Experience the world of drama with a performance by the Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra! 'Reversal Orchestra Special Concert'
On February 21st, the "Reversal Orchestra Special Concert," a project related to the NTV drama series "Reversal Orchestra," was held at the Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall. "Reversal Orchestra" airs every Wednesday at 10 PM on the NTV network and tells the story of Hatsune Tanioka, a former genius violinist played by Mugi Kadowaki, and Asahi Tokiwa, a rising maestro played by Kei Tanaka, as they struggle to revive the Kodama Symphony Orchestra, a struggling orchestra based in West Saitama City. It's an exhilarating musical entertainment that makes you laugh, cry, and feel energized in the middle of the week, and I look forward to it every week.
The Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra (hereinafter referred to as "Kanagawa Phil") is the backbone of the musical performances that are central to this drama. Not only does the Kanagawa Phil perform the classical pieces featured in the drama, but they also actually appear in the drama as members of the Kodama Symphony Orchestra (hereinafter referred to as "Tamayura"). This time, I went to a one-night-only special concert in which the Kanagawa Phil performed many famous pieces, including those featured in the drama.
As the curtain rose, guest concertmaster Takashi Aoki began tuning the orchestra. Conductor Kenjiro Sakairi then appeared, and the famous phrase "Da-da-da-DUM" rang out throughout the hall. Even I, who am not well-versed in classical music, recognized it instantly as Beethoven's "Symphony No. 5." And the moment I heard this phrase, the tension I had felt about attending a classical concert by a professional orchestra instantly melted away. Even a familiar phrase sounds breathtaking when heard through a live orchestra, and I began to feel a sense of "destiny" to enjoy tonight's concert, and I started to get excited.
Next, the concert featured "Farandole" from Bizet's "L'Arlésienne" Suite No. 2, which also appeared in the drama, and Elgar's "Pomp and Circumstance" March No. 1. "Farandole" was the piece that showcased Tamayura's clumsiness in the first episode, but in the concert, the Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra's wonderful performance added a spectacular touch to the venue. The brilliant sound of the flute solo, which was what initially drew Hatsune to Tamayura, captivated the entire audience.
Furthermore, "Pomp and Circumstance" is a song that holds an important place in the drama, as it was the first time Hatsune Tanioka and Asahi Tokiwa performed it in front of an audience with Tamayura in episode 3. The parts that the orchestra members had practiced repeatedly, and the build-up towards the end, brought the images from the drama to mind, allowing us to experience the true essence of this concert early on.
As an aside, Beethoven's "Symphony No. 5" was first featured (in a rehearsal scene) in the drama in episode 7, which aired the day after the concert. You can enjoy the music you heard at the concert in the drama, and then experience the music you became familiar with through the drama in live performance. I got the impression that the program was carefully put together so that viewers could enjoy both the concert and the music together.
After the three pieces were finished, Mugi Kadowaki and Kei Tanaka, who had been listening to the performance from the audience, came up on stage. Kadowaki commented that she was so moved by the Kanagawa Philharmonic's performance that she couldn't help but shed tears. Tanaka, who plays a "sharp-tongued maestro," said, "I wonder how you all had the nerve to say things like, 'This orchestra is rubbish' (laughs)," which drew laughter from the audience.
After the two guests took the stage, a participatory event called the "Castanet Challenge" was held, where audience members clapped their castanets along to the Kanagawa Philharmonic's performance of "If You're Happy and You Know It." However, the "Castanet Challenge" proved to be many times more difficult than expected, and the venue was filled with surprise and bewildered sounds of people clapping their castanets. Percussionist Mariko Okada, who impressed the audience with her superb castanet skills, then showcased her skills as "Japan's best marimba player" with "Flight of the Bumblebee." Her performance, with its incredible speed and precision, left the audience breathless. In the background, a timpanist and trumpet player performed a comical skit in which they tried to kill a bumblebee by hitting it, making it a time to reaffirm the potential of percussion instruments and the friendly side of the Kanagawa Philharmonic.
