Enjoying two "Hero" themed pieces―NHK Symphony Orchestra Invites International Students―

On Friday evening, February 9, international students at the University of Tsukuba gathered again at NHK Hall in Shibuya, Tokyo. As part of its social contribution activities, the NHK Symphony Orchestra invites international students from abroad free of charge. Following last month's invitation, nearly 20 international students were invited again to enjoy the orchestra's performance this month.

Two pieces on the "Hero" theme were performed at this concert. They were "Siegfried Idyll" by Wagner (1813-1883) and the symphonic poem "Ein Heldenleben, symphonic poem Op. 40 (A Hero's Life)" by Richard Strauss (1864-1949).

Siegfried is the hero in Wagner's epic tetralogy, the opera "Der Ring des Nibelungen," one of his most famous works. The hero in Richard Strauss's "A Hero's Life," famous for his large-scale orchestral works, is unknown, yet many different views exist. However, this work depicts a "hero" in the midst of changing times.

The conductor for the evening was OUE Eiji, who was invited to the U.S. by Seiji Ozawa in 1978. He studied at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston and later became the only Japanese conductor to conduct the opera "Tristan und Isolde" at the Bayreuth Festival Theatre, known as the sacred site of the Wagner Festival.

Just before this concert began, news of the death of the world-famous conductor, OZAWA Seiji, spread out worldwide. He was 88 years old. We prayed for his soul to rest in this concert.

We would like to thank everyone involved in the orchestra for providing us with this opportunity.