The 29th Takefu International Music Festival

The annual Takefu International Music Festival was held this year, too.

The festival was held from September 9^th to 16^th and it was the 29^th to be held.

During the festival, not just daily concerts but also workshops and classes by world-class musicians were held.

I went to its opening concert held at Echizen Cultural Center on September 9^th, 2018. The concert is sort of introducing musicians who play in the festival, 

so each of them played the piano, the violin, the cello, the saxophone, the flute, and sings one or two songs each. It was a luxurious program like cherry-picking. 

The opening number was "Love's Greeting" by Elgar. Some of the other songs played were Brahms' "Hungarian Dances"and "Lullaby" and "Liebesleid" by Kreisler. The musicians played not only familiar songs but less familiar, more contemporary ones too, so it was really a varied concert.

Kansai Airport had been closed due to Typhoon No.21, 

so a few of musicians from abroad changed their flights and managed to arrive at the center just in time. They did not reveal a trace of such troubles, I was able to sense their serious attitudes and concentration from the stage. (H.S)