The First Concert (from 12:00 on 3/13) Title : ‘Hero’
Richard Strauss: Symphony ‘Ein Heldenlben(A Life of a Hero)Op.40――Der Held
It should be this music that gives glory to an opening scene of ‘BYJ Classics/The Concert’! This is a splendid piece that had both force and splendor, surely is suitable for today’s large formation orchestra. I hear that this is the music that Strauss in his still 30’s at that time composed while dreaming over a whole life of his own.
The hero drawn in this music picture scroll agonizes, suffers, and is discouraged but to reach the glorious victory in the end. And after a secluded life he peacefully leaves this world. Please enjoy the overwhelming and vivid performance those stringed instruments and wind instruments will unfold from the beginning till the end of this music.
The opening part only, as was recorded in the CD, will be played today, but I really wish you all to listen to the whole piece of this music.
Bizet: L’Arle’sienne Suite No.1---Pre’lude 《Woman in Arles》 Prelude
This music is also a piece that is no more heroic than the previous one. Bizet, composer of this music, left a number of works, on opera in particular, in his short life of 38 years. As written in my sleeve notes of the CD, this music will show us a variety of scenery in one piece. I think the words such as ‘self-confidence’ ‘introspection’ or ‘inspiration’ welling up in mind while listening to this music can just apply to everyone’s life.
It is very interesting that a ‘prelude’ to give glory to the opening scene of a story literally expresses the intonation of life or the story itself, isn’t it?
I spontaneously imagine what kind of music plays in my life ….
Barber: Adagio for Strings
This piece could not be included in the CD, but I would definitely like to introduce it to you all and added to the program list of today. Barber is an American composer who lived in the 20th century. I cannot but feel deeply moved by this beautiful melody which starts quietly like a muffled sob and gradually rises as if in sobbing cry.
At the same time, whenever I listen to this music, I cannot help recalling the tragedies in our present age. Wars never end, oppositions caused among religions and races never stop・・・they continue still now in the 21st century incessantly.
I am too powerless in face of this fact, but in order to remove those tragedies, even if a little, from the world, I will contribute a part of the profit of today’s concert to charity. On this occasion I would like to convey our heart-felt thanks to you all. And I would be glad if you think about the sufferings still full of the world while listening to this music.
Rossini: From Opera 《Barber in Sevilla》 ‘Overture’
Gioachino Rossini is a composer of operas who represents Italy in the 19th century. He left as many as 39 operas in his life, among which《Barber in Sevilla》 in particular, is the best-known work of his. The overture full of vigor is very famous and is one of my very favorites. You may find some phrases that you might have heard somewhere. Many of you may feel yourselves not much close to ‘classics(classical music)’, but you will find that in fact there are overflowing ‘classics’ on TV, in CM, or in dramas, and in the corners of streets, won’t you?
Tchaikovsky: Overture 《１８１２》
Overture 《1812》is a piece for concerts which Tchaikovsky composed on a theme of his ‘mother country war’ where Russian Empire beat the Napoleon army that had conquered Europe and was invading them. The bloodcurdling sight of the battle between the French military approaching en masse and the Russian army valiantly confronting them is pictured by overwhelming force of a large formation orchestra.
I asked for this music to play especially as a piece good enough to feel the through attractiveness of an ‘orchestra’, a performance form which consists of a nucleus of classical music. Please enjoy their dynamic performance where string/wind instruments speedily run and percussion instruments beat and bound!
Chopin: Piano Sonata No.3 in B minor The fourth movement
Piano music is a form of classical music which I love along with orchestra. There are too many pieces I love to enumerate, but a good part of them are works of Chopin. The 2nd movement of this music was recorded in the CD, and in this concert we will present the fourth movement which is more passionate and powerful to you.
When I listen to this music, I feel that Chopin is the very crystal of romanticism. How do you feel?
Tchaikovsky : Piano Concerto. No. 1 in B flat minor [Highlight]
Here is a continuation of stimulating passages which we never get tired of listening repeatedly. What gives glory to the last of this concert is this Piano concerto, which was recorded in the CD. Piano Concerto includes a number of masterpieces, among which I am very fond of this piece composed by Tchaikovsky.
The first movement recoded in the CD is magnificent, and further towards the finale of the third movement I feel an overwhelming elation surging over, which is hard to get elsewhere. Today, the orchestra will play the highlighted charms of the first movement and the finale.
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