The New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra is streaming a performance of Mahler’s fifth tomorrow with conductor Daniel Harding with a view to raising awareness of the continued need for aid to Japan’s earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster victims.

Daniel was in Japan during the crisis and, as I reported then, tried to rally other artists to remain. He pledged to return and has made good his promise. Here’s the press release with all streaming details. I shall certainly try to catch the performance.

With the cooperation of the Sumida Triphony Hall, the New Japan Philharmonic will hold a charity concert  featuringworld-renowned conductor Daniel Harding. The concert will be broadcast on USTREAM.

On March 11, the day of the East Japan Great Earthquake, Daniel Harding was in Japan, scheduled to hold his celebratory first concert as Music Partner of NJP.  He was on his way to the final rehearsal of the concert when he experienced the magnitude nine earthquake himself. Though the concert of that evening was held as scheduled, the next three concerts were cancelled, and he reluctantly left the country four days later.

Ever since those days in Japan in March, he had a strong desire to hold a charity concert, a wish that will come true on June 20th. This USTEAM broadcast will be accessible both in Japan and overseas, to anyone who has an Internet connection.  At the time of the broadcast, a Japan Red Cross donation window will be shown concurrently in order to collect donations online. These funds can be collected not only in Japan but also from overseas locations (using PayPal).

Concert Overview:The Harding/New Japan Philharmonic Charity Concert–Hope for the Future after the 3/11 East Japan Great Earthquake–USTREAM Broadcast OverviewBroadcast Date: Monday, June 20, 2011, 18:30-21:30 (JST)USTREAM http://www.ustream.tv/channel/harding-njpcharityconcertShow title: Harding & NJP Charity ConcertProgram: Mahler: Symphony No.5

At present, three months after the earthquake, though progress has been made in the recovery of many areas, some 90,000 people area still living in shelters, and circumstances in a number of areas remain as they were immediately after the earthquake.  In light of this situation, we hope to make this an opportunity to share this concert simultaneously with those who for whatever reason are unable to attend this concert, including the disaster victims themselves and others who live far away—and one way of supporting the reconstruction effort.

Conductor Daniel Harding, the man who proposed this concert, comments as follows:“Maybe music, amongst the many great achievements of mankind, can help us to try to comprehend the magnitude and the context of such suffering. Maybe music can also help us, in the smallest way, to begin to heal.As musicians we can try to provide those in need with happiness, emotion, vitality and courage through beautiful and thought-provoking music.”We would very much appreciate your cooperation on announcing this meaningful event.

The French cabaret artiste Catherine Ringer is used to pushing out boundaries.

In the 1970s she appeared in pornographic movies. Later she formed a rock band, Les Rita Mitsouko.

Later still, she has taken to Mahler.

Rather movingly, as I hope you’ll agree from this nightclub performance of the Adagietto from the 5th symphony. Here’s the video.

I passed the studios at 11 this morning and there were a few hundred fans outside. When returned a five there were well over 1,000, mostly teenaged girls, cameras at the ready and shrieking at the first sign of anyone emerging from the entrace.

‘Who’s in?’ I asked.

‘Shinee,’ said a helpful girl.

‘Shiny who?’

Biggest boy band in Korea, apparently.

Back at my desk I can hear the shrieking half a mile away.

A SHINee (correct spelling) fan site has asked me to use a more recent picture of the group. Here goes:

The Brooklyn Philharmonic has sent a letter to Mayor Bloomberg offering to take over the free summer concerts at Central Park, now that the New York Philharmonic is apparently too busy to continue the tradition.

This is chutzpah of the highest order and deserving of reward. Here’s the cheeky letter. I’ll let you know when Mayor Mike writes back. And what the New York Philharmonic have to say.

Dear Mr Mayor:

Since our cousin, the New York Philharmonic, has other activities that don’t allow them to continue the tradition of free concerts in the parks this summer, we’d be happy to step in and play for free for the people of New York City in their place. We’d very much like to help New Yorkers properly celebrate this summer’s warm evenings.

“Having served New York City in both music performance and education for over 150 years, the Brooklyn Phil can certainly manage some rousing Sousa in Central Park and deliver terrific Prokofiev to Prospect Park. Even more, we’d love to get the people of New York City involved in picking what they’d like to hear — so we could easily set up an informal poll on our web site (bphil.org) to let the listeners choose their favorites.

“Of course, our players like the New York Philharmonic’s) are union musicians, so we’ll need to work out a way to pay them fairly. But other than covering the actual cost of the performances, we’re not looking to make any profit. Perhaps Target or the MetLife Foundation would be willing to sponsor…

“We love the idea of New Yorkers sitting on blankets, enjoying food and wine while listening to great music under the stars, and we’d be thrilled to give our city the gift of music this summer. Yours truly, Alan Pierson , artistic director.”