The theme of the 24th annual Tokyo Summer Festival, which runs from July 3 to 31 at venues throughout the city, is Forest Echoes/Desert Voices. Representing the former is pianist and guitarist Egberto Gismonti, who studied classical music in Paris only to return to his native Brazil to live in the forest among the Indians and absorb their musical culture. He'll play his compositions, which fuse classical, jazz and rock motifs with Amazonian musical forms, accompanied by the Tokyo Philharmonic and as a solo performer.
Also check out: The Karaja Indians of the Amazon rain forest, who will perform ritual songs of thanks and remembrance; traditional Taureg music from the Sahara, chanted by women who are accompanied by any percussion instrument they can get their hands on, including plastic tubs; and traditional Shinto Theatre Dance from the forests of Miyazaki Prefecture. The festival also features a wide selection of classical-music recitals and concerts by up-and-coming Tokyo-based artists.
The setting: The venues include most of the city's better-known recital venues, including Sogetsu Hall in Akasaka, Kioi Hall in Yotsuya and Hamarikryu Asahi Hall in Tsukiji. There is also a two-day music camp at the Okutama Nature Park.
When/where: For a complete schedule of concerts and information about venues and ticket prices in English, go to www.arion-edo.org.
