Category: Honors

From the Daily Yomiuri Online:

The Yomiuri Shimbun

For anyone who has ever dreamed of “going the distance,” this year’s Cinema Meets Symphony event on April 6 is the perfect place to do it. The concert will feature music from Sylvester Stallone’s iconic Rocky film series about a rags-to-riches boxer, as performed by the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo.

Led by conductor Masahiko Enkoji and popular male vocal group jammin’ Zeb, the concert will be accompanied by some of the series’ most memorable scenes shown on a large screen.

The 1976 John G. Avildsen film launched Stallone’s career, as well as five sequels.

Stallone, who wrote the script in just three days, portrays the title role of Rocky Balboa, a struggling boxer who takes on a heavyweight champion with the support of his girlfriend Adrian. Although Rocky does not win, he manages to last an impressive 15 rounds.

The film won Best Picture at the 49th Academy Awards, and the climactic scene in which Rocky calls out Adrian’s name is one of the most iconic in cinema history.

The film’s theme song, “Gonna Fly Now” by composer Bill Conti, was a big hit and will be performed at the April 6 event.

Michio Hazama, the voice actor who dubbed Stallone’s dialogue in the Japanese films, and Kazutomo Miyamoto, a former pro baseball player, will attend the concert as guests.

Songs from the Rocky soundtrack to be played at the concert:

— “Take You Back,” “Gonna Fly Now,” “Fanfare for Rocky,” “Going the Distance” from Rocky (1976).

— “Conquest” from Rocky II (1979).

— “Eye of the Tiger,” “Adrian” and “Mickey” from Rocky III (1982).

— “The Sweetest Victory,” “Training Montage,” “No Easy Way Out,” “Hearts on Fire,” “Burning Heart” and “Living in America” from Rocky IV (1985).

— “The Measure of a Man” from Rocky V (1990).