Ken Takaseki x Kanon Matsuda x Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra Unofficial

The most popular of Rachmaninoff's four piano concertos, "Piano Concerto No. 2" and "Symphony No. 5," also known as "Tchaikovsky's Symphony of Destiny," are used in many scenes in the concerto. These masterpieces of classical music will be performed by the Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Ken Takaseki, who is also a member of the jury for the Tokyo International Music Competition (Conducting), with guest pianist Kanon Matsuda.
Rachmaninoff, who will celebrate the 150th anniversary of his birth in 2023, is a representative Russian composer who inherited the music of the 19th century Russian Romanticism. The "Piano Concerto No. 2" to be performed this time is a famous work often used in movies and TV dramas, and was also featured in the Japanese manga "Nodame Cantabile," which is based on classical music.
Pianist Kanon Matsuda has studied in Moscow since the age of six, and has won the Grand Prix at the Edvard Grieg International Piano Competition (Moscow) in 2004, as well as many other competitions. Her powerful performance and high level of expressiveness will captivate the hearts of all who hear her.
The year 2023 also marks the 130th anniversary of the death of Tchaikovsky, one of the most famous composers of the late 19th century. The Symphony No. 5, which is said to have been composed on the theme of life and destiny, is also called "Tchaikovsky's Symphony of Destiny," and the finale, which expresses hardships and difficulties and the joy of overcoming them, is a must-hear.
In August 2022, the orchestra was awarded the 30th Mitsubishi UFJ Trust Music Prize.
The conductor is Ken Takaseki, who has served in various positions with major Japanese orchestras and is currently the Permanent Conductor of the Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra, Resident Conductor of the Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra, Principal Conductor of the Fujiyama Shizuoka Symphony Orchestra, and Professor of Conducting at the Tokyo University of the Arts. Since 2009, he has been serving as a jury member of the Tokyo International Music Competition for Conducting.
Ken Takaseki will give a pre-concert talk at 6:40 p.m., before the performance begins. Don't miss his commentary that will help you enjoy the performance more deeply!
We hope you will enjoy this elegant moment of intoxication with masterpieces of classical music.