Tokyo alive with the sound of music

Tokyo is being transformed into a classical music mecca in April, introducing thousands of people to the joys of the genre, following the runaway success of last year's La Folle Journee.

In May this year, the 250th anniversary of Mozart's birth is being celebrated at the Tokyo International Forum and the surrounding areas of the city.

If last year's storming festival is anything to go by, there will be more than 150 concerts this year, involving more than 1,500 musicians from around the world.

La Folle Journee has been described as a "social phenomenon", a billing that was realised in 2005 thanks to the sheer volume of young people who were introduced to classical music.

Of the 320,000 people who attended the festival, more than half were new to symphonies and concertos. This year, the theme of Mozart and his Friends will bring the music of Amadeus to a whole new crowd.

The festival's artistic director, Rene Martin, said: "My aim is the true 'democratisation' of classical music – presented once a year and at sensible prices.

"Likewise, my vision includes a plentiful musical program, realized through the power of encounters and sharing between top-caliber musicians and the members of the audience."

Tourists and locals in Japan can go to the concerts for as little as 1,500 yen (£7), making the festival a viable option for students on a budget or for families holidaying in the land of the rising sun.

La Folle Journee runs from April 29th to May 6th.

For more information visit www.t-i-forum.co.jp XXX