Vienna Philharmonic Touring Japan

The Japanese government has granted the Vienna Philharmonic a special entry permit for November so it can perform in the cities of Kitakyushu, Osaka, Kawasaki, and Tokyo, beginning Nov. 5. Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz sent a letter to Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide asking him to allow the Vienna Philharmonic to perform. Members and staff will go through anti-infection measures, and will have a chartered Shinkansen train. The Japan tour will be the orchestra’s first outside Austria since the start of the coronavirus outbreak. Russian Conductor Valery Gergiev is also performing. In Austria, the Vienna Philharmonic resumed performances in June.