Embassy of Japan in New Zealand
Japan Festival of Wellington
6-11 July 2009
The Embassy of Japan welcomes you to the Japan Festival of Wellington which will be held on Monday 6th to 11th July 2009 at Wellington Town Hall. The Japan Festival of Wellington is organized by Wellington City Council with support from the Embassy of Japan and Asia New Zealand Foundation. This is the first time in five years that Wellington will hold an event of this scale which introduces Japanese culture.
The festival will bring you a diverse range of Japanese culture, from traditional culture such as Japanese drums and calligraphy, to more unique aspects which many of you may not have had the opportunity to experience before. As part of the festival, the Embassy of Japan, in association with the Japan Foundation, presents music concerts called “Music Fair of Japan 2009”, performed by top Japanese musicians, street dance/hip hop performances by Japanese dance studio members from Sydney, and a musical puppetry performance which can be enjoyed by both adults and children alike. Among others attractions, there will be a challenge by Japanese community members in Wellington to make the longest sushi roll in New Zealand. Wellington City Council, Asia New Zealand Foundation and the Japan Society in Wellington will also host various events. This festival has such a wonderful line-up of events that you will not want to miss any of them.
The Embassy of Japan hopes that this Festival will give the people of New Zealand an opportunity to experience and learn more about Japanese culture, and that the festival will foster ties between the Japanese community and other communities in Wellington.
Events:
- Music Fair of Japan 2009 - A Night of Japanese Harmony
- Street Dance Performance - Natural High Dance Team By Dancekool
- "As the Night of Karikari Desert Goes On ..." - Musical Puppetry Performance by Dalmamori & Eriko
Music Fair of Japan 2009 – A Night of Japanese Harmony
The Embassy of Japan, in association with the Japan Foundation, presents two nights of Japanese harmony; a unique blend of Western and Japanese sounds by top Japanese musicians. With solo and ensemble performances on piano, flute, violin, koto and shinobue on Friday 10 July, and the addition of contrabass on Saturday 11 July, the artists will weave magical melodies from both classical and modern genres, leaving the audience truly enchanted.
DATE & TIME
Friday 10 July 2009
7pm-8.30pm (Doors open 6.30pm)
Saturday 11 July 2009
7pm-9pm (Doors open 6.30pm)
VENUE
Ilott Theatre, Wellington Town Hall
Tickets Complimentary (Bookings required. Maximum of 4 tickets per booking.)
BOTH CONCERTS ARE NOW FULLY BOOKED
Email: japan.cul@eoj.org.nz
Tel: (04) 495 8333
Please understand that any children attending these concerts must be 6 years old or above.
| Artists’ bio |
A child maestro, Aoyagi made his first orchestral debut with the Fort Worth Symphony when he was only nine. At the age of 23, he won the Sixth Prize at the prestigious Marguerite-Long-Jacques-Thibaud International Competition and shortly after began touring the world. Aoyagi has produced five solo CDs, all to which have been highly acclaimed. |
A graduate from the Tokyo University of the Arts, Hagiwara is an active international performer, regularly competing in numerous recital contests internationally. She has received exceptional praise from distinguished music specialists such as cellist Mstislav Rostropovich and clarinettist Peter Schmidl from the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. |
An outstanding Merit Scholarship student from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Ishikawa (Eminence: Destiny, Piano Stories, Passion) graduated from the Con as the principal violinist with First Class Honours. Ishikawa was selected as Best Performer of 2003 at Australia’s Overall Instrumental Winner’s Concert, and won the Australian Musician’s Academy Award in 2001. |
