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Asian tour with Sir Simon Rattle to Taiwan, South Korea and Japan

After a concert in Frankfurt in November 2013, the Berliner Philharmoniker set off on a tour to Asia. The programme included symphonies by Schumann and Bruckner, and concertmaster Daishin Kashimoto dazzled as the soloist in Sergei Prokofiev’s First Violin Concerto.

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(Photo: Monika Rittershaus, Stefan Stahnke)

22 Nov 2013

We’ve arrived back home. The wonderful crew of our jumbo jet even crafted a farewell message when we landed in Berlin. It was a fantastic trip with many magnificent experiences – and the sun was shining from the first to the last day. Thank you very much for accompanying us on our tour blog. Hope to see you again next time!

Photos: Monika Rittershaus, Stefan Stahnke

(Photo: Monika Rittershaus)

22 Nov 2013

Sayonara! On the return flight there’s a charming tradition which is a must: the final pillow fight.

Photos: Monika Rittershaus

(Photo: Monika Rittershaus)

22 Nov 2013

Pulling a double shift: at the last concert in Kawasaki, our concertmaster Daishin Kashimoto plays Prokofiev’s First Violin Concerto on the first half, and then plays along on the last stand at the final Sacre du printemps – to the amazement of his colleagues.

Photos: Monika Rittershaus

(Photo: Monika Rittershaus)

22 Nov 2013

Photos: the orchestra’s musicians investigate the newest photo technology together with our photographer.

Photos: Monika Rittershaus

(Photo: Monika Rittershaus)

22 Nov 2013

A highlight as the grand finale: we are playing the last concert of our Asia tour in Kawasaki in the Muza Kawasaki Symphony Hall, where the roof collapsed during the 2011 earthquake. The hall already had wonderful acoustics in the past, but now, after renovation, it is among the best in the world, as Simon Rattle declares when addressing the audience.

Photos: Monika Rittershaus

22 Nov 2013

 
(Photo: Monika Rittershaus)

21 Nov 2013

A penguin at our rehearsal! And a wild boar! On closer inspection, we discover that it is the violist Martin Stegner and clarinetist Manfred Preis.

Photos: Monika Rittershaus

(Photo: Monika Rittershaus)

21 Nov 2013

Close to the audience: Cor anglais player Dominik Wollenweber and clarinetist Manfred Preis give a guest performance in a bakery in Tokyo.

Photos: Monika Rittershaus

 
(Photo: Monika Rittershaus)
Principal flute Andreas Blau
Principal bassoon Stefan Schweigert

21 Nov 2013

We were particularly pleased to see this VIP visitor: Our old friend Seiji Ozawa listens backstage to our performance of Boulez’ Notations in Tokyo. Also on the programme: Bruckner’s Seventh Symphony.

Photos: Monika Rittershaus

(Photo: Monika Rittershaus)
Violinist Raimar Orlovsky

20 Nov 2013

Impressions of our second concert in Tokyo with Bruckner’s Seventh Symphony – and proper after-show sushi.

Photos: Monika Rittershaus

 
(Photo: Monika Rittershaus)

20 Nov 2013

A kind of farewell tour: For our principal flautist Andreas Blau, this is the last big trip with the Berliner Philharmoniker.

Photos: Monika Rittershaus

(Photo: The Sankei Shimbun / Monika Rittershaus)

20 Nov 2013

A great honour: The Japanese imperial couple in the audience at our first concert in Tokyo. Soloist Daishin Kashimoto takes his bow after a performance of Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 1 in front of the honoured guests.

Photos: The Sankei Shimbun / Monika Rittershaus

(Photo: Sarah Willis)

19 Nov 2013

An obvious thought: If you play a wind instrument you are also ideally suited for running. Hornist Georg Schreckenberger and oboists Dominik Wollenweber and Christoph Hartman with friends at a marathon in Kobe.

Photos: Sarah Willis

19 Nov 2013

A fast reacting concertmaster: In the rehearsals for Prokofiev’s 1st Violin Concerto in Suntory Hall, the orchestra played a trick on soloist and concertmaster Daishin Kashimoto and played the first few bars of Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto instead of the Prokofiev. But Daishin Kashimoto was not at all fazed and also started in with the Mendelssohn concerto - with a response time of just 2 bars! As you can see from the video, everyone enjoyed the joke - and it’s good to know that our concertmaster has such nerves of steel!

(Photo: Monika Rittershaus)
Luiz Felipe Coelho
Daishin Kashimoto, Ludwig Quandt
Daishin Kashimoto, Sir Simon Rattle

19 Nov 2013

Photos: Monika Rittershaus

(Photo: Monika Rittershaus)
Daniel Stabrawa, Christian Stadelmann, Neithard Resa, Dietmar Schwalke
Daniel Stabrawa, Christian Stadelmann, Neithard Resa, Dietmar Schwalke
Neithard Resa
Christian Stadelmann

18 Nov 2013

The Philharmonia Quartett plays in Sendai where the aftermath of the 2011  earthquake and tsunami can still be seen. The audience and a girls’ choir give the musicians a warm welcome.

Photos: Monika Rittershaus

(Photo: Waseda Orchestra)

18 Nov 2013

Weekend expedition: Simon Rattle spends his Sunday evening with the orchestra of the Waseda University which has maintained close ties with the Berliner Philharmoniker for decades.

Photos: Waseda Orchestra

(Photo: Monika Rittershaus)

18 Nov 2013

Our first concert at the Hyogo Performing Arts Center in Kobe with Bruckner’s 7th Symphony and Boulez’ Notations. The concert hall was opened in 2005 to mark the ten-year anniversary of the Great Hanshin Earthquake.

