Date: October 21, 2006

Venue:	Chion-in Temple, Kyoto, Japan
	at the Sanmon main gate (In case of rain, Wajun Kaikan)

No admission charge
    For advance requests for seating,
    please visit: http://www.classic.or.jp (in Japanese)
    or send e-mail to: info@classic.or.jp

Presented by the IPAF Executive Committee, Agency for Cultural Affairs
Produced by the Japan Association of Classical Music Presenters

Background
Beginning in ancient times, the Silk Road brought enthusiastic sharing of the fruits of civilization between East Asia and the West. That tradition began bringing Western classical music to the aristocratic classes, quickly followed by the common folk of Asia (as well as the rest of the world) in the nineteenth century. Today, East Asia's share of classical composers and artists of major importance is steadily increasing.
Japan's ancient capital and also a world cultural capital, Kyoto, is the setting for a series of three concerts that present multi-faceted samplings of the music scenes in Japan, China and Korea.

Concert 1: Glory of Strings and Flutes
Start: 13:30
A romance-filled concert of traditional Japanese, Chinese and Korean instruments in the wonderfully dramatic Sizhu (Chinese for "strings and bamboo") style. The program includes classic and traditional pieces. Japanese listeners will hear old favorites played in strikingly new ways. With their distinctive rhythms, the Chinese and Korean tunes are by turn exciting and hauntingly melancholy.
The Chinese erhu player, Jiang Jian-Hua and other artists from China, Korea and Japan perform at this concert.

Concert 2: From the East to the Wide World -- Banquet of Rising Stars
Start: 16:00
Famous chamber pieces by great composers of three lands: Toru Takemitsu (Japan), Tan Dun (China) and Yun I-sang (Korea), performed by a rare assembly of exciting new artists including the Quartet X from Korea and Kazunori Seo, a Japanese flutist.

Program (subject to change)
Toru Takemitsu: And then I knew 'twas Wind
Toru Takemitsu: Music of Trees
Tan Dun: Silk Road
Yun I-sang: String quartet No. 5

Concert 3: Twilight Concert
Start:18:30
A special concert with lighting to accentuate the enchantment of the twilight in autumn. Consisting of selections from the scores of great films of Japan, China and Korea, the program is suffused with evocative images of compelling stories and a profusion of elegant dreams. A special orchestra (concert mistress: Reiko Otani) and soloists of the Chinese and Japanese traditional instruments will perform.

Program (subject to change)
Tan Dun: hit songs from the movie "Green Destiny"
Ryuichi Sakamoto: Theme, from the movie "The Last Emperor"
Cho Sung-Woo: hit songs from the movie "April Snow"
Toru Takemitsu: Waltz, from the movie "The Face of Another"
Akira Senju: from the movie "Yomigaeri" (Resurrection)
Pietro Mascagni: "Cavalleria Rusticana" intermezzo
Puccini: Nessun Dorma, from "Turandot"
And others

International Performing Arts Festival (IPAF)
The International Performing Arts Festival (IPAF) for 2006, featuring individual artists and groups from Japan and abroad, will be held September 15-November 23 in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Okinawa. Performances will include music from classic to pops and a variety of theatrical events.
IPAF is presented by a committee of the Agency for Cultural Affairs, headquartered in Tokyo. It was launched by the Agency in 2002 as a series of events held mainly in Tokyo and Osaka whose objective was to promote international exchanges and cultural-artistic activities. The festival focuses on a variety of performing arts of Japan and other Asian countries with a view to help elevate their prominence in Japan and throughout the world.