Experience the world of drama with the performance of the Kanagawa Philharmonic! "Reversal Orchestra Special Concert"
On February 21st, "Reversal Orchestra Special Concert" was held at Minatomirai Hall in Yokohama, which was planned by Nippon Television's serial drama "Reversal Orchestra". "Reversal Orchestra" is broadcast every Wednesday at 10:00 p.m. on Nippon Television, featuring Hatsune Tanioka, a former genius violinist played by Mugi Kadowaki, and Tokoha, an up-and-coming maestro played by Kei Tanaka. This is the story of Choyo struggling to rebuild the Kodama Symphony Orchestra, a junk orchestra based in Nishi-Saitama City. It's an exhilarating musical entertainment that makes you laugh and cry in the middle of the week, and I look forward to it every week.
The Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra (hereafter referred to as the Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra) supports the performance part, which can be said to be the cornerstone of this drama. The Kanagawa Philharmonic not only performs the classical music performed in the film, but also actually appears in the drama as a member of the Kodama Symphony Orchestra (hereafter referred to as Tamakyo). This time, the Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra went to a one-night-only special concert where they performed a number of famous songs, including songs that appear in dramas.
When the curtain opens, the guest concert master Takashi Aoki will tune in first. Conductor Kenjiro Sakairi made an appearance, and the famous phrase "jajajajaan" resounded throughout the venue. Even the author, who is not familiar with classical music, knew in an instant that it was Beethoven's "fate". And the moment I heard this phrase, the tension I had about the “classical concert by a professional orchestra” was eased. Even the familiar phrases were powerful when heard through a live orchestra, and I began to feel the excitement of enjoying tonight's concert.
This was followed by <Farandole> from Bizet's <Woman of Arles> Suite 2, which also appeared in the drama, and Elgar's March <Pomp and Circumstance> No. 1. ≪Farandole≫ was a song that demonstrated Tamakyo's clunky performance in the first episode, but at the concert, the Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra brilliantly colored the venue. The brilliant tone of the flute solo that triggered Hatsune's attraction to Tamakibiki captivated the entire venue.
Also, in the third episode, Hatsune Tanioka and Asahi Tokoha performed together with Gyokukyo in front of the audience for the first time, and it is one of the most important songs in the drama. The sound, such as the parts that the members practiced repeatedly and the excitement at the end, evoked drama images, and I was able to enjoy the real thrill of this concert from an early stage.
As an aside, Beethoven's ``Fate'' was first shown (practice scenes) in episode 7, which aired the day after the concert. Enjoy the songs you heard at the concert in the drama, and enjoy the live sound of the songs you became familiar with in the drama. I was able to experience both, and I got the impression that the program was carefully put together so that I could enjoy it together with the drama.
After the three songs were played, Mugi Kadowaki and Kei Tanaka, who were listening to the performance in the audience, went up to the stage. Kadowaki commented that he was moved to tears after listening to the performance of the Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra. Mr. Tanaka, who plays the ``Maestro with a sharp tongue,'' said, ``I used to say to everyone, 'This orchestra is a piece of crap.
After the two guests took the stage, the "Castanet Challenge" was held as an audience participation type event, in which the castanets were hit to the tune of "If you are happy, clap your hands" performed by the Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra. However, this "castanet challenge" was many times more difficult than I thought, and the whole venue was surrounded by the sound of castanets ringing with surprise and confusion. Percussionist Mariko Okada, who wowed the audience with her splendid castanet skills, next showed off her skills as ``Japan's No. I forget to breathe when I see the sound accurately sounding at a speed that my eyes can't follow. In the background, a timpanist and a trumpet player performed a comical play in which they beat bumblebees to exterminate them.
