The end of the year in Japan is all about the Ninth Symphony! (Including concert information in Kanagawa Prefecture)

(TOP image) Image provided by Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra

Enjoy casually! Life with concerts
File.4 Beethoven Symphony No. 9
(Mitsuzo Mori / Music writer)

The end of the year brings with it the Ninth Symphony.
The fourth movement, "Ode to Joy." The moment when the choir of about 100 people waiting at the back of the stage all rose to their feet at once! It still gives me goosebumps no matter how many times I experience it.

Even so, it's incredibly popular.
With each professional orchestra performing several times, plus citizen orchestras also joining in, there will likely be over 100 concerts across the country, with tens of thousands of people enjoying the "Ode to Joy." It has now become a staple of the December season.

It seems that the piece began to be performed frequently a few years after the end of the war, so Japanese people's love for the Ninth has been going for quite a long time.
It is said that the large number of performers, including the choir, means that the performers mobilize their relatives as a way to earn money for the New Year, but the main reason for the popularity of the Ninth is probably the fact that the wonderful melody of the fourth movement, "Ode to Joy," perfectly matches the sensibilities of the Japanese people.
*Image provided by Yokosuka Arts Theatre

Beethoven's Symphony No. 9.
The premiere was in 1824, three years before his death at the age of 56. It was his last completed symphony. This is a story from about 200 years ago.

By the way, do you know where the Ninth Symphony was first performed in Japan?
It was a prisoner of war camp in Tokushima Prefecture!
The year was 1918 (Taisho 7).
Amazingly, it was performed by German soldiers who were captured by the Japanese army in China after World War I. This happened exactly 100 years ago.
* "Group photo of the orchestra in the auditorium" Image provided by Naruto German House

Although there are prestigious orchestras in Germany that perform on New Year's Eve, there does not seem to be an image of "end of the year = Ninth Symphony."
But for Germans and Europeans, the Ninth seems to exist as something much more special, something very meaningful.

When the Vienna State Opera, destroyed in the war, was rebuilt.
The end of 1989 saw the fall of the Berlin Wall.
The following year, East and West Germany were reunited.
What's more, "Ode to Joy" has been adopted as the anthem of the European Union (EU).
The lyrics of "Ode to Joy" by poet Schiller are a hymn to humanity and a strong appeal for solidarity between people, which is proof that it is a source of hope for the people of Europe.
And Beethoven's music!
From his late 20s, he began to suffer from hearing problems, which are essential to a musician's life, and even went so far as to send a letter to an acquaintance that read like a suicide note.
A tremendous creative drive that always seeks something new, and the anguish that comes with it.
Apparently, by the age of 40, he had become almost deaf in both ears, meaning that "Symphony No. 9" was composed under such circumstances.
Hearing loss causes poor health. Sulky and stubborn.
Although he likes keeping things neat, he has a hard time tidying his room, and has moved 60 times.
In other words, Beethoven had a difficult life.
That is why idealistic messages of peace, freedom, and solidarity are never just pretty words, but reach the hearts of people all over the world as a vivid and heartfelt "ray of hope."

The introduction to the first movement is reminiscent of the beginning of the universe
The second movement is a dance of joy and pain
The heavenly beautiful third movement
And so it begins…
To me, to you, and to the world
Let the "Song of Joy" ring out!!

The following events have all ended.

[Kanagawa Prefecture "Ninth" Concert Information]

Kanagawa Prefectural Hall
■Concert for Young People Yokohama Symphony Orchestra 691st Regular Concert
Date and time: Sunday, December 16th 14:00 start (13:00 open)
Conductor: Yuuki Tonaga
Soprano Takashina Ayano / Alto Yanatori Sato / Tenor Ushiroda Shohei / Baritone Takeuchi Toshiki
Orchestra: Yokohama Symphony Orchestra
Chorus: Yokokyo Symphony Orchestra and the Society for Singing the Ninth Symphony, Yokokyo Symphony Orchestra
Price: All seats reserved 2,000 yen

■Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra Regular Concert "Symphony No. 9"
Date and time: December 21st (Friday) 19:00 start (doors open at 18:20)

(c)Greg Sailor
Conductor: Junichi Hirokami
Soprano Eri Takahashi / Alto Rina Hirayama / Tenor Hiroyuki Yoshida / Baritone Takahito Asai
Orchestra: Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra
Chorus: Kanagawa Philharmonic Chorus
Price: S seats 7,000 yen, A seats 5,500 yen, B seats 4,000 yen
Youth (under 25) - 1,000 yen for each seat on the day only
Seniors (70 years and older) 10% discount on all seat types

Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall
■Japan Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra Symphony No. 9 Special Concert 2018

Date and time: December 15th (Sat) 18:00 start (doors open at 17:10)
Conductor: Michiyoshi Inoue
Soprano: Eiko Suga / Alto: Sumie Fukuhara / Tenor: Ken Nishikiori / Baritone: Takashi Aoyama
Orchestra: Japan Philharmonic Orchestra
Chorus: Tokyo College of Music
Ticket prices: S seats 9,000 yen, A seats 7,500 yen, B seats 7,000 yen, C seats 6,000 yen, P seats Ended
Ys (25 and under) 3,500 yen *Limited seats remaining