At the end of 2019, since we had no plans for New Year's Eve and New Year, my partner and I decided to go to The Symphony Hall to listen to a countdown concert. After having a meal at an Italian restaurant near the hotel, we went back to the hotel to rest for a while, then at 9:00 PM, we hailed a taxi at a nearby taxi stand and headed to The Symphony Hall. When we got off the taxi in front of the hall, there were already many customers trying to enter the building. We received our tickets, entered the building, and received the program. The lobby had a more festive atmosphere than usual, with many people taking photos against a large New Year decoration backdrop. Our seats were on the fourth row from the front on the right side. We couldn't secure a position to see the entire stage, but we were close enough to see the conductor, concertmaster, violinist, and opera singer perform. The concert started with the Kyiv National Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, a prestigious orchestra from Ukraine. The conductor was Nikolai Zhadzura. The first half of the program consisted of 9 pieces, including well-known pieces such as "O Sole Mio," "Toreador Song," and "Swan Lake." During the intermission, we hurried to the "Symphony Cafe" for drinks. We ordered beer and white wine, and quickly finished them before heading back to the hall. It was a rushed break, but we enjoyed the concert and the festive atmosphere. Cheers to 2019 and hello 2020!

[2019.8.30] Sonata, quintet, concerto, encore. All on piano!! In competitions, Tsujii-san's numerous "legends" are being passed down. From the first sonata, there was a standing ovation, and it was difficult to move on to the next piece, or during the final Chopin concerto, not only were there people wiping tears in the audience, but even orchestra members were teary-eyed. Tonight, not only piano but also a dream all-star lineup of four internationally award-winning string players. That top winner of the Tchaikovsky Competition, that person, unexpectedly got 2nd place. Seriously? (laughs) This day was the final performance of the tour. Almost after every movement, short applause. Not the applause of those unfamiliar with classical music, probably the opposite. - Nobuyuki Tsujii - Van Cliburn International Piano Competition 10th Anniversary Special Concert - [Piano] Nobuyuki Tsujii - [String Quartet] Fumiaki Miura, Takaki Kawakubo (Violin), Yoshiko Kawamoto (Viola), Kaeko Mukoyama (Cello) - [Conductor] Jurek Tomson - [Orchestra] Japan Century Symphony Orchestra - Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 23 "Appassionata" - Schumann: Piano Quintet - Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 1 - Encore: Liszt "La Campanella" ← Performed at the G20 Osaka Summit - Ordered: Mango juice 400 yen Hojicha latte 600 yen Got hungry so had the mango juice. Super delicious♪♪ Highly recommended♪♪ During the intermission, had the hojicha latte.♪♪ Thank you for the meal. 2009 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition (Applause that doesn't stop) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9fo3FoHDBc

Second stop of the week with Mr. Koji Ishimaru in Osaka. We have arrived at The Symphony Hall. There is a cafe on the second floor where everyone is having tea, so we also had some tea. The concert will start in about 40 minutes, so it's quite crowded. We went ahead to secure our seats. I had cake and a latte, while my friend had hot apple pie and straight tea. Luckily, they had the last one of each left. My latte was iced and delicious, and the cake was also very tasty. There were many stylish tables where you could stand and enjoy your food and drinks. This time, it's the Koji Ishimaru Orchestra concert. The guest is Yoshio Inoue. Both of them are my favorite stars. Now, let's go to our seats! Thank you for the meal. ❤️❤️

I enjoyed a cup of coffee during my break time.

I went to the Symphony Hall for the first time. It's about a 10-minute walk from Fukushima Station. A splendid building in the middle of greenery. Gentlemen and ladies in formal attire. I also dressed up a bit (^-^) Nervously, I entered the hall and went to the second floor, where there was a cafe. Since there was about 50 minutes until the performance started, I ordered a drink. I think this area is called the "foyer." It's still sunny outside, but there were gentlemen enjoying wine and beer. I decided to go for a latte as a beginner (^-^) The atmosphere was amazing, more than the taste of the latte. The greenery visible from the window, and on the other side, a banner of the orchestra on a mirrored wall. I got carried away by the atmosphere (^O^) I would like to go again if I have the chance. Next time, I want to start with wine (*^-^*)

This is a cafe located on the 2nd floor of The Symphony Hall in Osaka, Fukushima. They have a new promotion this year where if you purchase a yearly ticket for the Osaka Symphony Orchestra's "Famous Music Concert", you can also buy a "Drink Set Ticket" which includes 5 soft drinks for the price of 4, or upgrade to a cake set for an additional fee. While it may seem like a good deal, I personally did not purchase it as I don't usually have time to sit and enjoy a drink during the concert breaks. Instead, I prefer to relax at the counter with a view of the outside scenery while sipping on some tea. The hot yuzu drink was especially refreshing during the dry winter season.

