Super-fan Madoka Kikuchi (center), who came from Sapporo to hear the CSO, greets Dan Armstrong, Alex Hanna and Cynthia Yeh. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
Be true to your school: Stephen Lester and Danny Lai, alums of different Denver high schools, discuss past rivalries. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
On a beautiful afternoon, patrons head to Tokyo's Bunka Kaikan for a matinee concert by the CSO. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
The concert begins with Music Director Riccardo Muti leading the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
The CSO's brass and woodwind sections are seen during Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
The CSO's horns, clarinets and flutes come into view during the Tchaikovsky. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
As the Tchaikovsky ends, Maestro Muti singles out musicians for bows. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
CSO musicians record a video wishing the orchestra's fans a happy Lunar New Year. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
A poster commemorating the CSO's 2019 residency at Tokyo's Bunka Kaikan now takes pride of place on a backstage wall. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
The second half begins with Maestro Muti and the CSO in Rimsky-Korsakov's Sheherazade. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
Stephen Williamson, principal clarinet, comes into view along with bassoons Keith Buncke (principal) and Miles Maner (right). | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
Percussionist Vadim Karpinos mans the gong as David Herbert, principal timpani, prepares for a downbeat in the Rimsky-Korsakov. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
As the performance ends, Maestro Muti congratulates Robert Chen. the CSO's concertmaster. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
The audience demands an encore, and the CSO complies with an intermezzo from Giordano's opera Fedora. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
Maestro Muti and the CSO stand for final bows as their residency at Tokyo's Bunka Kaikan comes to an end. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
The hall's crew waits for the CSO to clear the stage so they can begin their assignments. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
After the concert, CSO violin Kozue Funakoshi is greeted by two young well-wishers. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
CSO stage technicians Paul Christopher (left) and Blair Carlson load out a timpani. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
John Deverman, the CSO's director of orchestra personnel, packs his trunk for the trip to Osaka. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
Wielding a silver Sharpie, Maestro Muti signs autographs at a post-concert session. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
One last look at Tokyo's Bunka Kaikan and its distinctive walls as the CSO ends its four-concert, sold-out residency. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
Fans wave at Maestro Muti as his car leaves the backstage area and heads into the street. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
Stephen Williamson, principal clarinet, poses with CSO super-fan Madoka Kikuchi, who traveled from Sapporo, 831 kilometers away, to Tokyo. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
The Tokyo Tower, built in 1958 as a communications and observation structure, lights up the night sky. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
Musicians and patrons enjoy a post-concert dinner at the Moon Restaurant atop Tokyo's MorI Art Museum. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
Keiko Alexander, spouse of CSOA President Jeff Alexander, takes photos of the nightscape below. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
CSO horn Susanna Gaunt enjoys dinner conversation at the Moon Restaurant. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
Cristina Rocca, vice president for artistic planning, talks with trombone Michael Mulcahy. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
At the hotel, a staffer adds a suitcase to the late-night bag drop, for early delivery to Osaka, the final tour destination. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
Farewell to Tokyo: Guido Frackers (from left) of TravTours, Linc Smelser and Alex Hanna, principal bass, walk back to the hotel. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019