Programming for the tour includes Elgar's "Enigma" Variations, Debussy's La Mer, Brahms's Piano Concerto No. 1, Takemitsu's A Flock Descends Into the Pentagonal Garden, Bart‹k's Piano Concerto No. 3 and Ravel's Daphnis et Chlo_ Suites Nos. 1-2.

The NHK Symphony, Japan's first professional orchestra, was founded in 1926. Ashkenazy became music director in September 2004; Charles Dutoit is music director emeritus and Wolfgang Sawallisch is honorary conductor laureate. The orchestra performs approximately 120 concerts a year and made a European tour last fall.