moments
The rigorous tour schedule not withstanding, there were some lighter moments*The orchestra's horn section took to secluding themselves in a a karaoke room
* A Maestro with "Tea eye"
Mo. Ashkenazy won the hearts of many in the audience with his 'tea eye,' meaning playfulness in Japanese.https://twitter.com/ruukao1/status/1061208781600641024
...ﾋﾟｱﾉｺﾝﾁｪﾙﾄは凄く息が合っていて、ﾏｴｽﾄﾛの優しい指揮に釘付けになった。ｼﾝﾌｫﾆｰも指揮と奏者の信頼感を感じた｡それにしてもﾏｴｽﾄﾛお茶目〰️🤣
... The piano was quite breathtaking and complemented the gentle command of the Maestro. The mutual trust of the the conductor & orchestra players was felt. And the conductor was playful.
https://twitter.com/rumirumi0118/status/1063723785394638848... The piano was quite breathtaking and complemented the gentle command of the Maestro. The mutual trust of the the conductor & orchestra players was felt. And the conductor was playful.
今日は所沢…アシュケナージ氏お茶目で可愛い優しい人❤️のぶ君といいコンビ
Today is Tokorozawa... Mr. Ashkenazy is a cute, playful and gentle person ❤️ A good combination with Nobu-kun
https://twitter.com/yz_rose_love/status/1058980657454448641Today is Tokorozawa... Mr. Ashkenazy is a cute, playful and gentle person ❤️ A good combination with Nobu-kun
辻井伸行さんとアシュケナージさんのコンサートに来てます🎵
オケの半数が女性。ピアノ協奏曲はショパン。素敵でした。そしてアシュケナージさんはお茶目な方
Mr. Nobuyuki Tsujii and Mr. Ashkenazi's concert, 🎵 half of the orchestra are women. Chopin Piano Concerto . It was wonderful. And Mr. Ashkenazy is playful.
オケの半数が女性。ピアノ協奏曲はショパン。素敵でした。そしてアシュケナージさんはお茶目な方
Mr. Nobuyuki Tsujii and Mr. Ashkenazi's concert, 🎵 half of the orchestra are women. Chopin Piano Concerto . It was wonderful. And Mr. Ashkenazy is playful.
* "Perhaps in Iceland there are many beautiful people."
It seems the Japanese concert goers are not above a wandering eye ^_^https://ameblo.jp/hiko-hikonyan/entry-12417642195.html [Tokyo female blogger]
[translated from Japanese]
"And this orchestra has quite a lot of female members ... Perhaps in Iceland there are many beautiful people... And one member in the brass section was quite handsome ... when he first came on stage, he looked like a major model. I regret that I witnessed from a second floor seat. "
https://twitter.com/hisaccoma/status/1059298210680729601"And this orchestra has quite a lot of female members ... Perhaps in Iceland there are many beautiful people... And one member in the brass section was quite handsome ... when he first came on stage, he looked like a major model. I regret that I witnessed from a second floor seat. "
#アシュケナージ #辻井伸行 #アイスランド交響楽団 昨日浜松でみてきました、辻井さんもアシュケナージも最高！！ アイスランド交響楽団はコンサートマスターが男前 ^^) _旦~~
# Ashkenazi #Nobuyuki Tsujii # Iceland Symphony Orchestra I saw them at Hamamatsu yesterday; Mr. Tsujii and Ashkenazi are the best! ! Icelandic Symphony Orchestra concertmaster is a handsome man ^ ^)
# Ashkenazi #Nobuyuki Tsujii # Iceland Symphony Orchestra I saw them at Hamamatsu yesterday; Mr. Tsujii and Ashkenazi are the best! ! Icelandic Symphony Orchestra concertmaster is a handsome man ^ ^)
* Maestro inducted into the Horn Section
An amusing photo, perfectly framed, of Mo. Ashkenazy posing with the horn section, everyone holding a Yamaha French horn."Introducing the newest member of Iceland Symphony Horns, Vladimir Ashkenazy! We’re having a great time touring Japan with him!"
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I still wish they had taken up my humble suggestion to make a similar photo with Nobu, but -- alas -- no such luck. 
* A sightseeing musician
In an interview by the orchestra prior to the tour, Nobu is quoted as saying "The concerts are of course of foremost importance, but I also hope you will have time to enjoy Japanese cuisine and the natural beauty of Japan. Hopefully there will be a little time for the orchestra to look around. " At least one orchestra member did just that, somehow finding time to explore Japan amid the hectic touring schedule. Clara Pérez Sedano, Oboe and English Horn player, posted many fine photoson Instagram. (It seems she visited many of the same tourist attractions as I, when I traveled to Japan in 2013 for another of Ashkenazy Japan tour with Nobu.)
"Amazing sushi dinner in shinagawa in a restaurant owned by the cutest couple I've seen. He goes everyday at 6am with the motorbike to buy the fresh fish to the market. She is 70 years old and loves flamenco, Nobu ..."
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* A reception at the Iceland Ambassador's before the first Tokyo performance.
* A party in Saitama after the penultimate concert
https://twitter.com/IcelandSymphony/status/1063776707105173504Thanks to @avexmanagement and @HarrisonParrott for the fantastic dinner and celebration as we near the end of our tour.