An expert in the koto, Kataoka has had the honour to play for Their Imperial Highnesses Prince and Princess Akishino in 2007. Her versatility extends to playing everything from koto classics to singing bel canto opera. She has appeared in numerous shows on television, radio and commercial broadcasts. |
Ikematsu began playing the contrabass at the age of 19. In 1989 he joined the NHK Symphony Orchestra in Tokyo and was appointed Principal Contrabass in 1994. His unique concert style, which combines solo performances with contrabass ensemble, has received critical acclaim. Ikematsu joined the NZSO as Principal Contrabass in 2006 and is still regarded as one of the leading contrabassists in Japan. |
Susumu Aoyagi (Piano)
Takako Hagiwara (Flute & Shinobue)
Ayako Ishikawa (Violin)
Lisa Kataoka (Koto)
Ikematsu (Contrabass) - Saturday 11 July Concert OnlyProgramme
(Subject to change)
(The programme on 10 July will consist of selected pieces from this programme)
Programme 1 |
Frédéric François Chopin Nocturne in C sharp minor, op. posth: Lento con gran espressione (Pf) |
Frédéric François Chopin No.2 in D flat major : Lento sostenuto - from "2 Nocturnes op.27" (Pf) |
Frédéric François Chopin No.11 in A minor : Lento - Allegro con brio - from "12 Etudes, op.25" (Pf) |
Rentaro Taki Urami (Pf) |
Takashi Yoshimatsu "Noel in Midnight" "Floral Dance" （from "Pleiades Dances"） (Pf) |
Giulio Caccini Ave Maria (Cb&Pf) |
Vittorio Monti Csárdás (Cb&Pf) |
Franz Liszt Hungarian Rhapsody No.2, S.244/2 (Pf) |
Programme 2 |
Tadao Sawai Sakura - from "Two Variations (Futatsu no Hensoukyoku)" (Koto) |
Kengyo Yatsuhashi Rokudan no Shirabe (Koto) |
Michio Miyagi Haru no Umi (Vl&Koto) |
Jo Hisaishi from the movie "Departures (Okuribito)" (Pf, Fl, Vl, Koto&Cb) |
Astor Piazzolla Libertango (Vl&Pf) |
Jules Massenet Meditation from Thais (Vl&Pf) |
Camille Saint-Saëns Danse macabre (Vl&Pf) |
Takako Hagiwara Nanimo Kataranu Tsuki (Shinobue) |
Kei Ogura (arr. by Yukihiro Isso) Ai Sansan (Fl&Pf) |
Georges Bizet (arr. by Takako Hagiwara / Masahiro Saito) Carmen Fantasie 2001 (from Opera "Carmen") (Fl&Pf) |
Street Dance Performance
Natural High Dance Team by Dancekool
Founded in 2002, Dancekool is the first and finest street dance studio in Sydney and is the only studio that has focused on hip hop over the years. Dancekool has developed a reputation for authentic street styles and professional teaching and have taught and performed all over the world including countries such as Japan, the United States, China and the Philippines.
Dancekool runs, and is involved with, many dance events throughout the year to help showcase and encourage the growth of hip hop dance. Top hip hop dance members of Dancekool, Satoshi (Japan), Jono (New Zealand), Masaki (Japan), Hyungik (Korea) and Naohisa (Japan) will perform a dance choreographed especially for the Japan Festival of Wellington 2009.
The Natural High Dance Team has been brought to Wellington by the Embassy of Japan and the Japan Foundation, Sydney.
“As the Night of Karikari Desert Goes On…”
- Musical Puppetry Performance by Dalmamori & Eriko -
In the desert called Karikari, on a night with a ‘cat-nail’ shaped moon, curious incidents involving funny creatures and items occur. Dalmamori tells stories of a two-humped camel lost in the desert, a snake ball, a mermaid in an oasis, a shining moon drum and a shadow merchant that will draw you into his creative wonderland with the mysterious sounds of harp and enchanting music. It is almost therapeutic with the humour and fantasy that captivates audience of all ages.
Do not miss this spectacular mix of music, puppetry and storytelling like you have never experienced before!
Do not miss this spectacular mix of music, puppetry and storytelling brought to you by the Japan Foundation and the Embassy of Japan.
About Dalmamori:
Dalmamori began his current style of original musical puppet shows with the musical accompaniment by Eriko, seven years ago. Dalmamori enjoys sharing his artistic talent through his handmade picture books, musical instrument creations and as a live paint artist and teacher. The original script, rendering, art, music, musical instruments and performance are all produced by Dalmamori himself.