HarrisonParrott was delighted to manage the second BBC Proms Japan, after the first version in 2019 with BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra which HP also managed, from 29 October to 6 November, presented and sponsored by Daiwa Securities Group. The six-day festival included performances at the Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Tokyo and The Symphony Hall in Osaka with BBC Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Principal Guest Conductor Dalia Stasevska. This was the second time HarrisonParrott had taken BBC SO to Japan after having taken them in 2018 for the Toshiba Grand Tour.

The festival was filled with repertoire of beloved classical works sitting alongside pieces by some of the most relevant composers of our day, such as Dai Fujikura and Anna Clyne, with a special new commission by Japanese composer Noriko Koide.

Star soloists graced the stage, featuring violinist Nicola Benedetti who joined for the initial two concerts including the First Night of the Proms playing Sibelius Violin Concerto, followed by piano duo Makoto Ozone and Gonzalo Rubalcaba in a special Jazz Night session. Cellist Sol Gabetta performed in a British/​Czech masterpieces concert with Elgar’s Cello Concerto, then pianist Hayato Sumino joined for a Game and Cinema Prom with Tokyo 21^st Century Orchestra. Prom 5 introduced Nordic and 21^st Century music to the festival with pianist Yu Kosuge and Grieg’s Piano Concerto. In the Last Night of the Proms, we were joined again by Nicola Benedetti and baritone Roderick Williams featuring traditional and renowned repertoire, and contemporary and cinema works including Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance, alongside works such as Ravel’s Don Quixote’s Heart for Princess Dulcinea, Yasushi Akutagawa’s Music for Symphonic Orchestra, and Richard Rodgers’ Some Enchanted Evening from South Pacific.

Outside of the concert hall, there were pre-concert talks and educational activities as well as public concerts taking place over the whole city.