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

Feel free to enjoy!　Life with Concerts
File.6 Kanagawa Prefectural Music Hall
Mitsusaburo Mori (music writer)

Should I say welcome home?
Should I say thank you for your hard work?
It's a bit confusing because the enemy is a building...
After completing renovations lasting approximately one year, Kanagawa Prefectural Music Hall, a music hall that can be called a treasure of Kanagawa Prefecture and which has produced many legendary performances, will reopen on June 1, 2019.

Amazing architecture
Acoustics praised by renowned musicians as "the best in the East"
And above all, a diverse and fascinating program
I've been looking forward to it for a year. I've missed you so much!
It opened in 1954, so this year marks its 65th anniversary.
The music hall, Japan's first public music hall, opened nine years after the end of the war, and the attached library were a symbol 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 hill from Sakuragicho Station. The long, rectangular, low-rise building made of glass and concrete, standing at the back of a parking lot, has a refreshing impression, completely devoid of excessive decoration.

To the left of the entrance is the all-glass lobby, which offers a wonderful sense of openness.
In stark contrast to the exterior, the interior of the hall is entirely made of stately wood, earning it the nickname "Wooden Hall."
The seating is sloped, which not only provides excellent acoustics, but also makes the musicians performing on stage feel very close, allowing you to concentrate on listening.

Another music hall designed by Maekawa is the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan in Ueno, Tokyo.
This is also a holy place for opera and ballet fans.
I really feel that the impression of the hall is important when attending a concert.
Combined with the quality music, you'll feel like you're a little more beautiful than usual just being there.

First, take part in the "Open Theater 2019: Sound, Experience Architecture, and Exploration at the Music Hall!" event, which will be held on June 1st, the day of the opening.
Along with events such as concerts and mini-lectures on architecture, this is a fun event that allows you to peek behind the scenes and under the floor, areas that are normally off-limits.

Along with the announcement of the reopening, this season's program was also announced.
It was worth the wait!
The program is packed with carefully planned programs ranging from Baroque opera to contemporary music.
For more details, please see the hall's website >> , but here I will pick out some noteworthy performances based on my personal preferences.

First up is the "Shunsuke Sato and the Netherlands Bach Society Orchestra" concert in September.

Shunsuke Sato is a highly professional violinist who enjoys overwhelming support from everyone, from music-loving ladies to discerning classical music enthusiasts. (This may seem like an exaggeration, but it's true.) He is also highly respected by contemporary composers, and last year he was appointed the sixth music director of the Netherlands Bach Society, the home of Bach research.
This time, he will lead his own troops in a debut performance. Let's celebrate this great achievement with the music of Bach.
A must-listen!

Next up in November is "Arditti String Quartet x Kenta Kojiri"
A collaboration between Arditti, a powerful group of contemporary music specialists, and dancer Kenta Kojiri, who has worked under the master choreographer Kylian Kylian.

Arditti is particularly adept at collaborating with dance, and he has previously created wonderful spaces for works by John Cage, so expectations are high for this one as well.
Contemporary music is often perceived as difficult, but this small performance, which excels in musical expression, will be a stimulating experience both aurally and visually.

And one more thing.
The October performance is titled "500 Years After His Death: Unravelling the Musical Mysteries of Leonardo da Vinci."

Was Da Vinci, the great Renaissance artist, also a musician?
Based on this hypothesis, or rather, the source material, Antonello, Japan's proud early music ensemble, will unravel the mystery through performance, singing, and dance.
This is a world that far exceeds my imagination as I write this.
Ok, I have to try it out!
Music and dance from the Renaissance period, which is even older than the Baroque period, are not something we usually get to experience.
What do modern people think?

What do you think, everyone?
Honestly, the program exceeded my expectations.

Starting this season, a free shuttle bus will run from Sakuragicho to the opening time of performances hosted by the music hall.
It's nice to slowly climb the hill, but the bus is still a pleasant option.

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