On Saturday, April 6, “Open House: Let’s Play at Suntory Hall! will be held at Suntory Hall in Akasaka, Tokyo, on Saturday, April 6.
This annual event, which opens Suntory Hall to the public free of charge for one day only, has been held since 2005, and after a period of cancellation due to the Corona Disaster and online distribution, it has been revived as an open-access event again in 2023 with no advance registration required.
On the day of the event, organist Mari Mihara will give a concert using the 5,898-pipe organ that stands tall in front of the Main Hall, including a lecture on the instrument’s mechanism, and the Yokohama Sinfonietta will perform an orchestra concert. The orchestra concert will also be performed by the Yokohama Sinfonietta. The orchestra’s instruments will be introduced, and those who are selected from the audience will be able to experience conducting an orchestra.
In between the concerts, there will be a “Let’s get up on stage! time, where visitors can get up on stage. During this time, visitors will also be able to observe the organ performance table up close and personal.
In the Blue Rose (Small Hall), the “Classic Relay Marathon” will be held, with current and former students of the “Suntory Hall Academy” appearing one after another. A 15-minute mini-stage will be held periodically, and the program will be announced on stage on the day of the event.
In addition, a “Hall Guide Tour” will be conducted by a veteran receptionist who will explain the special features hidden in the lobby and seating area, “Hall Tanken Seat” for elementary school students and younger, and “Mini Wine Seminar” for those over 20 years old.
The area around the venue is also known as a cherry blossom viewing spot, and the “ARK Hills Sakura Festival 2024” will be held from April 5 (Fri.) to 7 (Sun.) at the ARK Karajan Plaza in front of Suntory Hall. Visitors can enjoy food stalls, a marché, and various workshops.
SUNTORY HALL OPEN HOUSE
April 6 (Sat), 2024, 11:00 – 17:00, free admission (no advance application required)
Venue: Suntory Hall Main Hall, Blue Rose (Small Hall), etc.
Suntory Hall Ticket Center
Suntory Hall Ticket Center 0570-55-0017 (10:00-18:00 except holidays)
Main Hall
All seats are unreserved. Please refrain from taking seats by luggage. Admission may be restricted if the hall is full.
◎Organ Concert (11:15-11:45 / 15:15-15:45)
The world’s largest organ, made by the Austrian company Rieger, is located in the front center of the hall. Please enjoy the powerful and rich sound of the 5,898 pipes while listening to a lecture by organist Mari Mihara on the mechanism of the instrument.
Organ: Mari Mihara
【Tunes】 J. S. Bach: Tchaikovsky: Tchaikovsky
J. S. Bach: Toccata from Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565
Wilshere: “My Beethoven
［Organ Lecture]
Vidor: Organ Symphony No. 6, 5th movement
◎Orchestra Concert （12:00～12:45 / 16:00～16:45)
The orchestra is the Yokohama Sinfonietta, which celebrated its 25th anniversary last year. The conductor is Yuta Kobayashi, Assistant Conductor of the Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra, who was recommended by Music Director Kazuki Yamada. In the 12:00 p.m. performance, there will be an introduction of the orchestra’s instruments, and in the 4:00 p.m. performance, there will be a special “Let’s Try Conducting! will be held in the 4:00 pm performance.
*Two adults and two children will be selected on the spot from those who wish to attend.
Yuta Kobayashi conducts the Yokohama Sinfonietta.
【Program】 Grieg: Suite “Horbe” (Grieg’s Suite for piano and piano)
Grieg: Suite “Prelude” from “From the Time of Holbehr
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 12 in A major, 1st movement *Yusuke Nagayoshi, piano
［Introduction of Orchestral Instruments
［Let’s conduct!] （Brahms: Hungarian Dances No. 5 in G minor (excerpt)
Dvořák: Slavonic Dances No. 10 in E minor
Mozart: Symphony No. 41 in C major, 4th movement from “Jupiter
◎Let’s go up on stage! (13:15～14:45) *Last admission at 14:30
Visitors can experience a view normally seen only by performers, and in the P Block (2F), they can observe the organ performance platform right next to the stage.
*Time will be limited and visitors will be admitted on a rotating basis. Please be considerate of others around you when taking pictures on the stage.
Blue Rose (Small Hall)
*If the hall is full, admission may be limited.
◎Classical Relay Marathon (11:10-16:45)
In the Blue Rose (Small Hall), current and former students of the “Suntory Hall Academy” will appear one after another to present mini stage performances of approximately 15 minutes. In addition, special guests are expected to appear! The program will be announced on the stage on the day of the event. Please enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime performance at the Blue Rose, where you can come and go as you please.
The approximate time of each performance will be announced on the day of the concert.
［Suntory Hall Chamber Music Academy]
Porteous Trio
Junnosuke Kikuno (piano), Michiko Yoshimura (violin), Aikei Kimura (cello)
［Suntory Hall Opera Academy]
Momoko Higashiyama (soprano), Akiko Haruyama (mezzo-soprano), Mana Okayama (piano)
Around the lobby (foyer), etc.
◎Hall Guided Tours ((1) 11:30-12:00, (2) 13:00-13:30, (3) 14:00-14:30, (4) 15:00-15:30)
Veteran receptionists will guide you on a tour of Suntory Hall’s special features hidden in the lobby and seating areas.
*For adults, each tour is limited to 80 people.
Application: Participation cards (up to 2 per person) will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis at the guided tour reception desk on the left side in front of the main entrance of the hall from 11:00 for (1) and (2) and from 13:30 for (3) and (4).
◎Hall Exploration Sheet
There are many secrets hidden in Suntory Hall! Complete all the missions on the sheet and receive a reward!
For elementary school students and younger
The sheets are placed at the reception desk and other locations in the lobby, so please feel free to take one.
◎Mini Wine Seminar （13:30-14:00/14:30-15:00/15:30-16:00)
Enjoy wine and music talks by a sommelier at the “Intermezzo” drink corner.
*For those 20 years of age and older, application required.
*Wine tasting (for a fee) will be available (those who will be driving on the day of the event will not be able to taste the wines).
(Those who will be driving on the day of the event will not be able to enjoy wine tasting.
Cooperation from Suntory Ltd.
