1. Objectives The aim of the Music Festival Argerich's Meeting Point in Beppu (Beppu Argerich Music Festival), under General Director Martha Argerich, world-prominent pianist, and General Producer Kyoko Ito, pianist, is to keep a distinction from commercialism and use music to promote spiritual awareness of a society where we can nurture children toward building the future and create a new social environment full of humanity. 1. Fostering The Beppu Argerich Music Festival provides high-quality music to children, the driving force of the 21st century, and fosters young musicians by providing development opportunities including master classes. To promote education to cultivate children's aesthetic sentiments, the Music Festival holds free concerts for children and their parents. The Music Festival provides opportunities to think about and create a social environment where both children and parents can grow together. 2. Asia The Beppu Argerich Music Festival provides young musicians in Asia with opportunities to perform with world-famous musicians including Martha Argerich. We create a "Meeting Point," as shown in the official name of the Music Festival, for young Asian musicians to develop their talent. We hold concerts where students of music colleges in Japan perform with world-famous musicians for learning and nurturing opportunities. 3. Creation The Beppu Argerich Music Festival aims to be a heartwarming "hand-made music festival" which we create in collaboration with the local people. We will continue to create and dispatch unique music culture from Oita Prefecture connecting Beppu to the world for friendly international exchanges through music. 2. Theme: Music and Story The theme of 7th Beppu Argerich Music Festival was "South America" and the 6th Festival's theme was "Russia," each focusing on a region. The theme of the 9th Music Festival is "Music and Story." This theme was chosen based on Argerich's own experience that her father's reading stories to her had great effects on nurturing her imagination and sensitivities, in addition to music. Under this theme, the Music Festival pursues what can be discovered by combining music and stories. The main program in the Chamber Music Marathon Concert is Stravinsky's "The Soldier's Tale," which asks of us what spiritual value means in a modern society where physical value dominates. This question is linked directly with the purposes of the Beppu Argerich Music Festival, and thus, the concert constitutes a very important program. 3. Dates: Wednesday, April 11 to Saturday, April 21, 2007 * Dates subject to change 4. Place: B-Con Plaza (Beppu City) iichiko Culture Center (Oita City) 5. Musicians participating in the Music Festival Argerich's Meeting Point in Beppu 2007 Mikijiro Hira (narrator): Actor representing Japan. His first performance of "The Soldier's Tale." Paul Meyer (clarinet): Known by clear and elegant performance. One of the most prestigious clarinetists. Performs in "The Soldier's Tale." Sergei Nakariakov (trumpet, flugelhorn): Participated in the 4th, 5th and 7th Music Festival. Performs in "The Soldier's Tale." Masako Deguchi made her debut in Lucia in 1987. Since then, she has been a star singer with excellent ability in the Fujiwara Opera. She is a prima donna representing Japan. Nelson Goerner (piano): Comes from Argentina. Winner of the Geneva International Competition. Actively performing in Europe. Toho Gakuen Orchestra: Participated in the 1st and 2nd Music Festival. Maestro Myung-Whun Chung highly rated their performance. Excellent student orchestra in Japan. (This Orchestra performed under Conductor Myung-Whun Chung in the 1st Beppu Argerich Music Festival.) Martha Argerich (General Director of Beppu Argerich Music Festival/piano) Yuri Bashmet (conductor, viola): Participated in the 7th Music Festival. Kiyotaka Dosaka (bassoon): Will participate in the Music Festival for the first time. Yoshiko Kawamoto (viola): Participated in the 5th and 7th Music Festival. Fumiaki Kono (cello): Participated in the 4th, 5th and 8th Music Festival. Shin-ichi Go (trombone): Will participate in the Music Festival for the first time. Iwahisa Kuroki (contrabass): Participated in the 7th Music Festival. Natsumi Tamai (violin): Will participate in the Music Festival for the first time. Yasushi Toyoshima (violin): Will participate in the Music Festival for the first time. * Performed in "Argerich Chamber Music Festival" sponsored by the Japan Education Exchange-Baba Foundation in 1994. The "Argerich Chamber Music Festival" gave birth to the Beppu Argerich Music Festival. Sawako Yasue (percussion): Member of Tokyo Philharmonic Alan Weise (piano) : Participated in the 3rd Music Festival. 6. Schedule of Music Festival Argerich's Meeting Point in Beppu 2007 Under the objectives of the Music Festival, we will hold the following concerts. 