We had made several attempts to buy tickets for this performance online, perhaps it was the translation to English, but we were never able to actually get it to work. So last week, on our first full day here, we headed over to the ticket office and successfully purchased tickets. It was only 2000 yen, approximately $14 each. What a bargain! There were three pieces presented, first Brahms "Akademische Festouverture", second Wagner "Tristan and Isolde" and lastly Beethoven's 9th Symphony. The choice of pieces slowly brought the audience up to a peak so that by the time the intermission was over we were ready for the 9th symphony. Perhaps we were more familiar with the last piece but it really was so much better than the other two. There were at least 83 people in the orchestra, 8 bass, 5 French horns, 1 kettle drum, 1 bass drum, 1 triangle, 1 cymbals, 3 trombones, 3 trumpets, 9 violas, 39 violins, 3 flutes. 3 clarinets, 3 oboes, 3 bassoons for a total of 83 instruments. One of the flautists also played the piccolo. The trumpets were German trumpets with rotary valves. They are played with a hand on each side to the trumpet, like eating a big sub sandwich. These trumpets were around back in Beethoven's day. The first two movements were orchestra only but the third one had 160 men and women file onto the stage and sing their hearts out. The power of their combined voices brought the goose bumps out multiple times. Wowzers!
On the way over we saw a dance recital
An all ages show
The mixed group number
The theater complex is giagantic
We took massive elevators to get to the 1st of three floors for the concert hall
Looking back at the giant dress
Now we are getting up there
Three painted domes
Very colorful
Great detail
Looks like Lindsay and Matt's boy Evan
Reflections on a spectator
Team Leip!
More escalators
After another bot os stairs we have made it to level three
I took what pictures I could before it was not allowed
A huge harp
the loudest instrument in the orchestra
the conductor and the four soloists
Warm up time
Spit collector towels in the horn section
I got chastised for taking this picture
After the show some insect based theater
These two are still in the pupae form
A spider?
Too many legs for a spider
More of a whirlwind
Looking down at the show
Spinning whirlwind
Heading back still humming
A funky little bus
Nice Gent
