The "wooden hall" is back! Kanagawa Prefectural Music Hall reopens after renovations.

Enjoy casually !　Life with Concerts
File.6 Kanagawa Prefectural Music Hall
Mori Mitsusaburo (music writer)

Should I say, "Welcome back"?
Should I say, "Thank you for your hard work"?
It's easy to get lost when the other party is a building...
After approximately one year of renovation work, the Kanagawa Prefectural Music Hall, a treasure of Kanagawa Prefecture that has hosted countless legendary performances, will reopen on June 1, 2019.

Magnificent architecture
The sound was praised by renowned musicians as "the finest sound in the Orient."
And above all, it's a diverse and fascinating program.
I've been looking forward to this for a whole year. I've missed you!
The museum opened in 1954, so this year marks its 65th anniversary.
The music hall, Japan's first public hall dedicated solely to music, built nine years after the war, and the attached library, were, in a sense, symbols of postwar reconstruction.
The building was designed by Kunio Maekawa, a pioneer of modernist architecture who studied under Le Corbusier.
It's about a 10-minute walk up a slightly steep slope from Sakuragicho Station. The low-rise, rectangular building made of glass and concrete, nestled at the back of the parking lot, gives a truly refreshing impression, completely devoid of excessive ornamentation.

To the left of the entrance, the lobby, with its floor-to-ceiling glass windows, offers a wonderful sense of openness.
In stark contrast to its exterior, the hall's interior, as its nickname "The Wooden Hall" suggests, is entirely made of elegant wood.
The seating area is sloped, which is great because it not only provides excellent acoustics but also allows you to feel very close to the musicians performing on stage, making it easy to concentrate on listening.

Another music hall designed by Mr. Maekawa is the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan in Ueno, Tokyo.
This place, too, is a sacred site for fans of opera and ballet.
I've come to realize just how important the impression of the concert hall is when deciding whether to attend a concert.
Combined with good music, it makes you feel like you've become a little bit more beautiful than usual.

First, be sure to participate in "Open Theater 2019: Sound, Experiential Architecture, and Exploration at the Music Hall!" which will be held on June 1st, the opening day.
Along with events like concerts and mini-lectures on architecture, this is a fun project that lets you peek behind the scenes and even under the floorboards—places you normally can't access. They've really put a lot of effort into this!

And along with the announcement of the reopening, this season's program was also revealed.
It was worth the wait!
From Baroque opera to contemporary music, the program is packed with meticulously planned selections.
For more details, please visit the hall's website >> , but here I will pick out some performances that I personally find noteworthy based on my own preferences.

First, there's the concert by Shunsuke Sato and the Netherlands Bach Society Orchestra, which will be held in September.

From music-loving ladies to discerning classical music enthusiasts, Shunsuke Sato is a truly accomplished violinist who enjoys overwhelming support (this may sound like an exaggeration, but it's true). He is highly respected by contemporary composers as well, and last year he was appointed the 6th Music Director of the Netherlands Bach Society, a leading center for Bach research.
This will be his debut performance leading his own orchestra. Let's celebrate this great achievement with the melodies of Bach.
You absolutely must listen to this!

Next up is the November performance by the Arditti String Quartet and Kenta Kojiri.
A collaboration between Arditti, a top-notch group of specialists in contemporary music, and Kenta Kojiri, a dancer who has worked under the legendary choreographer Kylián.

Collaborating with dance is Arditti's specialty, and having previously created wonderful spaces with works such as those by John Cage, expectations are high for this project as well.
Contemporary music is often perceived as difficult to understand. However, with the performance of Kojiri, who excels at musical expression, it will be a stimulating experience from both a auditory and visual perspective.

And one more thing.
The October performance is titled "500th Anniversary of Leonardo da Vinci's Death: Unraveling the Mysteries of His Music."

Did you know that Leonardo da Vinci, the Renaissance master, was also a musician?!
Based on this hypothesis or rather, this document, Antonello, a nationally renowned early music ensemble, will attempt to unravel the mystery through performance, song, and dance.
This is a world far beyond anything I could have imagined as I was writing.
Alright, I have to try it!
Music and dance from the Renaissance era, which is even older than the Baroque period, are things we don't often get to experience.
What do modern people think?

What do you think, everyone?
To be honest, it was a program that exceeded my expectations.

Furthermore, starting this season, a free shuttle bus will be running from Sakuragicho to the venue to coincide with the opening time for performances organized by the music hall.
While slowly climbing the hill can be quite enjoyable, taking the bus is definitely a welcome option.

welcome back.
These were words that needed to be conveyed to all the staff involved with the concert hall.
And one more thing.
Thank you so much for always putting on such wonderful performances!