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* A Shinkansen Delay
A tour like this is a logistical nightmare. Hiccups are inevitable. The only one that came to the surface on this tour was the time when Mo. Ashkenazy arrived at the Fukuoka concert 30 minutes late.アシュケナージ指揮、ピアノ辻井伸行、アイスランド響のコンサートが終了しました。新幹線のトラブルにより指揮者が20分ほど遅れたのですが、その間、辻井さんが3曲演奏してくれました。気軽に演奏してくれて好感が持てますよね。満員の観客のアンコールにも応えてくれました。
Concert of Ashkenazy, pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii, and Iceland Symphony concert has ended. The conductor was delayed for about 20 minutes due to trouble of Shinkansen [bullet train, which rarely fails in Japan] , but during that time, Mr. Tsujii played three songs.It seems he felt free to play and felt good.He also played an encore in response to the capacity crowds.
Supermen that they are, the conductor and Nobu appeared unfazed by the mishap, as seen in this photo of their subsequent stage entrance 
*A tribute by the orchestra to Mrs. Itsuko Tsujii, Nobu's mother.
https://www.facebook.com/IcelandSymphony/photos/a.284705234886881/2191369067553812/?type=3&theaterNobuyuki Tsujii með móður sinni Itsuko Tsujii að loknum tónleikum í Tokyo. Það var hún sem uppgötvaði tónlistarhæfileika sonar síns þegar hann gat leikið undir söng hennar á leikfangapíanó þegar hann var einungis tveggja ára gamall. Síðan þá er hann orðinn stórstjarna í heimalandi sínu og hefur leikið með öllum helstu sinfóníuhljómsveitum heims.
"Nobuyuki Tsujii with his mother Itsuko Tsujii, after a Tokyo concert. She was the one who discovered his musical talent when he was able to play on a toy piano to accompany her singin , when he was only two years old. Since then, he has become a great star in his native country and has performed with all of the world's leading symphony orchestras."
"Nobuyuki Tsujii with his mother Itsuko Tsujii, after a Tokyo concert. She was the one who discovered his musical talent when he was able to play on a toy piano to accompany her singin , when he was only two years old. Since then, he has become a great star in his native country and has performed with all of the world's leading symphony orchestras."
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Mutual Respect between two Pianists
Above all, the tour to me is a story of the rapport between Ashkenazy, an all-time pianist great; and Nobu, 50 years his junior. The rapport of these two is unmistakable. Nobu is guileless -- I can easily tell if he is comfortable with a conductor, and in Mo. Ashkenazy the trust is evident. In the photo below, from the Kawasaki performance, Ashkenazy is seen turning his body to Nobu to watch his finger movements for synchronizing the soloist with the orchestra.
And, in another photo, Ashkenazy is seen guiding Nobu, choo-choo train style,threading their way on a crowded stage.
[Twitter sunsoon reported that at the Nov 14 Okayama concert, the choo-choo train positions were reversed, with Nobu leading the maestro, drawing laughter from the audience.]
More than one concert goer suggested that Nobu's performance is enhanced by a conductor who is himself a [esteemed] pianist.
https://twitter.com/straightedge_y/status/1063443624741019650
[Translated from Japanese]
...Rachmaninoff piano concerto No. 2. I like the places where the tempo slowed. And the orchestra respects the pianist, cuddling him with kindess, and allowing him to lead without failure. Perhaps this is because the conductor himself is a pianist?
And twitter sumie probably speaks for many in this post:
https://twitter.com/aomidori0027/status/1058726618926002176
途切れない拍手に促されてアンコールへ。直前の興奮をそっと鎮めるような月の光。黒髪の辻井さんと鍵盤越しに世界的名ピアニストの白髪が並んで見える。世代を超えて受け継がれていく音楽。その瞬間に立ち会えてるのかもしれない。一生忘れないコンサートがまた増えました I was encouraged by the prolonged clapping for the encore. The "light of the moon" quietly calmed the excitement just before. Mr. Tsujii with black hair and the world-renowned pianist with gray hair are seen side-by-side through the keyboard. Music that is passed down generations. That was the moment for me. This is a concert that I will not forget for the rest of my life.
Mrs. Itsuko Tsujii is reportedly a long-time fan of pianist Ashkenazy, and I can only imagine her pride when she took this photo of the maestro giving her son a thumbs-up, backstage after the first Tokyo performance.
Thanksgiving
A tour concluded is yesterday's news. Typically, little more will be heard from the orchestra. And who can blame the weary travelers for taking a well-deserved break? Suffice it to say that during November 3-18, I pretty much worked around the clock -- happily -- to keep up with the steady stream of postings about the tour. As I write, I am suffering from post-concert blues. I miss all those exciting postings! Nobu himself has said that he often feels lonely after a tour with an orchestra, but he, Mo. Ashkeanzy and the orchestra are probably already busy with their next gigs, as they should be.In the U.S. , it is Thanksgiving week -- I count my blessing. I would like to echo these words of a blogger who was at one of the 12 performances:
"I would like to thank the composers who left us these works, Mo. Ashkenazy, Mr. Nobuyuki Tsujii, and all the musicians."
Image source: https://www.theholidayspot.com/
RELATED ARTICLES
Iceland Symphony Orchestra page for the tour
2018 Iceland Symphony Japan Tour, as it unfolds
Vladimir Ashkenazy, Nobuyuki Tsujii, Japan, Iceland
Nobuyuki Tsujii's 2018 ICELAND Debut with Ashkenazy & the Iceland Symphony Orchestra April 20 2018
Nobuyuki Tsujii in Iceland, 2018 BS-Fuji TV documentary
2018 Japan Tour with Iceland Symphony Orchestra
"Nobu and Ashkenazy On the way to Japan"Rach 2 with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra and Vladimir Ashkenazy
Nobuyuki Tsujii returns to Iceland, October 25 2018
Iceland Symphony Orchestra interviews Nobuyuki Tsujii "Good press to play Rachmaninov with Ashkenazy