Guide to Classical Music, Opera and Dance in Japan

In the National Ballet of Japan's Sleeping Beauty, the fulfilment and joy of being able to dance was apparent in the whole company and the result was glorious. 

After an eight-city recital tour of Japan with duo partner Daishin Kashimoto, Kirill Gerstein gave a recital of his own at Kioi Hall, arguably Tokyo's best acoustics for solo piano.

New Year Ballet displayed the versatility of the National Ballet of Japan, from the 19th-century classic Paquita, to three works by Japanese choreographers and David Bintley's “Still Life” at the Penguin Café.

Seven months ago, when Tokyo’s musical scene was brought to a standstill by the Covid-19 pandemic, it was hard to envisage any orchestra performing Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony by December, an important year-end custom in Japan.