The finale of the first part of the event is the 2nd movement of "Symphony No. 3 <With Organ>" composed by Saint-Saëns, played with the pipe organ, which was introduced as "an instrument that can produce the lowest sound in the venue." Part 2”. Mr. Kadowaki and Mr. Tanaka were surprised at the size of the pipe organ “Lucy” that Minato Mirai Hall is proud of. The curtain of the first part came down with the magnificent and profound tone played by "Lucy".
In the second part, Shinya Kiyozuka, a popular pianist who is in charge of the music for the drama, will appear. After enlivening the venue with his light talk power, which is familiar to the media, he performed "Reversal Orchestra Improvisation Medley". Mr. Kiyozuka arranges famous classical songs such as "Elise ni tame ni" to add color to the story and create a musical accompaniment that is close to the feelings of the characters. A familiar classical masterpiece changed his expression, and Mr. Kiyozuka's charming fingerwork was released into the venue.
After that, Mr. Kiyozuka, who was in charge of the music for the drama together with Mr. Kiyozuka, appeared, and "Gyokukyo Cantabile" performed by Mr. Kiyozuka, Mr. Kiyozuka's piano, and Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra was performed. It was such a luxurious time to enjoy the harmony of the two musicians who were in charge of the play and the Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra who was in charge of the performance.
Such "luxury" time was not over yet. Toreador (Bullfighter) from the <Carmen> Suite followed, jumping over the boundaries of the drama, Hatsune Tanioka participated as the concertmaster and Asahi Tokoha as the maestro. The sight of Hatsune and Asahi shaking hands as Commas and Maestro made my heart warm. Mr. Kadowaki's imposing bowing, and Mr. Tanaka's dynamic and supple command. It is a natural fit in the professional orchestra, and you can feel the efforts that the two have made to acquire this level of skill. It seems that the actors who actually play in the drama have been practicing their respective instruments before cranking in. The performance scenes in the work will touch the hearts of the viewers precisely because all the cast members are earnestly facing the music. This performance that fused the real world and drama was wrapped in a big applause in the venue.
Conductor Sakairi reappears, and a lilting trumpet fanfare resounds. "March of the Swiss Troops" from <William Tell> Overture, which Hatsune played with members of Gyokukyo for the first time. Next, they performed “Mela!”, a song by the popular band Green-Yellow Society, which was played in Episode 4. It is also a song that connects the bond between mother and daughter in the work, and the beautifully played viola solo made my eyes hot.
The last piece played was Tchaikovsky's "Symphony No. 5, 4th movement," which is also the main theme of the drama. This song, which is also the opening of the drama, decorated the last at the concert. Mr. Kadowaki and Mr. Tanaka sat in their favorite seats in the orchestra and enjoyed the performance from the orchestra.
During the encore "Radetzky March", the audience spontaneously stood up and clapped their hands together with the guests on stage, showing the most excitement of the day. By this time, my heart was already overflowing with the feeling that "music is fun!" The high threshold I had felt for classical music, and my anxiety about whether I could really understand it, disappeared without a shadow of a shadow. A space where you can listen, see, feel, participate, and enjoy yourself to the fullest. And it was all the people on stage and behind the scenes who brought me this feeling of "fun".
The members of the Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra, who delivered a wonderful tone, warmed the venue while constantly smiling and incorporating a playful spirit. Conductor Sakairi showed a big smile after each song. The music of Mr. Kiyozuka and Ms. Kaho who taught me that "classical music can be enjoyed freely". After playing "Carmen", Mr. Kadowaki and Mr. Tanaka commented, "It was fun!" The program was also filled with the desire for beginners to enjoy classical music without being overwhelmed. Just as each sound overlaps to create the sound of an orchestra, each person's thoughts piled up to create the best concert.
For me, the world of classical music that sparked my interest in dramas. Ever since I actually listened to a live performance by a professional orchestra, the sound of the instruments kept ringing in my head. I was completely fascinated by "classical" and "orchestral" music. Don't shy away from the high threshold of classical music, please come and visit the Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra. Because the Classic Gate is wider, warmer, and more fun than you think!
