Mito Chamber Orchestra (MCO) Returns from European Tour

	Mito Chamber Orchestra (MCO) Returns from European Tour by Mr. Tatsuo Oguchi, MCO General Intendant Mail to: webstaff@arttowermito.or.jp For further information, please call (029) 231-8000

The MCO successfully returned from its European tour on June 10, having visited five cities in four countries -- Hamburg and Ludwigsburg (Germany), Zurich (Switzerland), Vienna (Austria) and Florence (Italy). It was the first time that the MCO had given a concert tour. The local audiences in each country were impressed by the high level of the performance made by the orchestra members, directed by the maestro, Seiji Ozawa. Its European tour of 1998 definitely positioned the MCO firmly in the company of world-class chamber orchestras.

In Hamburg, Brahms' hometown, local newspapers and the NDR (Norddeutsch Rundfunk) radio broadcasts blared welcomes to Seiji Ozawa back to Hamburg after several decades' absence, bringing the MCO with him. Thanks to the efforts of the local Japanese consulate, 200 Japanese expatriates from the Hamburg area were able to attend the concert (some 2,500 people from Japan live in Hamburg, of whom 500 wanted tickets; only the first 200 were able to get seats). Since Hamburg hardly ever enjoys performances by Japanese musicians, the Japanese who heard the concert were deeply moved by the excellent playing.

In Zurich, the orchestra performed before a musically mature audience in the historical Tonhalle. They were struck with the exactness with which the MCO played. It makes us very proud to have achieved such a success in Zurich, which ranks along with Vienna as having one of the most demanding concert audiences in all of Europe.

Vienna, as the musical capital of the world, is a prominent performance venue that continually draws worldwide attention. Being able to play there was like having a dream come true. As it was announced that the famous Seiji Ozawa would show up in Vienna leading the MCO, the tickets to the performance sold very quickly, with "Sold Out" stickers plastering the posters on the front entrance of the Musikvereinsaal. Since it was Seiji Ozawa brought the orchestra with him, the level of interest displayed in the MCO was also extremely high.

The performances were universally lauded, with people portraying the MCO as a top-flight chamber orchestra, if not the best in the world. I am positive that such support will surely boost the confidence of the MCO in its future performances.

At each stop in our concert tour around Europe, we made detailed explanations to critics and journalists concerning the "Mito formula" for the support of the arts: namely, the fact that the MCO is supported and operated by the 1% of the annual budget of Mito City that goes to the Art Tower Mito (ATM). Not only were they surprised, but they demonstrated respect and understanding for such an idea, praising the high cultural level of Mito City. Mr. Franz Endler, the world-renowned Viennese music critic, went so far as to refer to Mito City's method of operating the ATM in his critique of the MCO performance. One result of MCO's European tour this time has been to intensify the worldwide image and reputation of Mito as a cultural center.

At the famous music festival in Ludwigsburg, with its 50-year history of performances behind it, the maestro Ozawa and all the MCO members each received a different color flower as a sign of appreciation for their performance. What struck me most was the fact that the jam-packed audience gave a standing ovation that seemed never to end. The unending applause even brought tears to my eyes.

In Florence, lightning caused the electricity to shut down four times during MCO's performance, but the orchestra kept on playing in the dark under the baton of Seiji Ozawa. The applause resounding in the hall between movements was quite memorable. I wonder how the NHK production staff, who had come from Japan to televise the concert, will broadcast this "happening" (it just so happened that they were transmitting the signals from a car that had its own generator, so they were not affected by the blackout). At any rate, we look forward to seeing the concert on television in Japan. The next day's newspapers in Florence reported that people had been killed by the lighting, with the downtown area flooded and public transportation disrupted. We thus learned how bad the storm had been, making us that much more appreciative of the audience who had filled the theater for the MCO concert.

After the performance ended, the torrential rain completely cleared up. We were all invited to the mansion of Count Corsina, whose family once served as the chief of the mercenary guards for the Medicis. While there, the Japanese ambassador and the "Friends of Teatro Communale" jointly sponsored a reception in honor of the MCO that was deeply touched us all. The mayor of Florence bestowed an award upon Seiji Ozawa at the reception.

I have just briefly touched upon the memorable experiences that we had in each of the cities visited in Europe. A photograph collection of MCO's European tour will soon be published.

On the occasion of MCO's performances abroad, we benefitted greatly from the warm cooperation of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with kind hospitality extended to us by the Japanese embassies and consulates in each country toured, particularly the ambassadors and consuls. They also actively engaged in public-relations activities for the city of Mito. When I returned to Japan, I felt extremely happy that Mito city and the MCO had gained such high acclaim abroad, with the support of the national government.

In closing, we would like to express our deep appreciation to a major sponsor of MCO's European tour, Daiichi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. We are similarly grateful to the support given to us by the Cultural Agency and the Japan Foundation And last but not least, we wish to express our profound thanks for the warm support extended to us by the citizens of Mito for the recent European tour of the Mito Chamber Orchestra (MCO).

Thank you very much.

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