サントリーホール サマーフェスティバル2025
Business Overview
■Theme Composer Georges Aperghis (Suntory Hall International Program for Music Composition No. 47)
The Theme Composer series presents a portrait of a leading international composer, and commissions him/her a new orchestral work that is premiered during the festival. This year’s theme composer was Georges Aperghis (b. 1945), French-based Greek composer who is considered as a pioneer in the field of experimental music theatre.
The three concerts showcased the diverse appeal of his music. The Orchestra Portrait included Japanese premieres of his Accordion Concerto and Études VI, VII and VIII for Large Orchestra (VIII commissioned by Suntory Hall), together with music by György Kurtág and Javier Quislant performed by Emilio Pomàrico and the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra (August 29, Main Hall). The Chamber Music Portrait featured his unique works for various combinations of instruments and voice performed by specialists in contemporary repertoire (August 24, Blue Rose). There was also a rare opportunity experiencing Aperghis’ avant-garde Récitations for voice solo, performed by the singer Donatienne Michel-Dansac (August 30, Blue Rose).
Aperghis also gave a Music Composition Workshop for young composers, preceded by a Talk Session with Artistic Director Toshio Hosokawa (August 23, Blue Rose). Furthermore, a Masterclass on Contemporary Vocal Works was given by Donatienne Michel-Dansac (August 27, Blue Rose).
■The 35th Competition of Yasushi Akutagawa Suntory Award for Music Composition (August 30, Main Hall)
This award, founded in 1990, is presented to the most notable orchestral work by a Japanese composer premiered during the previous year (January-December 2024). Following the performance of the three nominated works, the jury (Sunao Isaji / Noriko Koide /Akio Yasuraoka) conducted the deliberations on stage chaired by musicologist Seiji Choki. This year, orchestral works by Takuma Saito, Satori Hironiwa, and Junichi Matsumoto was nominated, which was performed by the New Japan Philharmonic conducted by Yoichi Sugiyama. The award was decided to give to Junichi Matsumoto’s work, and his new work will be commissioned and world premiered in 2027.
Having celebrated the centenary of composer Yasushi Akutagawa (1925-89), the concert opened with his Musica per Orchestra Sinfonica, an award-winning work that launched his career.
The programme also featured the world premiere of the commissioned work, QUEEN for Euphonium, Electric Guitar, Female Voice Ensemble and Large Orchestra by Wataru Mukai, the winner of the 2023 award.
- Period of Activity / Project
- 2025年8月23日（土）～30日（土）
- Venues
- Main Hall and Blue Rose (Small Hall), Suntory Hall (Minato-ku, Tokyo)
Profile
【Suntory Foundation of the Arts, Suntory Hall】
Suntory Hall, Tokyo’s first ever dedicated concert hall, opened its doors in autumn 1986 with the concept of ‘In pursuit of the world’s most beautiful sound’. Since its opening, Suntory Hall has led Japan’s classical music scene presenting creative and high-quality programmes by world’s most acclaimed artists. Suntory Hall’s Summer Festival, a festival of contemporary music that has been held since 1987, and the Chamber Music Garden, an early-summer chamber music festival that began in 2011, the 25th anniversary of the hall’s opening, today attract international attention.