Photos: Monika Rittershaus

Sir Simon Rattle, Ludwig Quandt
Sir Simon Rattle, Christian Stadelmann
Dominik Wollenweber

18 Nov 2013

That’s what we call a sheet of music: the score for Pierre Boulez’ Notations. Impressions from the rehearsals in Kobe.

Photos: Monika Ritterhaus

(Photo: Monika Rittershaus)
Rachel Helleur
Alessandro Cappone
Martin Menking, David Riniker
Krzysztof Polonek, Dorian Xhoxhi

18 Nov 2013

Music can bloom in the smallest of spaces: violinists and cellists rehearse in a hotel in Osaka for a chamber concert.

Photos: Monika Rittershaus

Monika Rittershaus,
(Photo: photographer.)
Mor Biron, bassoon.

17 Nov 2013

First impressions, Kobe.

Photos: Markus Weidmann

Monika Rittershaus, photographer.

(Photo: Markus Weidmann)

17 Nov 2013

Christmas preparations in Osaka - the gingerbread reminds us of home.

Photos: Markus Weidmann

Stefan Schweigert - applaus after Le Sacre du printemps.
After the concert - thanks for the wonderful support!
Christophe Horak, principal 2nd violin.

17 Nov 2013

More impressions from Osaka.

Photos: Markus Weidmann

(Photo: Markus Weidmann)

17 Nov 2013

Osaka Festival Hall offers lots and lots of space.

Photos: Markus Weidmann

(Photo: Monika Rittershaus)

16 Nov 2013

Concert in Osaka.

Photos: Monika Rittershaus

Martin Stegner, viola.
Andreas Blau, principal flute, Peter Brem, 1st violin.
Olaf Ott, principal trombone.
Bastian Schäfer, 1st violin.
Sir Simon Rattle, artistic director of the Berliner Philharmoniker.

16 Nov 2013

Backstage in Osaka.

Photos: Monika Rittershaus

(Photo: Monika Rittershaus)

16 Nov 2013

Rehearsal in Osaka.

Probe in Osaka.

Photos: Monika Rittershaus

Klaus Wallendorf, horn.

16 Nov 2013

Practice, practice, practice.

Photos: Monika Rittershaus

(Photo: Monika Rittershaus )

16 Nov 2013

Photos: Monika Rittershaus 

(Photo: Monika Rittershaus)

15 Nov 2013

Concert in Nagoya.

Konzert in Nagoya.

Photos: Monika Rittershaus

(Photo: Photos / Comics: Markus Weidmann)

15 Nov 2013

Inspired by Manga: impressions from our rehearsal.

Photos: Markus Weidmann

(Photo: Markus Weidmann)

15 Nov 2013

Lines - or: an ode to structure (which makes travelling a whole lot easier).

Photos: Markus Weidmann

(Photo: Monika Rittershaus)

14 Nov 2013

Nagoya.

Photos: Monika Rittershaus

(Photo: Monika Rittershaus)

14 Nov 2013

Janne Saksala, 1st principal bass and photographer.

Janne Saksala, 1. Solo-Bassist und Photograph.

Photos: Monika Rittershaus

Wieland Welzel and Rainer Seegers, timpani.

14 Nov 2013

Arrival in Nagoya.

Ankunft in Nagoya.

Photos: Monika Rittershaus

Klaus Wallendorf and Stefan de Leval Jezierski, horn.
Ulrich Wolff, double bass.
Fergus McWilliam, horn, Laurentius Dinca, 1st violin.
Stephan Schulze, 2nd violin, Manfred Preis, bass clarinet.
Markus Weidmann, bassoon.
Edicson Ruiz, double bass.
Gunars Upatnieks, double bass.
Gunars Upatnieks, double bass.
Mor Biron, bassoon, Sophie Dartigalongue, contrabassoon, Edicson Ruiz, double bass.

14 Nov 2013

First Class, Business Class and Economy Class just don’t compare. 

Photos: Monika Rittershaus

(Photo: Monika Rittershaus)

14 Nov 2013

Mesmerising - our flight from Seoul to Nagoya.

Photos: Monika Rittershaus

Ignacy Miecznikowski, viola, Gertraud Frank, orchestra academy, Alexander Bader, clarinet, Walter Seyfarth, clarinet.
David Riniker, cello. Holm Birkholz, 2nd violin.
Jonathan Kelly, oboe.
Guillaume Jehl, trumpet, Gábor Tarkövi and Tamás Velenczei, principal trumpets.
Daniele Damiano, principal bassoon, Markus Weidmann and Mor Biron, bassoon.
Alexander Bader, clarinet, Wenzel Fuchs, principal clarinet.
Tamás Velenczei, principal trumpet, Olaf Ott, principal trombone, Jesper Busk Sørensen, trombone.

13 Nov 2013

Some final pictures from Seoul: backstage, in rehearsal and in concert. We can’t wait to come back. 

Photos: Monika Rittershaus

 

13 Nov 2013

Make-A-Wish grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Ryu Sangjin, a 13 year old flutist, experienced her idol Emmanuel Pahud in concert and met with him before. Make-A-Wish organised the get-together: an unforgettable experience for both!

Photos: Monika Rittershaus

(Photo: Monika Rittershaus)

13 Nov 2013

Trip to the Changdeokgung Palace, UNESCO World Heritage.

Photos: Monika Rittershaus

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