As an easy appetizer, the sold-out auditorium was served a composition by the Japanese author Kosaku Yamada (1886-1965). The short Overture in D major, in sound and form flirted with the European tradition of the imaginary intersection somewhere between Beethoven and Mendelssohn. With its classicist lines it excited and whetted the appetite of listeners for the main work of the evening. The first of these was the Violin Concerto in A minor, op.53 by Antonin Dvorak. The soloist performing was young Japanese violinist Sayaka Shoji. This phenomenally talented violinist, who won the Paganini competition at the age of 16 as the youngest participant in history, was noticed by famous conductor Zubin Mehta and their cooperation meant a great start of her great artistic career. Dvorak’s concerto in her interpretation was very robust, virtuoso and dramatic. Shoji has a beautiful tone, every detail of her playing is beautifully drawn and the sound of her Stradivarius playfully exceeded the orchestral tutti in tense areas, on the other hand, even the subtle pianissimo and flanger sounded resonant and plastic. The performance by the soloist and orchestra can not be described otherwise than as perfect. Possible controversy could be caused perhaps by the excess intensity of the of the soloist’s performance, somewhat depersonalised pursuit of perfectionism and commitment at the expense of tenderness and lyrical sensibility of the second part and the Finale, which did not rely too much on the character of Czech folk music and amusing danceability, but rather was marked by the monumental spirit of virtuosity, pathos and ferocity.

The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly Symphony No. 5 in E minor, op. 64 by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Koizumi, who conducted the entire concert from memory, directed the flow of music with just fine movements of his hands outstretched in front of him and at that moment it was impossible not to think of the legendary Herbert von Karajan and the fact that Koizumi studied in Berlin. Perhaps also because the Tokyo orchestra sound evoked the dense, complete and deep accent of the sound of the Berlin Philharmonic in the Karajan era. Typical characteristics of the Tokyo orchestra were the strictly “European” sound, the perfect line of bows, the perfect harmony of the wind section, fantastic playing of the brass instruments, unique interplay, depth of expression and cooperation with the presented music, the plasticity of the lines and the enchanting musicality.

After the introductory part, full of resolute movement and painful stops, the second part of the symphony was of a particular interest. It was Andante cantabile, which was in excellent proportions, even in spite of the heavy sound of bows; the woodwinds came naturally to the fore whenever the music required it. The finale of the symphony meant the climax of the evening and the dramatic tension caused some less experienced audience to applaud even before the end of it. The deep emotional world, the tragic visions and feelings of despair on the verge of personal uncertainty of Tchaikovsky, found amazing fulfilment in the hands of the Tokyo Metropolitan Orchestra. After an enthusiastic ovation from the audience, Koizumi spoke casually with the audience for a moment and as an encore the orchestra performed the polonaise from Tchaikovsky’s opera Eugene Onegin. Koizumi at the same time performed like a showman in the style of the British “Last Night of the Proms”, when instead of conducting he jokingly made fun with the audience and orchestra members.

In any case, such bombastic music had probably never been heard in the Košice House of Art before. The dynamics of sound orchestra worked almost like at rock concert and even the ordinary string Pizzicatos literally vibrated the room of the building. Their acoustic opposite was the dreamy surface of the sonorous Tchaikovsky’s Cantilena. The systematic architectural structure of the work, the perfect discipline of the members of the orchestra and the flawless execution with immense musicality conveyed to viewers a living experience, for which we would normally have to travel really far. The concert by the Tokyo Metropolitan Orchestra shifted awareness of the heights of the orchestral part of the world of performing arts to a reference level, with which we are now likely to compare all future musical events in the city and the region aspiring to the title of “exceptional”, for decades to come.

Peter Katina

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of cooperation and good relations between the Slovak Republic and Japan, European Capital of Culture – Košice 2013, in cooperation with EU Japan Fest – Japanese company to support the dissemination of Japanese culture in Europe, prepared a number of interesting events presenting Japanese culture fort the weekend of 25^th – 26^th May 2013.

Exhibition of the best Slovak bonsai

25^th May 13:00 to 18:00, and 26^th May 11: 00 to 18:00, foyer of the House of Arts, Moyzes Street 66.

