Ken-Ichiro Kobayashi
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese
conductor
and composer
.
Born in Iwaki
, Fukushima
, Kobayashi's father was a high school teacher, mother was a primary school teacher. Kobayashi started composing music at the age of 11. He attended the Tokyo University of the Arts, where he studied composition
and conducting
under Mareo Ishiketa (composition), Kazuo Yamada
(conducting), and Akeo Watanabe (conducting).
In 1974, Kobayashi won the 1st prize and the special award at the International Conductors Competition on Hungarian television. Since then, he has led orchestras in Germany
, Austria
, Britain
, and the Netherlands
. Kobayashi has been resident conductor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra
and of the Kyoto Symphony Orchestra. With the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra
, he served as principal conductor (1988–1990), chief conductor (1990–1994, 1997–2004), and music director (2004–2007). Kobayashi has served as principal guest conductor of the Kansai Philharmonic Orchestra and the Kyusyu Symphony Orchestra. With the Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra
, he was general music director from 1998 to 2001, music director from 2001 to 2003, and since 2003 is the orchestra's conductor laureate.
In Europe, Kobayashi served as principal conductor of the Hungarian State Symphony (now the Hungarian National Philharmonic) from 1987 to 1997, and is now conductor laureate of the orchestra. Kobayashi was the first Asian conductor to conduct the Czech Philharmonic at the Prague Spring International Music Festival, in 2002. He has since held a regular guest conductorship with the Czech Philharmonic. He was one of three conductors who primarily led the orchestra after the sudden resignation of Gerd Albrecht
from the chief conductorship orchestra in 1996 and before the advent of Vladimir Ashkenazy
in 1998. In 2006, he became vaste dirigent ('permanent conductor') of Het Gelders Orkest of Arnhem
, Netherlands
.
Kobayashi has taught at the Tokyo University of the Arts, where he now holds an emeritus professorship. He is currently a visiting professor of Tokyo College of Music
. His compositions include his Passacaglia for orchestra, in honour of the 400th anniversary of relations between Japan
and the Netherlands
in the year 2000. Kobayashi directed the premiere with the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra
in 1999.
Kobayashi's daughter Ayano Kobayashi is a pianist. His sister, Yuko Ichinose, is a soprano
.
Kobayashi received the Liszt Memorial Decoration (1986), the Hungarian Order of Culture (1990), and the Middle Cross with the Star of the Order of the Republic of Hungary decoration (the highest civilian honour) from the Hungarian government in 1994.
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
.
Born in Iwaki
Iwaki, Fukushima
is a city located in the southern part of the Hamadōri coastal region of Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.A designated "core city", Iwaki is also one of the growing number of hiragana cities. Its area is 1,231.35 km², making it the 10th largest city in Japan...
, Fukushima
Fukushima Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku region on the island of Honshu. The capital is the city of Fukushima.-History:Until the Meiji Restoration, the area of Fukushima prefecture was known as Mutsu Province....
, Kobayashi's father was a high school teacher, mother was a primary school teacher. Kobayashi started composing music at the age of 11. He attended the Tokyo University of the Arts, where he studied composition
Musical composition
Musical composition can refer to an original piece of music, the structure of a musical piece, or the process of creating a new piece of music. People who practice composition are called composers.- Musical compositions :...
and conducting
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
under Mareo Ishiketa (composition), Kazuo Yamada
Kazuo Yamada
was a Japanese conductor and composer.-Major works:*Violin Sonata*Sonata for Cello Solo*String Quartet No. 1*Notturno for flute and piano*From Soshigaya for voice and piano-External links:*...
(conducting), and Akeo Watanabe (conducting).
In 1974, Kobayashi won the 1st prize and the special award at the International Conductors Competition on Hungarian television. Since then, he has led orchestras in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. Kobayashi has been resident conductor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra
Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra
The , also known as Tokyō , is one of the representative symphony orchestras of Japan. The Orchestra was founded in 1965 by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, to commemorate the Tokyo Olympics ....
and of the Kyoto Symphony Orchestra. With the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra
Japan Philharmonic Orchestra
The , is an orchestra based in Tokyo, Japan.-History:The Japan Philharmonic Orchestra was founded on June 22, 1956, as the exclusive subsidiary orchestra under the Nippon Cultural Broadcasting. Akeo Watanabe served the first Chief conductor of the orchestra...
, he served as principal conductor (1988–1990), chief conductor (1990–1994, 1997–2004), and music director (2004–2007). Kobayashi has served as principal guest conductor of the Kansai Philharmonic Orchestra and the Kyusyu Symphony Orchestra. With the Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra
Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra
The is a symphony orchestra based in Nagoya, Japan, founded in 1966. The orchestra gives concerts primarily at the Aichi Prefectural Arts Theater Concert Hall and the Chukyo University Center for Culture & Arts Aurora Hall.- History :...
, he was general music director from 1998 to 2001, music director from 2001 to 2003, and since 2003 is the orchestra's conductor laureate.
In Europe, Kobayashi served as principal conductor of the Hungarian State Symphony (now the Hungarian National Philharmonic) from 1987 to 1997, and is now conductor laureate of the orchestra. Kobayashi was the first Asian conductor to conduct the Czech Philharmonic at the Prague Spring International Music Festival, in 2002. He has since held a regular guest conductorship with the Czech Philharmonic. He was one of three conductors who primarily led the orchestra after the sudden resignation of Gerd Albrecht
Gerd Albrecht
Gerd Albrecht is a German conductor. He was a first-prize winner at the International Conductors Competition in Besançon at age 22. His first post was as a repetiteur at the Stuttgart State Opera. Later, he became Senior Kapellmeister at the Mainz Municipal Theatre, and Generalmusikdirektor in...
from the chief conductorship orchestra in 1996 and before the advent of Vladimir Ashkenazy
Vladimir Ashkenazy
Vladimir Davidovich Ashkenazy is a Russian-Icelandic conductor and pianist. Since 1972 he has been a citizen of Iceland, his wife Þórunn's country of birth. Since 1978, because of his many obligations in Europe, he and his family have resided in Meggen, near Lucerne in Switzerland...
in 1998. In 2006, he became vaste dirigent ('permanent conductor') of Het Gelders Orkest of Arnhem
Arnhem
Arnhem is a city and municipality, situated in the eastern part of the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of Gelderland and located near the river Nederrijn as well as near the St. Jansbeek, which was the source of the city's development. Arnhem has 146,095 residents as one of the...
, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
.
Kobayashi has taught at the Tokyo University of the Arts, where he now holds an emeritus professorship. He is currently a visiting professor of Tokyo College of Music
Tokyo College of Music
was founded as in Kanda, Tokyo in 1907. It is the oldest private music school in Japan.- History :The founder , Yonejirō Suzuki, introduced European classical music into the Empire of Japan....
. His compositions include his Passacaglia for orchestra, in honour of the 400th anniversary of relations between Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
in the year 2000. Kobayashi directed the premiere with the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra
Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra
The Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra is a symphony orchestra based primarily in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The NedPhO was formed in 1985 from the merger of three orchestras, the Amsterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, the Utrecht Symphony Orchestra Utrecht and the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra...
in 1999.
Kobayashi's daughter Ayano Kobayashi is a pianist. His sister, Yuko Ichinose, is a soprano
Soprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
.
Kobayashi received the Liszt Memorial Decoration (1986), the Hungarian Order of Culture (1990), and the Middle Cross with the Star of the Order of the Republic of Hungary decoration (the highest civilian honour) from the Hungarian government in 1994.