1) Concerts with General Director Martha Argerich and other world-prominent musicians Orchestra Concert Date & time: Saturday, April 14 18:00 to 20:30 (planned) Place: iichiko Culture Center (iichiko Grand Theater) Performed by: Yuri Bashmet (conductor, viola), Martha Argerich (piano), Toho Gakuen Orchestra Program (planned): Brahms: Quintet in B minor for viola & strings op.115(Trancribed by Yuri Bashmet) Haydn: Piano Concerto in D major,Hob 18-11 or Bartok: Piano Concerto No.3 Sz.119 From the Symphonys of Schubert. Works related to the Music Festival's theme "Music and Story" will be selected for the Orchestra Concert program. The Orchestra Concert provides student orchestras consisting of young musicians who study in music colleges in Japan with opportunities to perform with Argerich and other world-class musicians, so that the students learn musicality and spirit of those famous musicians as well as have the joy to create music with them. These performances with student orchestras are also stimulating for prestigious musicians. The Orchestra Concert is an opportunity to learn and foster. The audience, on the other hand, enjoys experiencing music students' power and challenging spirit in performing music. Chamber Music Marathon Concert Date & time: Saturday, April 21 14:00 to 18:00 (planned) Place: B-Con Plaza (Philharmonia Hall) Performed by: Martha Argerich (piano), Mikijiro Hira (narrator), Yuri Bashmet (viola), Masako Deguchi (soprano), Kiyotaka Dosaka (bassoon), Shin-ichi Go (trombone), Yoshiko Kawamoto (viola), Fumiaki Kono (cello), Iwahisa Kuroki (contrabass), Paul Meyer (clarinet), Sergei Nakariakov (trumpet/ flugelhorn), Natsumi Tamai (violin), Yasushi Toyoshima (violin), Sawako Yasue (percussion), Alan Weiss (piano) Program (planned) Stravinsky/Ramuz (libretto): The Soldier's Tale (L'Histoire du Soldat) Shumann: Marchenerzahlungen op.132 Shubert: Arpeggione Sonata D.821, etc., The Chamber Music Marathon Concert is known as a program original to the Beppu Argerich Music Festival, lasting four to five hours with all participants performing chamber music with a variety of musical instruments. Under the theme of the 9th Music Festival, "Music and Story," Stravinsky's "The Soldier's Tale" will be performed with actor Mikijiro Hira's narration. The program is a highlight of the Marathon Concert in the 9th Music Festival. Works by Brahms, Schumann, and others will also be performed. Summary of "The Soldier's Tale" A soldier, the leading character of the story, goes back to his homeland for a holiday. On his way home, he is playing the violin when a devil appears. The devil says to the soldier, "Give the violin to me. In return, I will give you this book. With this book, you can know everything in the future. You will be a rich man!" The soldier exchanges his violin for the book and becomes rich. He should be happy but he is not. Why isn't he happy? He realizes what he needs and what is important to him. He again goes on a trip to find the happiness which he has lost. He gets rid of all of his gold, silver, treasures, and other fortune. Can he find happiness again? 2) Concerts to nurture young musicians and children Concert by Young Musicians of Oita Prefecture Date & time: Wednesday, April 11 18:00 Place: B-Con Plaza (International Conference Room) Performed by: Young musicians from Oita Prefecture. (To be announced later.) This concert aims to develop the level of local music and familiarize the Music Festival to local people. It offers opportunities for young musicians who are from Oita Prefecture or learn music in Oita Prefecture to perform and promote their talents. The concert has become increasingly popular among local people as they feel the Music Festival closer to them. Concert Recommended by General Director Marthe Argerich Nelson Goerner Piano Recital Date & time: Sunday, April 15 15:00 Place: iichiko Culture Center (iichiko Oto-no-izumi Hall) Program (planned): Chopin: 12 Etudes, Allegro de concert op.46, etc., The Beppu Argerich Music Festival offers opportunities for talented young musicians and musicians with appropriate experience to perform in public under the objective of "Fostering." In this year's Music Festival, Nelson Goerner, a promising young pianist from Argentina who won the Geneva International Competition in 1990, will give a piano recital under the recommendation of Argerich. This will be Goerner's first recital in Japan. The ambitious and interesting program includes works by Janacek and Chopin. The recital is one of the programs at the center of attention in the Music Festival. Open Master Class The Beppu Argerich Music Festival offers open master classes inviting world-famous musicians as lecturers to realize its one of the objectives: "Fostering" children and young musicians in Asia. Many of the participants in the master classes have won prizes in major international music competitions, such as Tchaikovsky, Chopin, Paganini, etc. after attending the classes at this music festival (See the