Edo is the ancient name for the city of Tokyo. Inspired by a series of woodcuts by the artist Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858) entitled “One Hundred Famous Views of Edo", Cesarini’s symphony is based upon a few traditional Japanese melodies. The composition is divided into five movements in arch form: a structure in which the individual sections are arranged symmetrically around a centre. Each movement takes its title from a print from the “One Hundred Views”.
