[Tokyu Bunkamura Co., Ltd.] Event report released! Bunkamura Official Supplier Special “Future Masters Concert 2025” [Discover Future Stars: An Ongoing Initiative to Discover and Develop Young Talent]
Tokyu Bunkamura Co., Ltd. Press Release: October 6, 2025 To Members of the Press Event report now available! Bunkamura Official Supplier Special “Future Masters Concert 2025” [Discover Future Stars: An Ongoing Initiative to Discover and Develop Young Talent] A report on the “Future Masters Concert 2025,” held in September 2025, has been released. This year, trumpeter Hidetaro Matsui and cellist Saeko Toba appeared and gave a performance that exuded the dignity of a “young master.” Since its opening in 1989, Bunkamura (operated by Tokyu Bunkamura Co., Ltd.; located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo) has been a cultural and artistic complex that has promoted a wide range of cultural and artistic activities. Its activities are supported by official supplier companies that love and support culture and the arts. Currently, all facilities except Orchard Hall are closed due to development plans for adjacent land. However, we are taking this closure as an opportunity to take on new challenges with free thinking. We will continue to create and disseminate culture and art that moves people’s hearts, which has been cherished by Bunkamura, and we are also working to further expand the scope of our activities. ■ “Discover Future Stars” that takes on the challenge of “nurturing” With the support of official suppliers who support Bunkamura’s activities, we are conducting an ongoing initiative called “Discover Future Stars” to discover and nurture young talent. Through culture and the arts, we provide opportunities for people from diverse backgrounds to discover their potential and support their future success, while also developing programs to nurture the next generation of cultural and artistic leaders.
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URL: https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/31037/255/31037-255-2c07f70a4d62ee88a58db80f0fee911e-3504×2336.jpg (C)K.Miura Bunkamura Official Supplier Special “Future Masters Concert 2025” was held at Bunkamura Orchard Hall on Sunday, September 7th. This year, trumpeter Shutaro Matsui and cellist Sakura Toba appeared and performed with the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Kimbo Ishii. The concert opened with the Overture to Glinka’s opera “Ruslan and Ludmila.” The gorgeous strings, majestic brass, and powerful timpani are the essence of an orchestra! The uplifting sound instantly draws the audience into the world of music. Then, the first half soloist, Shutaro Matsui, appeared on stage with a smile, kicking off the concert with the exotic melody of Arutunian’s Trumpet Concerto. Matsui, who is active in a wide range of fields including jazz, classical, brass band, and pop, says that rather than focusing on a specific genre, he has focused on the trumpet as his central instrument, expressing his own musical style. True to his words, his tone, combining bold edge and a free-flowing purity, is uniquely his own. It’s a tone that captivates the listener at first listen. Along with his tone, Matsui also values singing with the trumpet. The scenes where he sings sweet melodies with a mute are like a jazz singer singing a ballad. His performance clearly demonstrates his approach to the piece as a performer rather than a performer. The final cadenza is his true masterpiece. While Doxiczer’s cadenza is commonly performed, this time it was Matsui’s original, a striking solo that blends jazz vocals into the finale. In response to enthusiastic applause, the soloist encore was Matsui’s original piece, “TRUST ME” (orchestrated by Kanematsu). The orchestra accompanied the nostalgic trumpet melody, creating a rich and fulfilling atmosphere that reminded each listener of happy times.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/31037/255/31037-255-02db00296a9adfd7b750913d3088b16e-3008×2000.jpg (C)K.Miura The second half featured Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1, featuring soloist Saki Toba. Toba described this challenging piece, which she chose herself, as “a piece that allows you to enjoy its two distinct characters: powerful energy and quiet inner depth.” Her striking two-tone black and white dress reflected this image. At the beginning of the first movement, the cello begins to play a humorous theme. While appearing a little nervous at first, Toba gradually became immersed in the music with astonishing concentration. Yet, his immersion was never so intense that he lost sight of his surroundings. He constantly glanced at the conductor, demonstrating his exceptional ensemble ability to synchronize perfectly with the orchestra. Rather than facing the orchestra as a soloist, he felt as if he were performing as a member of the orchestra. In the serene second movement, Toba sang emotionally with vibrato, yet his clean, pure tone was captivating. He meticulously portrayed the various emotions flickering in a fragmented manner. The third movement was a cadenza performed solo without orchestra. Alone on stage, he played a melody that seemed to peer into the depths of his own inner self with the solemnity and dignity of Bach, making it hard to believe he was only 20 years old. In the fourth movement, he and the orchestra united to build a climax, bringing the performance to a dazzling close. The encore was Nos. 20 and 21 from Weinberg’s “24 Preludes for Solo Cello.” We also heard a phrase from Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1, a selection that clearly demonstrated Toba’s dedication. At this “Future Masters Concert,” the orchestra, inspired by the two talented soloists who already exude the aura of “young masters,” delivered a truly compelling performance. We look forward to seeing more of Matsui and Toba’s future endeavors. (Text by Noriko Hara) ■What is the “Future Masters Concert”? This performance was held from 1992 to 2000 with the cooperation of official suppliers. 1. To discover, support, nurture, and introduce young, talented musicians. 2. To promote exchanges between these musicians in Japan. 3. To provide fresh, high-quality concerts to Japanese music lovers. With these goals in mind, past performances have featured leading contemporary musicians such as conductor Alan Gilbert, flutist Emmanuel Pahud, and violist Naoko Shimizu. And now, we will reopen in 2023, carrying on our DNA to date. Since its opening, Bunkamura has focused on “creation,” “communication,” and “exchange,” and will now place even greater emphasis on “nurturing,” discovering young talent and supporting its growth. ■Performance overview Bunkamura Official Supplier Special Future Masters Concert 2025 Discover Future Stars Date: Sunday, September 7, 2025 Venue: Bunkamura Orchard Hall Learn
more Upcoming “Discover “Future Stars” Project Bunkamura Official Supplier Special YGP Orchard Gala “Stars of Today Meet the Stars of Tomorrow” The Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) is the world’s largest ballet competition. To commemorate the opening of YGP Japan, we will be holding the YGP Orchard Gala. Come see the future stars of prestigious ballet schools perform alongside world-class stars such as Alexander Riabko, May Nagahisa, and Dmitry Smilevsky at the theater. Date: Sunday, October 12, 2025 Venue: Bunkamura Orchard Hall Learn more
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