Tokyo-to Kokyo Gakudan, Nov. 18, Gary Bertini conducting in Tokyo Geijutsu Gekijo -- Symphonic Suite "Printemps," Cantata "La Demoiselle Elue" with Emi Suwahata, Satomi Kano and the Shinyukai Chorus; Prelude to "The Afternoon of a Faun," Three Symphonic Sketches "La Mer" (Achille-Claude Debussy, 1862-1918)
The Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra is the city's own orchestra, funded by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. The 104-member orchestra was formed in 1965 for the opening of Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, where it now maintains permanent office and rehearsal facilities.
As the orchestra of the people, the TMSO repays the substantial government subsidy to the citizenry of Tokyo through two primary missions: It performs many educational concerts for youth in the city's schools and it offers public concerts for its regular core of Tokyo concertgoers, a highly sophisticated audience long accustomed to hearing the finest artists and ensembles of the world.