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- Suntory Hall Gets Its First Facelift in 30 Years
Suntory Hall Gets Its First Facelift in 30 Years
September 15, 2017
A special visit to Suntory Hall which opened about 30 years ago as the first concert hall in Japan specifically designed for classical music.
The seats in the main hall were reupholstered using the same fabric as when the hall first opened.
A clear yet full sound from the overhauled pipe organ seemed to surrounds us on all sides.
About 30 years ago, Suntory Hall opened in ARK Hills, Japan's first large-scale mixed-use redevelopment project, as the first concert hall in Japan specifically designed for classical music.
Since its opening, Suntory Hall has hosted some of the most prominent classical musicians and orchestras in the world, and this year it underwent its first-ever largescale renovation.
I got the chance to join a tour of the newly refurbished hall in an event open only to MORI LIVING residents. Just hours before the hall's first concert after reopening, we were given a tour of the new features, and we even got to take a look backstage and see what the performers see from the perspective of the stage.
The concept behind the renovation centered around preserving history while also innovating. In this sense, the hall didn't immediately look vastly different than it had originally. But on closer inspection, there were some very notable improvements. For starters, ramps have been added both inside and outside the building in order to accommodate guests in wheelchairs, and the restrooms have been expanded and updated. The seats in the main hall were reupholstered using the same fabric as when the hall first opened, and the stage floorboards in the main hall were replaced. In addition, the hall's centerpiece - its large pipe organ - was given a complete overhaul.
We were able to experience the sound of the organ firsthand when organist Davide Mariano played us a piece from the concert that would be performed later the same evening. Sitting right behind Mariano, I was able to see both of his hands and feet flitting across the keyboard and pedals. A clear yet full sound seemed to surround us on all sides. If you have a chance, I highly recommend taking in a concert at Suntory Hall so that you can experience such enjoyment for yourself!
Kelly