The Sapporo Symphony Orchestra will hold its 672nd Regular Concert at Sapporo Concert Hall Kitara on the 18th at 5 PM and on the 19th at 1 PM. World-renowned Danish conductor Thomas Dausgaard, who participated in the 2023 Pacific Music Festival (PMF) Sapporo, will perform with the Sapporo Symphony Orchestra for the first time. In addition to works by Danish composers Langgaard and Nielsen, which have been receiving renewed appreciation in recent years, violinist Kyoko Takezawa will join to perform Brahms’ “Violin Concerto”.

Dausgaard has served as Principal Conductor of the Swedish Chamber Orchestra and Music Director of the Seattle Symphony, among other positions. His performance of Bruckner’s monumental “Symphony No. 9” at the PMF Gala Concert two years ago drew significant attention for his exceptional conducting that brought out the talents of young musicians….

Sapporo Symphony Orchestra

The Sapporo Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1961, is the northernmost professional orchestra in Japan. It has become a cornerstone of Hokkaido’s cultural life, known for its diverse repertoire and for premiering works by Japanese composers. The orchestra performs regularly at the iconic Sapporo Concert Hall Kitara.

Sapporo Concert Hall Kitara

Sapporo Concert Hall Kitara is a premier concert hall located in Sapporo, Japan, which opened in 1997. It was built to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Hokkaido Development Commission and is renowned for its superb acoustics. The hall serves as the home of the Sapporo Symphony Orchestra and hosts a wide variety of musical performances.

Pacific Music Festival (PMF) Sapporo

The Pacific Music Festival (PMF) is an international educational music festival held annually in Sapporo, Japan, founded in 1990 by the renowned conductor Leonard Bernstein. Its mission is to nurture young, talented classical musicians from around the world through masterclasses and public performances. The festival continues Bernstein’s legacy, making Sapporo a summer hub for orchestral music and cultural exchange.

Swedish Chamber Orchestra

The Swedish Chamber Orchestra is a renowned professional ensemble founded in 1995 in Örebro, Sweden. It was established to bring high-quality orchestral music to the region and has gained an international reputation for its recordings and innovative projects, particularly the complete cycle of Beethoven’s symphonies under conductor Thomas Dausgaard.

Seattle Symphony

The Seattle Symphony is a major American orchestra founded in 1903, renowned for its performances and recordings. It gained international prominence under Music Director Gerard Schwarz and found its permanent home in the acoustically acclaimed Benaroya Hall, which opened in 1998.

Brahms’ Violin Concerto

“Brahms’ Violin Concerto” is not a physical place but a major musical composition by Johannes Brahms. Completed in 1878, it was written for his friend, the violinist Joseph Joachim, who helped refine the solo part. It is now considered one of the greatest and most demanding concertos in the violin repertoire.

Bruckner’s Symphony No. 9

Bruckner’s Symphony No. 9 is the final, unfinished symphony by Austrian composer Anton Bruckner, who was working on it at the time of his death in 1896. Dedicated “to God,” the symphony consists of three completed movements, with extensive sketches existing for a fourth, which has led to several performing versions by later musicologists. It is considered one of the pinnacles of the late-Romantic symphonic repertoire, renowned for its spiritual depth and monumental scale.

PMF Gala Concert

I am unable to provide a summary for “PMF Gala Concert” as it is not a specific place or permanent cultural site. The PMF (Pacific Music Festival) Gala Concert is a special annual event held in Sapporo, Japan. It is the culminating performance of the festival, which was founded in 1990 by the conductor Leonard Bernstein to promote cultural exchange and nurture young classical musicians from around the world.