attachment.), which has drawn the world's attention. Careful and high quality master classes with unique teaching methods have attracted many music fans, and the classrooms are packed with children, their parents and music teachers. Local people also rate the master classes highly because they contribute to music education and music environment in the community. Open Viola Master Class by Yuri Bashmet Date & time: Monday, April 16 19:00 Place: B-Con Plaza (International Conference Room) Participants: Young musicians who are studying to be professional musicians in the future (two performers) Open Clarinet Master Class by Paul Meyer (first clarinet master class in the Music Festival) Date & time: Tuesday, April 17 19:00 Place: B-Con Plaza (International Conference Room) Participants: Young musicians who are studying to be professional musicians in the future (two performers) Open Vocal Master Class by Masako Deguchi Date & time: Wednesday, April 18 19:00 Place: B-Con Plaza (Conference Room) Participants: Young musicians who are studying to be professional musicians in the future (two performers) Lecturer: Masako Deguchi(soprano) Free Concert for Children The Free Concert for Children is a very popular concert in the Music Festival. It is flooded with applicants every time. The concert aims to provide children who will bear the world's future on their shoulders with opportunities to listen to high-quality music. While as a rule children under the age of the first grade in elementary school (seven) cannot enter concerts, this concert accepts children accompanied by their parents and offers an opportunity for families in the community to enjoy music together. This year, the Music Festival will hold the concert outside the festival venues for the first time. The hall for this concert is at one of the information centers of the Music Festival. 3) Activities to contribute to the community through music The Beppu Music Festival promotes activities to share the joy of music, arts, and creative development with as many people as possible by expanding music communication. The Music Festival holds concerts in its 14 information centers in Oita Prefecture during the festival period and before and after the Music Festival (all year round). These activities also aim to deepen people's understanding and support of the Music Festival. We hold concerts by world-renowned musicians who participate in the Music Festival, as well as concerts by young musicians giving them opportunities to perform in public. a) Community Concerts '07 New Year Concert in Saiki Classical Music Concert & Family Concert Date: Saturday, January 13 & Sunday, January 14 Place: Saiki Culture Hall (Saiki City, Oita Prefecture) Performed by: Kyoko Ito (piano), Fumiaki Kono (cello), Fumio Kawamura (piano), Chiaki Ueki (soprano), Rie Sato (piano), Tokyo College of Music Quartet (string quartet). Open Vocal Master Class by Masako Deguchi Date: Sunday,April 22 Place: Little building dream (Nakatsu City,Oita Prefecture) (*) Beppu Argerich Music Festival Information Centers The Beppu Argerich Music Festival has been progressing under the objectives of providing meeting points for musicians and audiences and fostering the creative development of children. We established fourteen information centers in Oita Prefecture (Bungotakada, Kitsuki, Hiji, Usuki, Tsukumi, Saiki, Bungoono, Taketa, Kusu, Kokonoe, Yufu, Hita, Nakatsu, and Usa) in December 2005, and held community concerts starting in 2006 by appointing chevaliers at each meeting point. These concerts will be held all around Oita Prefecture throughout the year to deepen ties between local communities, individuals and music, and contribute to the development of local culture. The Music Festival also holds young musicians' concerts and other concerts in cooperation with music halls and enterprises outside Oita Prefecture. b) Concert tied-up with Beppu Argerich Music Festival Nelson Goerner Piano Recital Concert Recommended by General Director Marthe Argerich Date & time: Friday, April 13, 19:00 Place: Arkas SASEBO (Sasebo City, Nagasaki Prefecture) c) Concert Recommended by General Director Marthe Argerich Sanyo Classic Concert Date & time: Wednesday, April 12 19:00 to 20:00 Place: Sanyo Shinpan Finance Co., Ltd. Head Office Building (in Fukuoka City) Performed by: Nelson Goerner (piano) d) Events related to the Beppu Argerich Music Festival (in Oita Prefecture) The Beppu Argerich Music Festival holds cooperative events with the local community every year. We have held mini-concerts by local young musicians who participated in the Music Festival at the airport, a train station, prefectural office, city hall, and in the streets. We have also exhibited panels explaining the Music Festival. (As of January 9, 2007) Contact Argerich Arts Foundation Noguchibaru 3030-1, Beppu-shi, Oita-ken 874-0903 Japan Tel: (0977) 27-2300 Fax: (0977) 27-2301 E-mail:info@argerich-mf.jp