Shopping Guide
The Mount Rokko Tourism Company, a group of Hanshin Electric Railway Co., Ltd., will be holding a special event called the “Music Box Museum’s Christmas Hansel, Gretel & Gingerbread Houses” from Nov. 25 through Dec. 25 at the Rokko Music Box Museum.
Hansel, Gretel & Gingerbread Houses at the Music Box Museum
Dates:
Nov. 25 to Dec. 25, 2016
Summary:
There are many German-made, self-playing instruments at the Rokko Music Box Museum, so every year performances based on the German Christmas are held around Christmas time. The performed music includes classic Christmas songs, as well as pieces from the opera Hansel and Gretel. There’s also an exhibition featuring gingerbread houses.
Feature Concert: Hansel and Gretel Opera
Songs from the opera Hansel and Gretel will be performed using a number of self-playing instruments including the music box for the featured concert. During this concert, you’ll be pulled further in by live readings, the sounds of trees rustling, and birds chirping thanks to the staff, bringing even more life to the music. This Christmas-appropriate opera is based on the Grimm fairytale Hansel and Gretel, and was written by the German composer Engelbert Humperdinck.
Start Time:
Every half hour from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (lasts for 15 minutes)
Music Program:
From the Opera Hansel and Gretel:
“Kodomotachi, Kono Mezurashii Koto wo Mite Goran!”
“Kobito ga Mori ni Tatte iru”
“Nante Suteki na Nioi ga Surun Deshou”
And more!
Instruments:
・Harvest (self-playing organ)
・Verte 2 (self-playing organ)
・Reginaphone 155 (disc music box)
And more!
Regular Concert
The regular concert will give you a chance to enjoy performances of music boxes while learning about their structure and history, as well as hymns and traditional Christmas songs.
Music Program:
“Hymn 109”
“Kiyoshiko no Yoru” (“Silent Night”)
“Winter Wonderland”
And more!
You can see both the feature concert and regular concert with only the admission fee.
Exhibit 1: Gingerbread House Contest Exhibition
Christmas in Germany is decorated with gingerbread houses in the display windows of shops and sweets stores. Inspired by that tradition, there will be an exhibition of gingerbread houses at the Rokko Music Box Museum. This exhibit will feature five (planned) entries from this year’s Hexenhaus section of the Christmas Cake Contest held by the Hyogo Prefecture Western Confectioneries Society. This is the 58th year the contest is being held, and it constantly showcases high talent from a number of famous shops.
Exhibit 2:Christmas Cookies
In addition to the tradition of Christmas trees, Germany also has a tradition in which these trees are decorated with a special pastry around Christmas. Spices are used to extend the life of the cookies, so they carry a special meaning of longevity. In keeping with that, you’ll find Christmas cookies baked by the staff on the live fir tree at the Rokko Music Box Museum. Enjoy the sweet smell of Christmas cookies while listening to the music boxes of the concert exhibition room.
Special Music Box Christmas Evening Concert
Dates: Dec. 10, 11, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25
Time: 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Price: 6,500 yen (includes concert, food, and a present)
Capacity: 40 people per day
Reservations: Beginning Oct. 22 (you can call or reserve your spot online)
Phone Number: 078-891-1284
Notes: There will be free transportation through a bus departing near JR Rokkomichi Station
Summary:
This is a special Christmas concert held in the evening. You’ll enjoy learning about music boxes and how they’re made, seeing the shop, and spending time at the cafe in the company of the kind museum staff. In addition to a special dinner at the Strauss Cafe, there will be performances Christmas music and hymns by the self-playing organ. You’ll also get to hear an additional performance by a guest who’s perfect for a Christmas event.
Program Example:
5:15 p.m.: Bus departs (near JR Rokkomichi Station)
6:00 p.m.: Entry and dinner begin
7:00 p.m.: Music box concert
7:50 p.m.: Guest concert
8:30 p.m.: Concert ends
8:45 p.m.: Bus departs
Source: @Press
