Takashi Asahina
Encyclopedia
was a Japan
ese conductor
. Born in Tokyo
, he founded the Kansai Symphonic Orchestra (today the Osaka Philharmonic Orchestra
) in 1947 and remained its chief conductor until his death in Kobe
. Inspired by a meeting with Wilhelm Furtwängler
in the 1950s, he began a lifelong attachment to the music of Anton Bruckner
, recording the complete Bruckner symphonies several times. For many years he was associated with the North German Radio Orchestra in Hamburg. Towards the end of his life he made several appearances with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
.
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...
ese 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...
. Born in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, he founded the Kansai Symphonic Orchestra (today the Osaka Philharmonic Orchestra
Osaka Philharmonic Orchestra
The is a classical orchestra based in Osaka, Japan. Founded in 1947 as the Kansai Symphony Orchestra, it took its current name in 1960. Founder Takashi Asahina conducted the orchestra for 55 years from its creation until 2001....
) in 1947 and remained its chief conductor until his death in Kobe
Kobe
, pronounced , is the fifth-largest city in Japan and is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture on the southern side of the main island of Honshū, approximately west of Osaka...
. Inspired by a meeting with Wilhelm Furtwängler
Wilhelm Furtwängler
Wilhelm Furtwängler was a German conductor and composer. He is widely considered to have been one of the greatest symphonic and operatic conductors of the 20th century. By the 1930s he had built a reputation as one of the leading conductors in Europe, and he was the leading conductor who remained...
in the 1950s, he began a lifelong attachment to the music of Anton Bruckner
Anton Bruckner
Anton Bruckner was an Austrian composer known for his symphonies, masses, and motets. The first are considered emblematic of the final stage of Austro-German Romanticism because of their rich harmonic language, complex polyphony, and considerable length...
, recording the complete Bruckner symphonies several times. For many years he was associated with the North German Radio Orchestra in Hamburg. Towards the end of his life he made several appearances with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Chicago, Illinois. It is one of the five American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1891, the Symphony makes its home at Orchestra Hall in Chicago and plays a summer season at the Ravinia Festival...
.