Who gives the best concerts in Japan?

Who gives the best concerts in Japan?

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norman lebrecht

February 04, 2014

A panel of 44 music critics and journalists picked the best classical concerts held in Japan from December 1, 2012 to November 30, 2013.

The winner is pictured below.

Here’s the list:

1. 16 points / City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra conducted by Andris Nelsons
2. 15 points / Nissei Theater – Reimann’s “Lear”
3. 14 points / Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra conducted by Mariss Jansons
4. 13 points / Radu Lupu (piano)
5. 12 points / Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Simon Rattle
6. 11 points / Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Christian Thielemann
7. 10 points / Teatro alla Scala – “Falstaff”
8. 9 points / Orchestra of the 18th Century conducted by Frans Brüggen
8. 9 points / Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra – 841st subscription concert (Orchard Hall) conducted by Mung-Whung Chung
10. 8 points / Magdalena Kozena (mezzo-soprano) & Private Musike
11. 7 points / London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Bernard Haitink
11. 7 points / Murray Perahia (piano)
13. 6 points / Mitsuko Uchida (piano)
13. 6 points / Orchestre de Paris conducted by Paavo Järvi
15. 5 points / Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen
15. 5 points / Tokyo Spring Music Festival – „Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg“
15. 5 points / Ensemble InterContemporain
15. 5 points / Saito Kinen Festival Matsumoto –
“L’enfant et les sortilèges,”  “L’heure espagnole”
15. 5 points / Teatro alla Scala – “Rigoletto”
15. 5 points / Japan Philharmonic Orchestra 653rd subscription concert
conducted by Pietari Inkinen
15. 5 points / John Williams (guitar)
15. 5 points / Czech Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Jiří Bělohlávek
15. 5 points / Die Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen conducted by Paavo Järvi – “Fidelio”
15. 5 points / Krystian Zimerman (piano)
Andris Nelsons conducts Beethoven 7

Comments

  • Will Duffay says:

    Interesting! Any idea what the CBSO programme was?

  • Neil van der Linden says:

    No 2 is remarkable. As Dutch of course I am also pleased with the strong total Dutch presence.

    Concertgebouw Orchestra, Orchestrat 18th century, Haitink.

  • Marguerite Foxon says:

    Hooray for the Latvians!

  • timwalton3 says:

    By all accounts the CBSO had a fantastic tour of Japen last November & were mobbed by the locals.

    They are on tour again in Europe from March 15-31 – Fifteen Concerts in 17 days!

    Taking in Paris, Vienna, Munich, Freiburg, Heidelberg, Hannover, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Essen, Stuttgart & Luxembourg.

    ALL with Andris Nelsons – Full details at

    http://www.cbso.co.uk/?page=concerts/tours.html

    Tim

  • MWnyc says:

    I’m surprised the Bach Collegium Japan isn’t there. Maybe it wasn’t a peak year for them last year.

  • Ana says:

    Radu Lupe!! I heard even Mitsuko Uchida was one of the audience. No wonder he could not sell out at Carnegie.

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