Hyogo Performing Arts Center Orchestra

On January 17, 1995, the Hanshin and Awaji region, in which the city of Kobe
(pop. 1.5 million) is located, was hit by a great earthquake. The Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake claimed the lives of over 6,400 people and caused serious economic damage estimated at 9,926.8 billion yen. But even while experiencing difficulty accessing just the bare necessities, residents in the stricken region renewed their awareness of the special role that cultural and artistic events had played in their lives.

A decade later, the Hyogo Performing Arts Center has opened as a symbol of the psychological and cultural rebirth of the region. The Center will be a new hub of artistic and cultural activities, with its three state-of-the-art halls-the Grand Hall
(2,001 seats), the Theater (800 seats), and the Recital Hall (417 seats)-capable of accommodating concerts, operas, ballets, plays and various other performing arts events. The internationally known conductor Yutaka Sado serve as the Artistic Director and the Artistic Advisor, respectively. Concurrently with the opening of the Center, the Hyogo Performing Arts Center Orchestra, an ensemble of young, brilliant professional musicians selected by its artistic director Yutaka Sado through competitive worldwide auditions, was established. By organizing various programs, offering its facilities to the public, and presenting a wide range of cultural activities, the Hyogo Performing Arts Center aspires to expand the network of artistic interactions and creative activities within Japan and throughout the world.

Grand Hall

The Grand Hall is designed for concerts, operas, and ballets. The stage with the rear stage and the wings is equipped with enough functions to comfortably accommodate performances that require large-scale stage installations. Also, this hall can be a first-class concert hall when fitted with sound reflecting panels to optimize the reverberation time. The wood-based interior makes the audience feel calm and relaxed. While this is a large-capacity hall with four balcony tiers, it is so masterfully designed that the audience feels closer to the stage than they actually are. This closeness, combined with the optimal reverberation time, contributes an overwhelming power and dynamism to stage performances. The spacious glass-walled foyer is 7m in height and full of bright natural light, providing a relaxing space for audience members waiting for the performance to begin, and again when they leave the hall with satisfied feelings after the performance. Drinks are available at the buffet before performances and during intermission.

Theater

The Theater can stage a wide variety of events, ranging from plays and musicals to traditional Japanese performing arts. It is equipped with an orchestra pit and employs an assembled stage floor structure to flexibly accommodate various stage settings. The seating area and the stage are integratively designed, and the carefully adjudged reverberation time allows the subtle nuances of performers’ voices to directly and clearly reach the audience, no matter where in the auditorium they are seated. In the first-floor seating area, the distance from the last row to the stage is only 20m, and this compactness creates an optimal environment for both performers and audiences. Mellow-colored cedar wood is used for the walls and ceiling of the Theater, providing an ideal setting for performers and audiences to focus their attention on the stage.

Recital Hall

The Recital Hall is used for small-group performances, such as recitals and chamber music and jazz concerts. It is Kansai’s first arena-type recital hall, with a stage surrounded by seats. This configuration largely reduces the distance between the stage and the audience, allowing the audience to follow every movement of the performers and even hear them breathing. While the floor is flat and uniquely octagon-shaped, the ceiling has the shape of a flower. This small space is surrounded by mildly curved walls and ceiling, and audience members will feel as if they are wrapped gently in natural sounds. The foyer is glass-walled on all sides and is full of natural light. From the foyer, a rooftop garden is clearly visible, which will delight audience members with its seasonal flowers. The foyer will provide audiences with pleasant and relaxing moments during intermission.