50周年によせて

Message from the Secretary General on the Occasion of the 50th Anniversary

私たちの歩みは1976年、一つの「代役」から始まりました。
立教大学交響楽団への『メサイア』演奏依頼を、現役学生に代わってOBたちが引き受け、急遽編成されたオーケストラ。その一度限りの熱狂が「この灯を消してはならない」という後輩たちの切実な願いへと繋がり、私は代表として今日までその舵取りを担うこととなりました。
初期の活動は、50人に満たない小規模な編成で試行錯誤を繰り返す日々でした。転機となったのは、あるリハーサルの光景です。客席で自らの団の音を聴いた事務局長が、ステージ上の熱量が客席へ届かぬもどかしさに愕然としたこと。この瞬間、「ホールもまた楽器の一部である」という信念が、私たちの魂に深く刻まれました。
理想の響きを求める情熱は、やがて私たちを世界へと押し上げます。開館直後のサントリーホールへいち早く進出し、現役学生が躊躇したカーネギーホール公演の好機も「ならば我々が」と迷わず掴み取りました。ニューヨーク立教会の助けを借り、オーケストラ・合唱団の英知を結集させて掴み取った成功は、今も色褪せぬ誇りです。
音楽への探究心も同様で、国内外の第一線で活躍するプロ奏者の方々に指導を仰ぐのみならず、ステージを共にしていただき、その技と魂を間近に吸収する。そんな贅沢な環境を、自らの手で切り拓いてきました。
ウィーン、ベルリン、アムステルダム……。世界の名だたる舞台を踏みしめてこられたのは、「願えば必ず叶う」と信じ続けてきたからに他なりません。然しながら現地で直面した数々の想定外の困難を、その都度人脈を辿り救ってくださったトレーナー陣の恩義は、何物にも代えがたい宝です。
今、伝統のバトンを次世代へと託す時が来ています。彼らがこの誇り高き軌跡をまといながら、自らの信じる新たな音楽の地平を切り拓いていくこと。それこそが、私ども第一世代にとっての至上の喜びです。

フィルハーモニックアンサンブル管弦楽団
幹事長　小林政博

Our journey began in 1976, with a single “substitution.”
When the Rikkyo University Symphony Orchestra received a request to perform Messiah, it was the alumni—stepping in for the current students—who answered the call, forming an orchestra at short notice. What was meant to be a one-time burst of passion soon gave rise to a heartfelt plea from the younger generation: “We must not let this flame die.” From that moment on, I took on the responsibility, as representative, of guiding this ensemble to where it stands today.
In the early years, our activities were marked by trial and error, with a modest ensemble of fewer than fifty musicians. A turning point came during a certain rehearsal. Listening from the audience, our Executive Director was struck by the frustrating realization that the intensity on stage was not reaching the hall. In that instant, a conviction was etched deeply into our collective soul: that the concert hall itself is an integral part of the instrument.
Our passion for achieving the ideal sound soon propelled us onto the world stage. We were among the first to perform at Suntory Hall shortly after its opening, and when the opportunity arose to perform at Carnegie Hall—an opportunity that current students hesitated to seize—we embraced it without a moment’s doubt: “Then we shall do it.” With the support of the Rikkyo Alumni Association of New York, and through the combined wisdom and efforts of our orchestra and chorus, we achieved a success that remains a source of enduring pride.
Our pursuit of musical excellence has been no less ambitious. We have not only sought guidance from leading professional musicians active both in Japan and abroad, but have also shared the stage with them—absorbing their artistry and spirit at close range. Such an extraordinary environment is one we have built with our own hands.
Vienna, Berlin, Amsterdam… We have stood on the world’s most renowned stages because we never ceased to believe that “what we aspire to, we can achieve.” At the same time, the unforeseen challenges we encountered abroad were overcome thanks to the invaluable support of our trainers and mentors, whose generosity remains an irreplaceable treasure.
Now, the time has come to pass the baton of tradition to the next generation. That they may carry forward this proud legacy while forging new musical horizons of their own—this is, for those of us of the founding generation, our greatest joy.

Philharmonic Ensemble Orchestra
Masahiro Kobayashi
Secretary General