KL strikes a chord as Tokyo Symphony debuts and KL Orchestra Fest lifts off

The Star

5 days ago

The Tokyo Symphony Orchestra (TSO) is set to make its Malaysian debut with a concert at Dewan Filharmonik Petronas (DFP) in Kuala Lumpur this Sunday (June 1), marking a new milestone in cultural collaboration between Japan and Malaysia.
Japanese Ambassador to Malaysia Noriyuki Shikata said this aligns perfectly with the TSO's Asia Project philosophy of embracing diverse cultural values and promoting mutual understanding through music.
Comprising 80 musicians, the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra will perform under the baton of Naoto Otomo, who has also appeared in orchestras outside of Japan, including with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra and Orchestre National de Lorraine.
"Western classical music has had a profound and enduring impact on Japan's cultural landscape since its introduction into the school curriculum as part of the Meiji government's modernisation policy efforts nearly 150 years ago,' Shikata said in a statement.
Award-winning Japanese pianist Tomoharu Ushida will take the DFP stage in Kuala Lumpur to perform Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 1 In E minor with the TSO. The evening continues with Mussorgsky's iconic Pictures At An Exhibition, brought to life in all its vivid, orchestral colour.
Founded in 1946, TSO regularly performs operas and ballets at Tokyo's New National Theatre and has played 79 concerts across 58 cities worldwide.
Shikata added he has fond memories of attending concerts by the City of Kyoto Symphony Orchestra in Kyoto during his school days.
"After starting my diplomatic career, I had the wonderful experience of attending classical music concerts conducted by global icon Seiji Ozawa at the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
"Since then, I have frequently attended classical music concerts in Tokyo, as well as in Washington DC, Paris, London and Beijing,' he said.
Strings across the capital
Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) will host the 2025 Kuala Lumpur Orchestra Festival (FOKL) from May 31 to June 29 at selected venues across the city.
In a statement, DBKL said the annual festival aims to promote orchestral music regionally and offer inclusive, world-class cultural experiences.
"Throughout the month-long programme, the public can experience a unique blend of Western classical music and traditional local instruments, performed by local and international orchestras, celebrating the richness and diversity of Malaysia's distinct culture," the statement read.
Now in its second edition, FOKL 2025 goes beyond music to celebrate culture, community, and unity, reinforcing Kuala Lumpur's identity as a culturally vibrant global city.
This year's expanded programme is presented in partnership with the Kuala Lumpur Society, with a vision to position the capital as a South-East Asian hub for orchestral music.
In addition to orchestral performances, FOKL 2025 will host masterclasses by the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra (TSO), giving local musicians and educators valuable access to world-class training.
The festival also highlights youth participation, with school students across Kuala Lumpur given the opportunity to perform on a professional stage alongside seasoned musicians.
DBKL will hold a charity concert for the Malaysian Association for the Blind on May 31 at Auditorium Bandaraya, and invite over 60 Kuala Lumpur schools to free selected performances, expanding access to live orchestral music.
To ensure inclusivity, DBKL is partnering with the OKU GNB Welfare Association to facilitate the attendance of persons with disabilities.
FOKL will also host a regional forum on orchestra management, uniting music leaders from across Asia, including the Association of Japanese Symphony Orchestras, Beijing-based critics and conductors from Bangkok, to help strengthen the regional orchestral ecosystem.
"The forum will serve as a dynamic platform for exchanging insights, addressing challenges, and sharing best practices in contemporary orchestra management, while jointly shaping strategies to advance the orchestral music industry across East and South-East Asia," the statement added. – Bernama