In early July, I made a rare trip to the NHK Hall in Yoyogi. It was an event called the “Welcome Concert” hosted by the NHK Symphony Orchestra, commonly known as the NSO.
Actually, to be precise, it wasn’t just “rare”—even though I’ve lived in Tokyo for many years and have walked past this hall countless times, this was my first time actually stepping inside.
Undeterred by the rain, audiences are pouring in one after another. Like me, anyone who’s already bought a reserved ticket will probably show up even in a rain, but seeing people go out of their way to come in this weather and form long lines at the box office for same-day tickets really drives home just how popular this event is. There really are quite a lot of classical music fans and NSO fans out there, aren’t there?
As for me, to be honest, I haven’t really been part of that group of people who are deeply interested in these things until now. I’m just a clueless, last-minute fan who happened to have some free time and was completely lured in by the cheap ticket prices. Sorry, HSO.
Now, here’s the inside of the NHK Hall.
Since it was completed in 1972, it’s a building with over 50 years of history, and it retains the atmosphere of the “good old Showa era,” which I find very familiar and comforting. I took my seat in the corner of the audience area—the very spot I always see on the famous “Kohaku Uta Gassen”—and waited for the performance to begin.
As for the “Welcome Concert” itself—it was a truly delightful experience, like a makunouchi bento or a kids’ lunch box—featuring a selection of nine pieces chosen from the repertoire scheduled for regular concerts starting this September, with the performers playing only the best bits (roughly one movement from each piece). Essentially, it was a promotional event designed to say, “Come listen to the NSO” and “If you like it, become a season ticket holder.”
And every single piece was wonderful—the performances were so captivating that even a casual listener like me got completely swept up in the excitement. Especially Brahms! Bravo, NSO!
Taking full advantage of the rule that allowed photography of the stage only during the curtain call, I put my little GF10 to work and managed to snap one photo.
By the way, I hear this year marks the 100th anniversary of the NHK Symphony Orchestra.
As for how effective the promotion was—well, I was completely captivated, so I immediately checked the on-sale date for tickets to the fall concert and am all set. I mean, good classical music is just great, seriously.
