You'll be collaborating with an impressive lineup of artists. How do you approach working with such diverse and renowned soloists?

We are thrilled to be working alongside such renowned artists. Maestro Mikhail Pletnev, our special guest conductor, has been connected with us for over 20 years, and performing with him abroad is incredibly meaningful. Behzod Abduraimov captivated our musicians when we performed together in Japan last December, and we are excited to share the stage with him. Fumiaki Miura, representing Japan like us, is also participating in this festival, and we’re excited to share the stage with him here. Although this will be our first time working with some of the other soloists, we’re deeply grateful for the opportunity to meet and collaborate with them.

The Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra has worked with Andrea Battistoni in numerous venues. How do you think the orchestra's performance in Dubai at InClassica will differ from their previous engagements?

We first worked with Andrea Battistoni in Tokyo in 2012 and immediately offered him a position. Our collaboration has grown significantly since then, and we have performed a wide range of concerts and opera productions in Japan and abroad. InClassica will be our first time performing overseas for two weeks straight. Playing in a foreign country demands adapting to unfamiliar concert halls, lifestyles and environments, making it a true test of the orchestra’s abilities. We’re very curious to see how this encounter with a new culture will influence our music.