The grand finale of the action-packed first part was a performance of the second movement of Saint-Saëns' Symphony No. 3 (Organ Symphony), accompanied by a pipe organ introduced as "the instrument that can produce the lowest notes in the venue." The sheer size of Minato Mirai Hall's 자랑스러운 pipe organ, "Lucy," elicited gasps of surprise from both Ms. Kadowaki and Ms. Tanaka. The first part came to a close with the magnificent and profound sound of "Lucy."
In the second part, popular pianist Shinya Kiyozuka, who is in charge of the drama's soundtrack, took the stage. After energizing the audience with his lively conversational skills, which are well-known in the media, he performed a "Reversal Orchestra Improvisation Medley." Kiyozuka arranges classical masterpieces such as "Für Elise," adding color to the story and creating a soundtrack that resonates with the characters' emotions. Familiar classical masterpieces took on a new form, and were released into the audience through Kiyozuka's captivating fingerwork.
Afterward, Teiho, who co-wrote the drama's score with Kiyozuka, appeared on stage, and "Tamayura Cantabile" was performed with Teiho conducting, Kiyozuka on piano, and the Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra playing. It was a truly luxurious moment to enjoy the harmony created by the two musicians who composed the score and the Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra that performed it.
That "luxurious" time wasn't over yet. In the following "Toreador" from the Carmen Suite, Hatsune Tanioka joined as concertmaster and Asahi Tokiwa as maestro, transcending the boundaries of the drama. It was truly heartwarming to see Hatsune and Asahi shaking hands as concertmaster and maestro. Kadowaki's dignified bowing and Tanaka's dynamic yet supple conducting blended naturally with the professional orchestra, conveying the effort they had put in to acquire such skills. The actors who actually perform in the drama have apparently been practicing their instruments since before filming began. It is because all the cast members are sincerely dedicated to music that the performance scenes in the drama are so moving for viewers. The venue was filled with thunderous applause for this performance, which fused the real world and the drama.
Conductor Sakairi reappears, and a lively trumpet fanfare rings out. It's "The Swiss Army March" from the William Tell Overture, the first piece Hatsune played with the Tamayura members. Next, they perform "Mela!", a song by the popular band Ryokuoushoku Shakai, which they played in episode 4. In the story, this song connects the bond between mother and daughter, and the beautifully played viola solo brought tears to my eyes.
The final piece performed was the fourth movement of Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5, which also serves as the drama's main theme. This piece, which is also the drama's opening theme, concluded the concert. Ms. Kadowaki and Ms. Tanaka sat in their favorite seats within the orchestra and enjoyed the performance in their own way.
During the encore performance of the "Radetzky March," the audience spontaneously rose to their feet and clapped along with the guests on stage, creating the most exciting moment of the day. By this point, my heart was overflowing with the feeling that "music is fun!" Any preconceived notions I had about classical music being intimidating, or my anxieties about whether I could truly understand it, had vanished without a trace. It was a space where you could listen, watch, feel, participate, and enjoy yourself to the fullest. And this feeling of "fun" was brought about by everyone on stage and behind the scenes.
The members of the Kanagawa Philharmonic delivered a wonderful sound, constantly smiling and warming the audience with their playful touches. Conductor Sakairi showed a radiant smile after each piece. Mr. Kiyozuka and Mr. Teiho's music taught us that "classical music can be enjoyed freely." After performing "Carmen," Ms. Kadowaki and Ms. Tanaka commented, "That was fun!" and "That felt great!", embodying the joy of music themselves. The program was filled with the desire to make classical music enjoyable for beginners without any pressure. Just as each individual note comes together to create the sound of an orchestra, the feelings of each individual came together to create a truly wonderful concert.
For me, the world of classical music became interesting thanks to a TV drama. Ever since I actually heard a live performance by a professional orchestra, the sounds of the instruments have been ringing in my head. I've been completely captivated by "classical music" and "orchestras." Don't shy away from classical music thinking it's intimidating; I urge you to go see a performance by the Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra. Because the world of classical music is much broader and more welcoming than you might think, and there's so much "fun" waiting for you!