Exhibitors:

Milan Rozkoš, Vranov nad Topľou;

BONSAI SLOVAKIA, Vladimír Ondejčík and Alena Ondejčíková, Nitra

www.bonsai-slovakia.sk

In addition to admiring the seventy beautiful bonsai plants, visitors have a unique opportunity to learn a lot from these experienced bonsai-growers.

Special guest Mr. Takahiro Mori (Tokyo, Japan) gives a lecture on 26^th May at 15:00 to demonstrate the treatment of bonsai.

Go and shogi – traditional Japanese board games

Traditional Japanese go and shogi games presented by Slovak experts (Slovak Go Association, and Slovak Shogi Association, Adam Skalný and Lukáš Vyletel).

Presentation, game: as part of the CardboardCity near Urban’s Tower (26^th May 13:00 to 18:00).

Duel between the Japanese professional go player Murakami Akihide and a Slovak player.

25^th May 15:00 – foyer of the House of Arts, Moyzes Street 66.

What is go?

Go is a board game for two players with more than a 2.500-year history and tradition. Despite its simple rules, the game is very complex and has an incredibly large nuber of variations. Chess grand champion Emanuel Lasker said about go: “The rules of go are so elegant, organic and strictly logical, that if there are any intelligent life forms out there in the vast universe, they certainly play go.” Fans of go in Slovakia participate regularly in national and international go competitions, where they train and exercise their minds and spirits, and also strengthen friendly relations and raise awareness about the game in other people.

http://www.sago.sk

What is shogi?

Shogi is approximately 1.500 years old, and it is part of Japanese culture. It is a little known traditional art, recently performed only by a small group of professional players in Japan. This Japanese board game belongs to the same group of games as our chess, Chinese xiangqi, Thai makruk and ancient Indian chaturanga. All these games are derived from a common ancestor, therefore shogi shares with the other games the same goal in the game – to give checkmate to the opponent’s king. However, it differs from the rest in several aspects.

The shogi board has nine by nine boxes with twenty pieces on each side. Unlike chess, where a pawn can be exchanged for another piece only under certain circumstances, in shogi almost all pieces can be promoted and thus gain new freedom of movement. Undoubtedly the most interesting difference is adding. In shogi, disqualified pieces are imprisoned by the opponent, and he can later return them to the game as his own pieces. Mainly due to the adding, shogi became a dynamic game that rarely ends in a draw.

www.sogi.sk

Other events:

25^th May at 18:00 at the Historical Town Hall: Japanese farce back in Košice.

Shigeyama Motohiko, Kyoto-based professional actor of the Okura school, ambassador of the Japanese Ministry of Culture in Europe in 2013, together with the ensemble of the Little Kyōgen Theatre Brno (Czech Rep.). perform 3 kyōgen farces (traditional Japanese theatre form):

Susugigawa (“Large linen”) – in Czech,

Yobikoe (“Voice behind the door”) – in Czech,

Chacubo (Tea vessel) – in Czech and Japanese.

25^th of May, at 21:30: Shut up, Play! / Original Tempo (JP), Hlavná Steet 20, yard (as part of the USE THE C!TY festival).

26^th of May, at 19:00: concert by the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, State Philharmonics, Košice, Moyzes Street 66.

Violinist Sayaka Shoji plays solo violin in Dvořák’s violin concerto. She became recognised by the international music scene after her triumphant success at prestigious Paganini Competition (1999), where she won as the only Japanese, and also the youngest female, violinist in history. She cooperates with big-name conductors (Sir Colin Davis, Charles Dutoit, Mariss Jansons, Lorin Maazel, Zubin Mehta, Antonio Pappano, etc.), and plays with world-class orchestras (Berliner Philharmoniker, Bayerischer Staatsorchester, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, etc.)

The concert will begin with Japanese contemporary music – composer Kosaku Yamada – Overture in D major. After Dvořák’s violin concerto, the evening will culminate in the spectacular Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony.        

26th May: House of Arts, Moyzesova Street 66, Košice