Liveticker

Published on: 27.11.2023

Gesamtablauf

Rehearsals for the Be Phil Orchestra Japan start on Wednesday, 22 November. The 98 participants will work together with members of the Berliner Philharmoniker on a programme for the big final concert on 26 November in Suntory Hall, Tokyo. Follow the project here with our exclusive live ticker.

Sunday, 26 November, 7 pm

The time has come… The hard work and intensive rehearsals have paid off; the concert of the Be Phil Orchestra Japan is a huge success!

Saturday, 25 November, 7.30 pm

None of the participants in the Be Phil Orchestra Japan are music professionals. What does the opportunity to work with members of the Berliner Philharmoniker and perform on stage mean to them? We asked.

Video: Magdalena Zieba-Schwind, Adam Janisch

Saturday, 25 November, 9.30 am

It’s time for the dress rehearsal: the last few days have flown by and the Be Phil Orchestra has grown together. The performers are fine-tuning the final details, the mood is exuberant and there’s only one thing left to wish for: Good luck for tomorrow’s concert!

The Be Phil Orchestra Japan rehearses Brahms’ double concerto for violin, cello and orchestra. | Picture: Monika Rittershaus

On the podium: percussionist Raphael Haeger. | Picture: Monika Rittershaus

The solo parts in the double concerto will be performed by 1st concertmaster Daishin Kashimoto and 1st principal cellist Ludwig Quandt. | Picture: Monika Rittershaus

The finishing touches: During the rehearsal, the participants add some final notes to their parts. | Picture: Monika Rittershaus

Two of the participants watch from the auditorium. | Picture: Monika Rittershaus

Kirill Petrenko conducts a selection of pieces from Sergei Prokofiev’s “Romeo and Juliet”. | Picture: Monika Rittershaus

A very musical lucky charm sits on the celeste. | Picture: Monika Rittershaus

After the dress rehearsal horn player Johannes Lamotke shares a few last tips ... | Picture: Monika Rittershaus

... so do trumpet player Bertold Stecher ... | Picture: Monika Rittershaus

... and prinicpal flautist Sébastian Jacot. | Picture: Monika Rittershaus

Friday, 24 November, 9.30 am

The next tutti rehearsal is in the Blue Rose Hall - the Suntory Hall’s small auditorium. Its name comes from the fact that Suntory, the drinks manufacturer and owner of Suntory Hall, succeeded in developing a new type of blue rose in 2004. The Small Hall was renamed "Blue Rose" to inspire artists to similar successes. And things are looking rosy for the Be Phil Orchestra Japan!

Sarah Willis shares tips and tricks with a Japanese horn colleague. | Picture: Monika Rittershaus

Violist Ulrich Knörzer in conversation | Picture: Monika Rittershaus

Rehearsals are a joyous occasion | Picture: Monika Rittershaus

Bassoonist Václav Vonášek explains how to make a perfect reed. | Picture: Monika Rittershaus

The Be Phil Orchestra T-shirts are a hit. | Picture: Monika Rittershaus

Percussionist Raphael Haeger conducts some of the rehearsals and part of the concert. | Picture: Monika Rittershaus

Cellist Knut Weber and ... | Picture: Monika Rittershaus

... violinist Christophe Horák offer valuable insights to the performers. | Picture: Monika Rittershaus

Thursday, 23 November, 4.15 pm

This is where the music happens! On Thursday afternoon the horn-players of the Be Phil Orchestra Japan gather for a spontaneous flash mob in front of Suntory Hall. The onlookers are completely enthralled by Weber’s Freischütz, and sing along to O Tannenbaum.

Wednesday, 22 November, 6.30 pm

After a highly concentrated day of rehearsals, everyone meets in the Suntory Hall in the early evening for the first tutti rehearsal with Raphael Haeger. General Manager Andrea Zietzschmann briefly welcomes all participants, and then it’s straight on to Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet.

Wednesday, 22 November, 9.30 am

The kick-off of the Be Phil Orchestra Japan is decentralised. Individual orchestra sections begin their work at two different locations in Tokyo: the Tiara Koto multi-purpose hall, and the Edogawa City Cultural Centre. Once everyone has settled in, the rehearsals start.

Our orchestra members make their way to the rehearsal locations. | Picture: Luisa Aha

Of course, there are bilingual name badges for everyone. | Picture: Luisa Aha

This way to the rehearsal room, please! | Picture: Luisa Aha

At the reception desk, all participants receive their name badge and ... | Picture: Luisa Aha

... the matching outfit, naturally. | Picture: Luisa Aha

Our camera team accompanies the entire project. | Picture: Luisa Aha

Solo flautist Sébastian Jacot with the woodwinds. | Picture: Luisa Aha

Jan Schlichte leads the percussion rehearsals. | Picture: Luisa Aha

Trumpeter Bertold Stecher and solo trombonist Jonathon Ramsay rehearse with the brass. | Picture: Luisa Aha

Violinist Philipp Bohnen during rehearsal in Edogawa. | Picture: Luisa Aha

Knut Weber and the cello group. | Picture: Luisa Aha

Martin Stegner in between the Be Phil violas. | Picture: Luisa Aha

Angelo de Leo discusses details with a participant. | Picture: Katja Frei

Simon Bernardini conducts the string sections. | Picture: Luisa Aha

Cellist Dietmar Schwalke | Picture: Luisa Aha

Since its inception in 2002, the Berliner Philharmoniker’s education programme has been made possible by support from the Deutsche Bank. The aim of both partners is to make the work of the orchestra accessible to a wide audience and to inspire people of all ages to participate in music and culture.