Two important music schools recently presented performances in Tokyo. Both were intent on providing their students an opportunity to perform in a world-class concert hall before a sophisticated concert audience. The differences between their performances were cultural rather than artistic.
The Tokyo College of Music presented a large symphony orchestra performing a traditional program of symphonic music. The Gnessin Music School presented its students both as soloists and as members of a chamber orchestra in an eclectic program tailored to highlight individual talents.
The Japanese orchestra performed under a distinguished elder statesman of the baton, conductor-composer Yuzo Toyama, 69, especially engaged for the occasion. The Russian orchestra and soloists performed under the baton of the orchestra's regular conductor, Mikhail Khokhlov, 45, himself a former piano student at the school.