Barely had the applause in Osaka faded when we hopped on the shinkansen for the 500 km ride to the capital. 🚄 Time to keep up the pace!

The tour of Asia continues today with a concert at Tokyo's Bunkyo Civic Hall, showcasing the work of Smetana, Ravel and Tchaikovsky, performed by pianist Seong-Jin Cho and the Czech Philharmonic, conducted by Semyon Bychkov.

"We always discuss the music beforehand, but I think for me the pure magic happens in the rehearsal" - pianist Seong-Jin Cho on working with Semyon Bychkov and the Czech Philharmonic.

The tour of Asia continues today at Suntory Hall in Tokyo. The Czech Philharmonic will perform Ravel: Piano Concerto in G Major and Shostakovich: Symphony No. 8 in C minor, with pianist Seong-Jin Cho.

A moment of preparation, followed by performance and applause, with Seong-Jin Cho and the Czech Philharmonic at Tokyo's Bunkyo Civic Hall. 📷 Petra Hajska

Legends are told about Suntory Hall’s perfect acoustics… How does the Czech Philharmonic sound here? Like someone just gave you new ears. 👂

Images captured by photographer Petra Hajska at Suntori Hall in Tokyo on Wednesday evening. The evening featured Ravel: Piano Concerto in G major, with pianist Seong-Jin Cho, and Shostakovich: Symphony No. 8 in C minor.

“It is a Tristan well worthy of the Wagner shrine… The Bayreuth cast was peerless, the orchestra shone in the theatre’s acoustical magnificence.” (Opera Today) The Bayreuth Festival 2024 production of Tristan und Isolde is now available on Blu-ray. #WorldOperaDay

Fantastic time touring in Taiwan and Japan with maestro Semyon Bychkov and Czech Philharmonic! © Petra Hajská

We’re very lucky, and so are our listeners. Who better to perform Shostakovich than Maestro Semyon Bychkov?

A quick trip to Saitama! From Tokyo it’s just a few minutes by metro, like going from Pilsen to the Rudolfinum. Our last stop on the tour is near. Who’s joining us?

Anastasia Kobekina always has a cello and a camera with her: "It's a form of meditation for me, a way of seeing the world with sharpened senses." What music does she love to explore, and what is it like playing with the Czech Phil on tour in Japan?

Images from Saitama, Japan, earlier this week. 📷 Petra Hajska

"Elegant, contemplative Tchaikovsky that valued proportion, diction and the long view." - A 5⭐ review from Bachtrack of Wednesday's concert in Seoul. Read the full version here 👇 bachtrack.com/review-bychkov…

Which Šárka did Smetana write about? The gentle and graceful girl, the sad and wounded one, or the furious and vengeful spirit?! Don’t be fooled by a short excerpt. Listen to the full piece. We shared her story three times on our Asia tour, most recently at Seoul Arts Center.

A selection of images taking us behind the scenes of the Lotte Hall concert in Seoul last week. Including meeting the audience, moments of preparation, and performance, with cellist Jaemin Han.

In February of next year, Semyon Bychkov will work alongside British actor and director Ralph Fiennes on a new production of Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin at Opéra de Paris.

11 performances, 9 concert halls, 3 countries... Led by Chief Conductor Semyon Bychkov, the Czech Philharmonic presented 5 works, shared the stage with 3 renowned soloists, and performed for 100s of enthusiastic listeners, during their tour of Asia. Pics here: ceskafilharmonie.cz/.../the-orches…