The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra will be in Japan from Oct. 31 to Nov. 13, collaborating with record-breaking young Asian pianists under the baton of Fabio Luisi. They will also tour the country with conductor Nikolaus Harnoncourt, as part of Vienna Philharmonic Week in Japan.

Celebrated Japanese pianist Ayako Uehara performs with the orchestra on Oct. 31, at Tokyo Metropolitan Arts Space. In 2002, Uehara became the first woman -- and the first Japanese citizen -- to win First Prize at the prestigious Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition. She will perform Mozart's 22nd Piano Concerto.

On Nov. 6, another history-making Asian pianist, Yundi Li, will play Grieg's A minor Piano Concerto with the Vienna Philharmonic at Tokyo Bunka Kaikan. At age 18, the Chinese pianist became the youngest winner of the International Frederick Chopin Piano Competition.

Vienna Philharmonic Week in Japan starts on Nov. 2, at Suntory Hall, Tokyo, with another in the seemingly endless run of concerts this year marking the 250th anniversary of Mozart's birth. At the same venue on Nov. 3, the orchestra will perform Bruckner's Fifth Symphony. With its Finale in counterpoint, this work is considered the pinnacle of the career of this Austrian who composed toward the end of the Romantic era. After one performance of this symphony, an audience member reportedly congratulated Bruckner on "the greatest creation since Beethoven." The composer was so overwhelmed that he gave the young man a coin, telling him that he had waited his whole life to hear those words.

Tickets for the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra performing with Ayako Uehara and with Yundi Li are 5,000-18,000 yen yen. Tickets are 5,000 yen for the Mozart concert, and 10,000-31,000 yen yen for the Bruckner concert. For further info, call (03) 5237-7711 or visit www.wiener philharmoniker.at (Mariko Kato)