The Theme Composer series presents a portrait of a leading international composer, and commissions him/her a new orchestral work that is premiered during the festival. This year’s theme composer is Georges Aperghis (b.1945). A pioneer of music theatre in France, Aperghis has also attracted attention in recent years for his orchestral and instrumental works. The three concerts will showcase the diverse appeal of his music including Japanese premieres of his orchestral works, chamber music for various combinations, as well as his masterpiece, Récitations for voice solo.
Aperghis will also give a Music Composition Workshop for young composers, preceded by a Talk Session with Toshio Hosokawa. Furthermore, a Masterclass on Contemporary Vocal Works will be held as a related event.

Masterclass
■Music Composition Workshop and Talk Session ► Book Now
Sat, AUG 23 19:00 Blue Rose (Small Hall)
［Part 1］Georges Aperghis×Toshio Hosokawa Talk Session
［Part 2］Workshop by Call for Scores

　Lecture Georges Aperghis / Toshio Hosokawa

■Masterclass on Contemporary Vocal Works, for unaccompanied solo voice ► Book Now
Wed, AUG 27 19:00 Blue Rose (Small Hall)

　Instructor Donatienne Michel-Dansac
　Student Chihiro Asano / Ayako Kosaka / Noriko Yakushiji

This award is presented to the most notable orchestral work by a Japanese composer premiered during the previous year (January-December 2024). Following the performance of the three nominated works, the jury (Sunao Isaji, Noriko Koide and Akio Yasuraoka) will conduct the deliberations on stage in public. This year, orchestral works by Takuma Saito, Satori Hironiwa, and Junichi Matsumoto are nominated, which will be performed by the New Japan Philharmonic conducted by Yoichi Sugiyama. There will also be an opportunity for the public to vote for their favourite piece.
The concert will open with a performance of Musica per Orchestra Sinfonica in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Yasushi Akutagawa, followed by the world premiere of QUEEN, a commissioned work by Wataru Mukai, winner of the 2023 award.

* Yasushi Akutagawa Suntory Award for Music Composition
This prize was established in April 1990 with the support of the Japan Federation of Composers, and celebrates the achievements of the late Yasushi Akutagawa (1925 – 89), who made significant contributions to the development of Western-style music in Japan in the post-war years.
This composition prize, the first of its kind in Japan, is a unique initiative aimed at up-and-coming composers creating orchestral works full of freshness and steeped in potential, with winners selected from among pieces premiered at public concerts.
This is a compound award, as composers winning the prize also receive a commission for a new orchestral work, with the first performance held two years thereafter. Prize money: ¥1,500,000/ Commission fee: ¥1,000,000.

Presented by Suntory Hall
Sous le parrainage de Ambassade de France au Japon / Institut français du Japon (Theme Composer Georges Aperghis)
Under the Auspices of Embassy of Greece in Japan (Theme Composer Georges Aperghis)
Supported by The Japan Federation of Composers Inc. / Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers Japan / Society for Contemporary Music (The 35th Competition of Yasushi Akutagawa Suntory Award for Music Composition)
Coordinated by Tokyo Concerts, Inc.