Greetings from Asia - May 5, 2010

While the first week of the 2010 Tour of Asia found The Philadelphia Orchestra playing for new audiences in three cities (Changwon and Gumi, Korea, and Miyazaki, Japan), the second week of performances found us reconnecting with music lovers and longtime friends in Tokyo and Seoul, two cities familiar to the Fabulous Philadelphians through regular tour appearances.

At Tokyo’s famed Suntory Hall, the Orchestra was welcomed by anticipatory applause, which rose to deafening levels as Chief Conductor Charles Dutoit took the podium. Known for its world-class acoustics, Suntory Hall beautifully showcased the legendary “Philadelphia Sound” in two thrilling performances, each of which ended with numerous curtain calls. Croatian pianist Ivo Pogorelich, a favorite of Japanese audiences, joined the Orchestra for the April 28 program as soloist in a colorful performance of Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2.

The demand for Orchestra tickets in Seoul was so great that two concerts were presented in the 3,000-seat Sejong Center for the Performing Arts rather than the smaller Seoul Arts Center, where most visiting orchestras perform. Arabella Steinbacher, who makes her subscription debut with the Orchestra at the Kimmel Center in June, was soloist in Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto on April 30. The enthusiastic applause after each concert was accompanied by cheers and whistles. At the second concert Concertmaster David Kim addressed the audience in Korean, sharing with them how great an honor and a pleasure it is for the Orchestra to play for Korean audiences.

Beyond the cheers for its performances, The Philadelphia Orchestra proudly serves as a cultural ambassador for the City of Philadelphia, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the U.S. while on tour. The U.S. Embassy in Tokyo organized and sponsored a chamber concert at the Tokyo College of Music by the Moon Quartet (Assistant Concertmaster Marc Rovetti; Associate Concertmaster José Maria Blumenschein, who stepped in at the last minute for violinist Daniel Han; Assistant Principal Cello Yumi Kendall; and violist Marvin Moon). In Seoul Kathleen Stephens, the U.S. ambassador to Korea, hosted a reception for notables in the arts at her unique, traditional Korean residence, which featured a performance by the Moon Quartet.

While in Seoul, Orchestra members also took the opportunity during their free time to do outreach work with local music students. Associate Concertmaster José Maria Blumenschein and Principal Horn Jennifer Montone led master classes at Korea National University of Arts, while Principal Cello Hai-Ye Ni worked with students at the Seoul Arts High School.

The third and final week of the tour features concerts in Beijing and Shanghai, China, and the highly anticipated performance representing the U.S. at the World Expo 2010. Don’t forget —you can read and hear all about the 2010 Tour of Asia with press coverage in the Philadelphia Inquirer and on WRTI 90.1 FM. Also, visit our website at www.philorch.org/tour for links to recent stories and photos from tour.

Best regards,
The touring musicians and staff of The Philadelphia Orchestra


Photo by Chris Lee