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Zipangu was the name given to Japan by Marco Polo, and Vivier, much travelled in Asia, deploys a string ensemble of 13 players to evoke an austere, ritualised world by means of shifting colours and drones.

Dudamel used a score for Zipangu, but then conducted La Mer and Firebird from memory.

He heard of “Zipangu,” or Japan.

Now, from my western cliffs that front the deep To where the warm Pacific waters sweep Around Cathay and old Zipangu's shore, My course is clear.

Zipangu Fest, London When it comes to off-the-scale weirdness, Japan comes out on top.