TOKYO, Dec. 13 (UPI) -- Japan's well-known conductor
Hiroyuki Iwaki will conduct all nine Beethoven symphonies in one
marathon New Year's Eve concert in Tokyo.SAVE MONEY ON TRAVEL DEALS
"Beethoven is special. I'd be happy even if I died during
the performance", the 72-year-old conductor said. He will conduct
members of the NHK Symphony Orchestra and other musicians.
Performing the nine symphonies usually takes at least six
hours, Yomiuri Shimbun reported Monday.
Every year Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 is inseparable from
year-end festivities in Japan. But a performance of all nine
symphonies back to back is unusual.
For Iwaki, it will be the second New Year's Eve marathon
performance. Last year he and two other conductors alternated in
conducting two orchestras. This year, Iwaki volunteered to conduct
the event on his own.
The concert will start at 3:30 p.m. at a cultural hall in
Tokyo with five intermissions.