[2016.1.11] Mon Revisited Hot coffee 350 yen [2014.6.22] Sun Revisited Iced coffee 400 yen [2014.6.15] Sun Saint-Saëns Symphony No. 3 in C minor "Organ Symphony" Op. 78 A powerful masterpiece with a large orchestra, two pianos, and an organ. Perfect for game or anime boss scenes. Used in Lupin the Third episode 145 "Albatross Wings of Death" (by Hayao Miyazaki). There are several halls with organs in Osaka, but they often struggle financially due to seat capacity and location. I'd like to hear it again here and at Izumi Hall. I was impressed by the powerful and beautiful sound when I heard this piece in Kyoto a few years ago. I also heard it at Suntory Hall in Tokyo. It's been about 25 years since then. This time, I sat right below the organ. The power is truly felt from that position. Piano and orchestra in front, organ from behind. But I might prefer the sound in Kyoto. ● Ordered: Shrimp sandwich 500 yen Coffee (set) 200 yen Coffee (single) 400 yen 25 years ago, a sandwich plate was around 1,000 yen at the gourmet Hotel Plaza next door. Real ingredients. Looking back now, 1,000 yen might not have been that expensive. Thank you for the meal.

Happy New Year 2016. Last year, I had the pleasure of reading many wonderful reviews from reviewers, which made my days very enjoyable. I am grateful for those who took the time to read and comment on my own reviews. Thank you very much. I look forward to your continued support this year. I went to a countdown concert. On December 31, 2015, at 10 pm, I watched the "Hungarian National Budapest Operetta & Musical Theater" Sylvester Concert at The Symphony Hall in Fukushima Station on the JR Loop Line in Osaka. Sylvester means New Year's Eve in German. Before the concert started, I had tea at this cafe inside the venue. You can enjoy tea in such a place at any concert hall, giving you an elegant atmosphere. I had Viennese coffee in both hot and iced versions. You can also add whipped cream to any drink for an additional 50 yen. They also serve beer, wine (500 yen), and champagne (1000 yen). I stuck with coffee to avoid falling asleep during the concert. They also offer light snacks, which is convenient. The conductor and opera singers from Budapest performed a ceremonial sake barrel opening on stage, exciting the audience. The taiko drum performance by Matsumura-gumi was also very fulfilling. The sound of the drums echoing throughout the venue resonated in my stomach, making for a great start to the new year. There was even a sake barrel toast at the end, making for a festive New Year's celebration.

The Symphony Hall, a hall of fame for Kansai classical music, is known for its wonderful reverberation of 2 seconds. However, the most charming aspect is the foyer during intermissions. Since the management of the hall has changed from ABC (Asahi Broadcasting Corporation) to Shikoku Gakuen, the atmosphere of the foyer seems to have changed slightly. In the past, before the performances and during intermissions, many people would seek red or white wine, standing and quickly sipping wine to enjoy the music in a slightly tipsy mood. However, since the change in management, the cafe vibe has become stronger, especially before performances, with more customers opting for coffee and cake. This makes it difficult for those who want to enjoy a slightly tipsy mood before the performance. I hope the atmosphere where people can freely tilt their wine glasses like before can be revived.

"I came to the concert 'Delicious Classics 2014' for the first time. It was my first classical concert, so I was a bit excited (laughs). I arrived too early even though the doors opened at 1 pm, and it seemed like only staff members were allowed in. So, I killed time around the area and returned a little after 1 pm. Then I went straight to the cafe. It's spacious. There were many people who seemed to be staff members, not just audience members, and the atmosphere was lively, filled with excitement for the upcoming concert. It's self-service. I ordered a cup of tea for 400 yen. I sat at a table by the window, and both sides were labeled as 'reserved seats.' I later found out that you can reserve a sushi set. There are options for 2000 yen and 3000 yen. The concert was very enjoyable even for a classical music beginner like me. They played familiar songs, and it was really good. They performed Beethoven's 'Fate' from start to finish. I didn't realize this piece was so long. And the ending was emotional! The conductor's talk was also very enjoyable...I think I'm getting hooked on classical music concerts."