Boston Symphony Oboist Keisuke Wakao Organizes Benefit Concert for Victims of Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan

CONCERT OF WORKS BY HANDEL, LOEFFLER, AND BEETHOVEN TO TAKE PLACE SUNDAY, APRIL 10, AT 4 P.M., AT THE CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER IN CHESTNUT HILL

Boston Symphony Orchestra Assistant Principal Oboe Keisuke Wakao will be joined by BSO Assistant Concertmaster Alexander Velinzon, colleagues from the New England Conservatory, and additional local musicians to perform a benefit concert for the relief efforts in Japan following the devastating events since the March 11 earthquake tsunami. The concert, featuring works by Handel, Loeffler, and Beethoven, will take place at the Church of the Redeemer in Chestnut Hill on Sunday, April 10, at 4 p.m., with a suggested donation of $25 per person. The Church of the Redeemer is located at 379 Hammond Street in Chestnut Hill, MA. Mr. Wakao arranged the performance as a special extension to the Classical Concert Series he produces for the Church.

"I organized this concert with some of my dear friends in Boston to play music in honor of the people in Japan who are going through such tragic and very difficult times and to raise money to help them rebuild,” said Tokyo native Keisuke Wakao. “We also play for all the people in the world who pray for Japan. It's difficult to see such terrible loss and devastation in Japan, but I have confidence – thanks to the generosity of the international community – they will bounce back strongly with more wisdom and vigor in the near future."

In addition to works by Handel, Loeffler, and Beethoven, the concert will include pieces by Elgar, Schumann, and Bloch. A full program is listed below. To purchase tickets please contact the Church of the Reedemer office at 617-566-7679 or office@redeemerchestnuthill.org.

Mr. Wakao also organizes the American-Japanese Cultural Concert Series at the Church of the Redeemer, which last year featured Emanuel Ax. He has scheduled a benefit concert as part of this series for Sunday, October 16, 2011, at 4 p.m. with additional details to be announced athttp://americanjapaneseconcerts.com/.

Keisuke Wakao was appointed assistant principal oboe of the Boston Symphony in 1990 during Seiji Ozawa’s tenure with the orchestra. Mr. Wakao, also principal oboe of the Boston Pops Orchestra, previously performed with the New Japan Philharmonic under Maestro Ozawa. The oboist has strong musical connections with his country of birth, having performed with the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, the Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra, the Super World Orchestra in Japan, as well as in his role as the founder of the annual Keisuke Wakao Oboe Camp in Tokyo, and as the director of the Daikanyama Hillside Terrace Music Festival. On May 25 and 26, 2011, Mr. Wakao will be playing the world premiere of an oboe concerto, which John Williams recently composed expressly for him.

Benefit Concert For The Victims Of The Earthquake And Tsunami In Japan
Church of the Redeemer, 379 Hammond Street, Chestnut Hill

Sunday, April 10, 2011, 4 p.m.
Keisuke Wakao, oboe, BSO
Alexander Velinzon, violin, BSO
Roger Tapping, viola, NEC
Natasha Brofsky, cello, NEC
Edmund Arkus, piano
Michael Murray, organ, Church of the Redeemer

Program

ELGAR “Nimrod” from The Enigma Variations

HANDEL Largo for oboe and organ

SCHUMANN Fantasy Pieces, Opus 73

BLOCH “Prayer” from Three songs from Jewish Life for piano and cello

LOEFFLER Rhapsody for oboe, viola, and piano

BEETHOVEN Trio for violin, viola, and cello, Op. 9, No. 1 in G

BEETHOVEN Trio for oboe, cello, and piano