Krankrede Concert 2026

In our current intermittently creaking age, Shostakovich's Symphony No. 8 is a work that is painful just to listen to. The work depicts the Battle of Stalingrad, one of the most intense and horrific battles in the history of mankind, and is also a requiem for the victims of the war.
The division and exclusion that now prevail in the world, the suffering, hatred, violence, and strife that arise from this division and exclusion, and the violence and strife that now take place in the world.
Where have all the precious ideas that we should have gained from our reflections after the two world wars gone?
I hope you will approach this work with Shostakovich's feelings for the people who were tormented by the tragic war.
In contrast, after hearing Janacek's Sinfonietta, which celebrates the liberation of the motherland, and Takemitsu's A String Around Autumn, which places you in nature and lets you breathe in its breath, this poignant contrast between two warm and open works is a warm and peaceful experience that recognizes diversity and respects each other. This poignant contrast may be a clue to regain our hearts and minds to realize a warm and peaceful world that recognizes diversity and respects each other.

In this year, 30 years after Toru Takemitsu's death, 51 years after Shostakovich's passing, and 100 years after the Sinfonietta was composed, we believe we can gain much from these three works.