Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra: Andrea Battistoni

Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique / Mayuzumi: Ballet Bugaku Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra: Andrea Battistoni

The "Symphonie fantastique" by Hector Berlioz enjoys great popularity today. His contemporaries, on the other hand, tended to enjoy the usual classical repertoire in 1830 and were disturbed by the impetuous, almost brute suggestive effect of the revolutionary work. Andrea Battistoni and his Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra add a ballet

music by Toshiro Mayuzumi from 1962 to this symphonic milestone. And what seems to be endlessly far apart proves to be much closer in sound, power and inspiration than expected.

Mayuzumi's work "Bugaku" continues an ancient imperial Japanese ballet tradition. Samai, the rather solemn dance from the left with Chinese roots, is the inspiration for the first part, while the humorous Umai, borrowed from Korea, dominates the second part with a performance from the right. Mayuzumi, whose musical language is strongly influenced by Messiaën, Varèse and Stravinsky, makes use, like Berlioz, of a luxuriant orchestra. Through the refined use of wind and percussion instruments, he always finds timbres that attract attention.