The benefits of the concert will go to the classical music scene of the stricken areas in Japan. Through such support, the Helsinki-Japan Charity Orchestra aims to bring hope to the country, which is struggling to build itself up again after the devastating earthquake and tsunami.
All musicians in the Orchestra performed for free, and the Finlandia Hall did not charge anything for staging the event. The Association of Japanese Symphony Orchestras is due to distribute the charity funds in Japan.
Support is sorely needed in places like Sendai, which was one of the worst hit towns in Japan. Here the Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra has had to suspend all its activities at least until the end of June.
Sunday’s concert featured over 80 Japanese and Finnish musicians. Leif Segerstam and Yukihiro Notsu were the conductors for the evening, which also included performances by the soprano Helena Juntunen. In the programme were pieces by Jean Sibelius and the Japanese composer Toru Takemitsu.
