Chief editor of the Japanese magazine MOSTLY CLASSIC Ichiro Fujimori on Czech music

There is a well-known saying in Japan. „Seeing is believing”. It refers to the importance of actually seeing and being in contact with the actual place and site, which is exactly what I did this time. It was a truly valuable experience to be able to come into contact with the ‘Czech heart’. 

Smetana is one of the popular composers in Japan. I have listened to ‘Moldau’ as well as the complete ‘My Homeland’ many times, but the open-air performance by the Prague Symphony Orchestra in Prague Vyšehrad was a truly precious experience. The people who had gathered there were a joy to behold, above all because they could see what the piece meant to the Czech people. Thousands of people quieted down as the music began, probably because they all knew that the whole piece begins with the harp. I was also surprised to see the children start dancing during the polka in the middle part of ‘Moldau’. The same with ‘From the Woods and Steppes of Bohemia’. It was a discovery that Czech music has its origins in dance, and that both the orchestra members and the listeners responded to the rhythms in a lively way. 

In Smetana's home town of Litomysl, the opera ‘Libuše’ was performed in concert form by the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Jakub Hruša. In Japan, the opera was not only performed, but its existence was almost unknown. I did not realise that the theme of the work was ‘love and peace’ and reconciliation until I listened it there with English subtitles. It was also a unique experience for me to know that the linden tree – Liepa sung in Opera is the symbol of peace , and that the peaceful countryside on the road to Litomysl overlaps with the music. It was also a rare experience to visit Dvořák's summer house in Vysoká village, and the church where the composer attended. Dvořák's heart became even closer to me. 

 After coming back to Japan, I was able to hear more about Czech music and its great playing  traditions from the two Maestros: Hrusa and Petr Popelka who conducted in Tokyo. 

 The results of beautiful trip to Czech and our interviews were incorporated into our classical music magazine, MOSTLY CLASSIC, and the special issue on Czech music was released on 20-th August 2024. As a music lover, I am also far more attracted to the Czech Republic than being there. The fact that I can feel familiar with music that is almost unknown in Japan, such as Dvorak's Mass, is also a result of töhis trip to the Czech Republic. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the many people who kindly agreed to be interviewed locally, and to the Czech Centre for their cooperation. 

chief editor of ‘MOSTLY CLASSIC’ 

Fujimori Ichiro