Pilsen Philharmonic to Deliver Dozens of Performances and Major Concerts at EXPO This September
At the beginning of September, the Pilsen Philharmonic will perform more than 30 shorter, approximately half-hour concerts at the Czech National Pavilion and three large-scale concerts in the main hall at the World EXPO in Osaka. Under the baton of their Japanese chief conductor Chuhei Iwasaki, the orchestra will primarily present works by Antonín Dvořák. Around 60 musicians will travel to Japan, and plane tickets also had to be purchased for the cellos, about five of them, said the orchestra’s director, Lenka Kavalová, to the Czech News Agency (ČTK).
The Philharmonic will perform at the Czech National Pavilion from September 4 to 8, with around six performances a day, each lasting approximately half an hour. Since September 8 marks the anniversary of Antonín Dvořák's birth, the musical program will also include his works. "Czech music will definitely be featured, with a strong focus on the music of Antonín Dvořák, but also of Japanese composer Akira Ifukube. It will be a cultural blend of Czech and Japanese music," said Lenka Kavalová.
At the same time, the Philharmonic will perform concerts in the largest hall at the EXPO, the Shining Hat venue, which can accommodate nearly 2,000 people. "We are expected to take part in a Japanese-Czech performance, a multimedia project incorporating Czech elements. There should be two of these performances — on the evening of September 6 and the morning of September 7. In addition, a concert on September 4 featuring works by Antonín Dvořák has also been confirmed. The program is expected to include Dvořák’s New World Symphony and his Cello Concerto,"
Arranging transportation on a single flight, accommodation, and overall logistics for such a large group is quite demanding. Thanks to the EXPO, Osaka is currently a highly sought-after destination. About 55 musicians and approximately four members of the Philharmonic’s management will travel to Japan. "We’re also accounting for extra tickets for the cellos — five of them will be flying. Some of the larger instruments, such as double basses and, if needed, a tuba, will be rented in Osaka," Kavalová added.
Also from Pilsen, Alfa Theatre will take part in the EXPO program. In August, it will perform its Czech-Japanese production Čáslavská – Tokyo – 1964 in front of its largest-ever audience in the Shining Hat hall. The play, which tells the story of Czechoslovak gymnast Věra Čáslavská and her Olympic triumphs in Japan, was created last year through a collaboration between Alfa and Tokyo's PUK Theatre.
Source: Czech News Agency, author’s adaptations