Author: Classical music producer Yasuko Matsuda
In 2003, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of The Treaty of Peace and Friendship between China, the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra went to China to perform, which was my first visit to China. At that time, the relationship between the two countries was not so good politically, but the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra went to Shanghai. I still remember that at that time, as an international foreign-related person, I told myself that there must be no problems to clash with the Chinese side, so I went away with a nervous mood, and I still remember it vividly.
However, it turned out that my worries and uneasiness were unfounded. When the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra played the last syllable, the audience applauded thunderously, the overall atmosphere of the venue was as warm as a rock concert, and the difficulties in Sino-Japanese relations reported by the media were completely blown away by the enthusiasm of everyone in this venue.
It was my first encounter with China, and I fell in love with China because of it, and I have been committed to the cause of music exchange between China and Japan. In 2017, I participated in a performance in Tokyo and Shanghai commemorating the 45th anniversary of the restoration of diplomatic relations between China and Japan. After that, I stepped down from the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra in 2018 to start my own business as a producer of classical music. My first big project after starting my business was the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra's performance plan in Japan.
At the end of 2019, I went to Beijing to communicate with the Beijing Tongzhiyue Dream Children's Choir (Beijing Children's Choir), and went to Shenzhen to listen to the performance of the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra and spent the New Year's Eve Chinese New Year's Eve. On New Year's Day, I met with the pianist Lang Lang and talked to him about my desire to invite the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra to tour Japan. That was the beginning of a hopeful 2020.
The situation has changed suddenly, that is, the "self-censorship" of concerts after the epidemic in 2020. After that, all the concerts quietly disappeared! The Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra's first performance in Japan was postponed, Japan issued a declaration of emergency, the theater was closed, it was impossible to travel freely overseas, and it was not allowed to go out unless it was necessary or urgent... What happened after that?
Classical music, with a tenacious life, she did not disappear, and that was when the world needed classical music the most. At the end of 2019, the children of the Beijing Tongzhiyue Dream Boys' Choir, which I had exchanged, sent a warm singing voice of "We Are Together", and the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra's performance video with the message of "Spending Time Together" was sent to Bergamo, Italy, where many people unfortunately died of the epidemic at that time. Music is the universal language of the world, and she guards the hearts of everyone in the world and fulfills her mission of giving people the courage and hope of life.
In the suffering of the NEW CROWN epidemic, the world has become a community of destiny. I reaffirmed how the common language of the world, "music," crosses borders and connects people's hearts in the face of difficulties.
This fall, a concert will be held at the Karuizawa Daiga Concert Hall. Initiated by Chinese students who cannot return home due to the epidemic, young people from Japan, Germany, the United States, Italy and other countries and regions will come together to create this concert. Supporting these young people who cannot return home are musical instruments. When Mr. Chi Zejun, a former Sony China, contacted me and considered together, "If there is any goal, young people can hold out hope, right?" "Together, we planned the "Karuizawa International Youth Exchange Concert." The poster was also the first to be made by Chinese students. They once had uneasy eyes because they couldn't see the future of the epidemic period, and at this moment, they were shining.
Ohga Concert Hall was built with the property of Mr. Norio Ohga, former honorary president of Sony and former chairman of the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, with the intention of "making Karuizawa a music city like Salzburg." ”
This autumn, people of different nationalities, different religions, and different ages will gather at the Karuizawa Daiga Concert Hall, and their common denominator is their love of music.
It is a gathering where everyone can present new skills after diligent practice, and it is a venue for academic research, which is the Karuizawa Youth Exchange Concert. I sincerely wish that at that time, the hearts of each of them will be bright and bright, like the beautiful autumn leaves of Karuizawa.
As for myself, I will also start a relationship and exchange with people based on classical music, not only in Japan and China, but also in The talented musicians in Asia to form the "Asian Philharmonic" and play all over the world. That was my big dream.
The last performer of the concert is the audience. The concert always ended with applause from the audience. When people listen to music, they forget which country the audience next to them is, and everyone listens to the vivid live music in front of them. Finally, everyone clapped together to complete the harmony, and the stage and offstage resonated. This is the miracle, it is the "power of music". I think that it is not the flow of resources and logistics that connects different countries, and when people play in concerts, it may only be two hours, but the accumulation of these two hours is not exactly to create a peaceful and warm future? I can't help but think so.
(This article is reproduced from the 31st issue of Hehua "100 Voices of The People of China and Japan")
About the Author
Yayuko Matsuda is a classical music producer. He served as the director of foreign affairs propaganda of the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra and coordinated the "China-Japan-Rok Friendship Tour for the Future" and the "45th Anniversary commemorative performance of the resumption of diplomatic relations between China and Japan". After retiring from the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra in 2018, he established https://almond-music.com/ Co., Ltd., which mainly plans to produce classical music concerts, and is currently planning the 2023 Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra to perform in Japan.