Sapporo Symphony stage earthquake benefit

The Sapporo Symphony Orchesta has announced that proceeds from their concert at London’s Royal Festival Hall on May 23 will help the aid effort in Japan following the devastating earthquake and tsunami.

The Japanese Red Cross Society and the Japan Society Tohoku Earthquake Relief Fund will be the main beneficiaries, both of whom are currently distributing aid to help people in the affected areas.

The London concert is part of the Sapporo Symphony Orchestra’s 50th anniversary tour under the baton of longtime Principal Conductor Tadaaki Otaka. The programme will include Takemitsu’s How Slow the Wind, Shostakovich’s Symphony No.5 and Bruch’s Violin Concerto No.1 featuring celebrated Japanese violinist Akiko Suwanei.

Otaka commented: "It was an unforeseen and terrible disaster, from which all Japanese people are working extremely hard to recover. We, the musicians, wish to turn our London appearance into a charity concert in aid of the vital relief efforts in our country. Please join us and help Japan.”