Carnegie Hall

Japan has embraced Western classical music for decades as part of its breathtaking array of art forms and influences. The two-part JapanNYC festival provided an overview of this amazing culture, while also focusing on the country’s exemplary interpreters of Mozart, Bach, and Beethoven.

There was no better way to start JapanNYC in December than with its artistic director, Seiji Ozawa, who made an emotional return to Carnegie Hall leading the Saito Kinen Orchestra, which he co-founded in 1984. Japan’s oldest orchestra, the NHK Symphony Orchestra, appeared with guest conductor André Previn in Part II of JapanNYC, held in March and April, as did Masaaki Suzuki’s Bach Collegium Japan. Piano prodigy Aimi Kobayashi gave a recital, and violinist Midori performed in recital and as soloist.

Legendary pianist Toshiko Akiyoshi and her husband, tenor saxophone virtuoso Lew Tabackin, were part of the festival, and jazz guitarists Kazumi Watanabe and Daisuke Suzuki paid tribute to Tōru Takemitsu.

Although Western classical music formed the core of JapanNYC, traditional music and culture was far from neglected. Shamisen players Yutaka Oyama and Masahiro Nitta appeared in Zankel Hall; they also performed on a free Carnegie Hall Neighborhood Concert, as did taiko drummers Soh Daiko.

Noh theater, manga, film, butoh dance, and pop art were all part of partner events at 25 New York City cultural institutions. Carnegie Hall also continued its festival partnership with the Philharmonic Society of Orange County, with select JapanNYC artists appearing at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, California.

With Part II of JapanNYC starting only days after the devastating earthquake and tsunami that ravaged Japan, the festival also became an opportunity to reflect on the tragedy, an outlet for information on how to help those affected by the disaster, and a testament of the power of music to heal.