Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra - Harmony Tour 2009-2010, The Esplanade, April 19, 2009

I'm not a music critic. I'm a music lover.

When I hear a sound I like, I will pursue it until I get my fill of it.

One of the major reasons why I went to Singapore was because the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra will be performing at The Esplanade for one night only. It was an accidental discovery of one night of long internet surfing. The knowledge that these guys were part of the Nodame Cantabile orchestral pieces gave me enough motivation to book a flight, hotel, and reserve a concert ticket online. I wanted to make sure I get a good seat.

Everyone who've heard of my plans probably think I was crazy or weird 'cuz they never imagined I actually listened to classical music (maybe the heavy metal CDs displayed in my living room gave them an idea).

I was daydreaming after watching the live action drama for the nth time that one day I will go to Japan and catch them at Suntory Hall. Sort of a to-do in my bucket list. But the laziness of applying for a tourist visa for Japan kept on repelling me to do so (I kinda hate going through the process of getting one. It's just so tedious.)

I guess it was really sheer dumb luck or just the fates telling me it's time to face real music head-on (and go for an adventure).



The Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra was formed in 1965 as part of a cultural promotion project to mark the Tokyo Olympic Games. The orchestra have been regaling audiences in Japan and the rest of the world ever since.

The Singapore leg is part of their Harmony Tour for 2009>2010, and it features resident conductor Koizumi Kazuhiro at the helm and Singapore national Lim Yan, as piano soloist.

The programme included:

Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Polonaise from Eugene Onegin, Op. 24

Edvard Grieg's Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16 (Allegro molto moderato, Adagio, Allegro moderato molto e marcato)

Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64 (Adante - Allegro con anima, Andante cantabile, con alcuna licenza, Valse , Finale )



Watching a performance at Singapore's The Esplanade was a unique experience for me. Outside it's architecturally beautiful. It's photogenic in all angles and its place near the Marina makes it more post card material. In my short stay in SG, this was my haven from the afternoon heat.

Inside, the concert hall performance of the orchestra is like listening to a beautifully equalized stereo system. The volume, the pitch, the energy emanating from the sounds produced gave me shivers.

Koizumi was wonderful. He directs his orchestra with the outmost grace, vivacity, sometimes fire. He also flashes a warm smile from time to time to his audience adding charm.

Also worth noting was the concert master (who unfortunately I'm not sure what's his name but from the programme I'm guessing he's Tatsuya Yabe), who handles the violin like an extra limb in his body. He really knows how to treat the instrument and has an expressive way of playing. The rest weren't far off themselves. The horn section particularly was hitting those notes. All in all, it was a solid performance. Harmony tour indeed.

Lim Yam's piano was the jewel of the piece. Though he performed only once, it stuck in my head. I am used to hearing that Grieg piece in a faster tempo and furious key pounding style. Lim Yam's rendition of the piece was relaxed, classy, and introspective. It's another dessert for my brain.

Used to be my plans of catching TMSO was a maybe or might be. But now it's a DEFINITELY. Though I will surely miss The Esplanade, I am eager to set foot on Suntory Hall and catch these guys AGAIN ... hopefully a Mozart or Beethoven (who I love so much) will be in the programme.