Symphony of Hope, connecting orchestras nationwide by Prokofiev, Takemitsu, Beethoven, Od (2020/2020), Dirigent Kazuyoshi Akiyama, Sapporo Concert Hall 'Kitara', Sapporo, Japan

The Year 2020 is the Birth Memorial Year for Beethoven, which is the highlight in the history of music. We would have been listening to Beethoven’s works all around Japan, however, due to COVID-19, days have already passed and no artists have been able to be back on the stage. We do not know when we can go back to the days we used to share, safe and sound, but even in these times, there are people who have started to move forward. The basic theme of Beethoven’s music that is “Rejoicing beyond the hardship” is what we can understand especially in nowadays. NHK is producing a series of concerts connecting orchestras nationwide to perform Symphony of Hope. NHK wishes that this activity leads many people suffering COVID-19 to look for the hope that would surely be around us somewhere- orchestra performing each of Beethoven’s symphonies throughout the nation.