Features
The Japan-Italy Friendship
Conductor and Chicago Symphony music director Riccardo Muti will arrive in Japan with a specially formed ensemble called the Japan-Italy Friendship 150th Anniversary Orchestra to celebrate 150 years of diplomatic relations between the countries.
Photo: cso.org/
The tour starts March 17 with a selection of pieces from Italian operas. However, the day before, Maestro Muti will be honored with his own commemorative stamp as issued by Japan Post.
The series of stamps will also feature composer Giuseppe Verdi and librettist Arrigo Boito. It is Muti’s second trip to Japan this year. He toured Asia with the Chicago Symphony in January. The March concerts will also kick off the Tokyo Spring Festival, a huge annual festival of about 100 classical music concerts held throughout the city.