July 28-30: The 26th Yufuin Music Festival |
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On July 28, the 26th YMF starts. Mt. Yufu is covered with thick black cloud caused by a typhoon approaching to Kyushu Island. I hope it will not disturb the Festival. |
 "Yufuin Western Music Tour --- Beyond time and space ---" by the members of Choral concert by Oita Medieval Music Research Society conducted and lectured by Shigemi Takei was held at Kowa Park Hotel. |
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Renaissance songs of France and Spain by the guest artist Yukari Nonoshita (Mezzo Soprano) accompanied by Ms. Misako Kouno's piano fascinated the audience. (Picture by Mr. Yamaguchi, a staff of the Festival.) |
A harpsichord recital will be held at Tokyu Golf Club this evening.   (Left picture) Mr. Michio Kobayashi, harpsichordist, and his daughter. (Right picture) Ms. Tomoko Kawada, (left, violinist) and Ms. Yukari Nonoshita (right, Mezzo soprano.) They were kindly gave me photo opportunities. |
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| A long line waiting for the opening at 7:30 p.m. at the lobby. |  |
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Harpsichord Recital by Michio Kobayashi performs "The world of J.S.Bach." |
 Yukari Nonoshita (Mezzo Soprano) and Tomoko Kawada (Violin) join to Kobayashi. |
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July 29 Volunteer staff gathered in the site at 11 a.m. Today's lunch is curried rice with pork cutlet prepared by Ms. Chikako Goto. It was very tasty. Plenty of fresh salad made me delighted. |
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 A rehearsal scene of "Summer Ensemble." Click here to meet the artists. |
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  Summer Ensemble performance started as scheduled. |
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| In the evening, Yukari Nonoshita who was born here in Yufuin performed wonderful songs of Japan and France in Mezzo Soprano. |  |
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Local fans presented her a lot of bouquets. |
| After the performance, she was filled up with the bouquets. |  |
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People linger at the lobby after the wonderful performance was over. Here and there are many circles in warm atmosphere. |
July 30 |
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| We stay at Kanakana-Tei cottage as usual during the festival. Mr. Yamaguchi from Fukuoka is our "virtual son during YMF." We enjoy a simple breakfast of bread, coffee, and salad. |  |
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The sky has cleared up in the morning. We will have a wonderful day today. |
 A rehearsal starts at the hall. Mr. Kodama, former music producer of Casalos Hall, checks the standing point. |
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The Finale Concert started. |
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  Today, we will have a tea break. On the table decorated with beautiful flowers are many cakes and cookies sponsored by local food shops. |
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Artist Kobayashi and his wife presented beautiful cookies. |
  People enjoy the tea break by taking tasty cookies, coffee, Ume-honey juice, and perilla juice. |
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| Mr. Yamaguchi took digital pictures and immediately prints them out by a video printer. The copies were really welcomed by the artists. |  |
 Ms. Aso, a flutist, lives in Oita. She joined in the last performance (leftmost.) |
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A big farewell party was held at Yunotake-Ann restaurant in the evening. BR>     Mr. Kouno, the music director of YMF, cuts off a large watermelon from Toyama prefecture (left.) Mr. Yamaguchi was asked to sing canzonets (right.) |
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 The 26th YMF was over in success. See you again next year! |
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July 31 |
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| We have cleaned up Kanakana-Tei cottage and left for home. We were caught by Miss Ohmori (violinist) in the garden of Kamenoi Besso and went up to Tenjou Gallery tearoom. Some staffs including Ms. Kitamura and Ms. Kohi joined us and enjoyed morning tea. | |
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Before leaving for Oita airport, we invited artists to a noodle restaurant "Izumi-Soba" for lunch.
Outside of the wind is filled with thick green and cool breeze coming over Lake Kinrin. |
| The master of the restaurant taught us much about buckwheat noodles. He lectures about "Seiro noodle" in a square dish and "Oroshi noodle" in a round dish. Mr. Yawara Watanabe is enjoying it.
Artists Ohmori, Ichitsubo headed to the airport together with Mr. Watanabe. We promised to see you soon here in Yufuin and said good-bye. What the 27th YMF will be next year? I am expecting it from now. (The End) |
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