Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra
Encyclopedia
The is a Japan
ese symphony orchestra
administratively based in Tokyo
. The orchestra primarily performs concerts in Tokyo at the Suntory Hall
, but also gives concerts at the Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall. The orchestra also performs in Yokohama
at the Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall.
The orchestra was founded in 1962 by the Yomiuri Shimbun
, Nippon Television, and the Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation. Its first principal conductor was the American conductor Willis Page
, who served whilst on leave from the Nashville Symphony Orchestra
. Hiroshi Wakasugi
became the orchestra's first Japanese principal conductor in 1965. Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos
, the orchestra's fourth principal conductor from 1980 to 1983, held the title of principal guest conductor with the orchestra from 1983 to 1990, and was named one of the orchestra's honorary conductors in 1990. Other conductors with the title of honorary conductor include Kurt Masur
, since 1979, and Gennady Rozhdestvensky
, since 1990. Tadaaki Otaka
, the orchestra's sixth principal conductor from 1992 to 1998, now has the title of honorary guest conductor. Gerd Albrecht
, the orchestra's seventh principal conductor from 1998 to 2007, now has the title of conductor laureate. Stanisław Skrowaczewski, the orchestra's eighth principal conductor from 2007 to 2010, now has the title of honorary conductor laureate.
The orchestra's current principal conductor is Sylvain Cambreling
, as of April 2010. His initial contract is for 3 years.
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 symphony orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
administratively based 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...
. The orchestra primarily performs concerts in Tokyo at the Suntory Hall
Suntory Hall
The Suntory Hall is a concert hall complex consisting of the "Main Hall" and the "Small Hall" located in the Ark Hills complex, near the U.S. Embassy and TV Asahi in the Akasaka district of northern Minato, a ward in Tokyo, Japan...
, but also gives concerts at the Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall. The orchestra also performs in Yokohama
Yokohama
is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
at the Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall.
The orchestra was founded in 1962 by the Yomiuri Shimbun
Yomiuri Shimbun
The is a Japanese newspaper published in Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, and other major Japanese cities. It is one of the five national newspapers in Japan; the other four are the Asahi Shimbun, the Mainichi Shimbun, Nihon Keizai Shimbun, and the Sankei Shimbun...
, Nippon Television, and the Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation. Its first principal conductor was the American conductor Willis Page
Willis Page
Willis Page , is a United States symphony orchestra conductor. He has conducted three major US orchestras – in Nashville, Des Moines and Jacksonville, Flo...
, who served whilst on leave from the Nashville Symphony Orchestra
Nashville Symphony Orchestra
The Nashville Symphony is an American symphony orchestra, based in Nashville, Tennessee. The orchestra performs 140 concerts annually.-History:...
. Hiroshi Wakasugi
Hiroshi Wakasugi
was a Japanese orchestra conductor. He premiered many of the major Western operas in Japan, and was honoured with many awards for cultural achievement....
became the orchestra's first Japanese principal conductor in 1965. Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos
Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos
Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos is a Spanish conductor and composer.Frühbeck studied violin, piano, and composition at the conservatories of Bilbao and Madrid...
, the orchestra's fourth principal conductor from 1980 to 1983, held the title of principal guest conductor with the orchestra from 1983 to 1990, and was named one of the orchestra's honorary conductors in 1990. Other conductors with the title of honorary conductor include Kurt Masur
Kurt Masur
Kurt Masur is a German conductor, particularly noted for his interpretation of German Romantic music.- Biography :Masur was born in Brieg, Lower Silesia, Germany and studied piano, composition and conducting in Leipzig, Saxony. Masur has been married three times...
, since 1979, and Gennady Rozhdestvensky
Gennady Rozhdestvensky
Gennady Nikolayevich Rozhdestvensky is a Russian conductor.-Biography:Rozhdestvensky was born in Moscow. His parents were the noted conductor and pedagogue Nikolai Anosov and soprano Natalya Rozhdestvenskaya...
, since 1990. Tadaaki Otaka
Tadaaki Otaka
is a Japanese-born, British-based conductor. He studied composition, theory, and French horn, at the Toho Gakuen School of Music, and later was a conducting student of Hideo Saito....
, the orchestra's sixth principal conductor from 1992 to 1998, now has the title of honorary guest conductor. 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...
, the orchestra's seventh principal conductor from 1998 to 2007, now has the title of conductor laureate. Stanisław Skrowaczewski, the orchestra's eighth principal conductor from 2007 to 2010, now has the title of honorary conductor laureate.
The orchestra's current principal conductor is Sylvain Cambreling
Sylvain Cambreling
Sylvain Cambreling is a French conductor. Trained as a trombone player, he studied at the Paris Conservatoire. He joined l'Orchestre Symphonique de Lyon as a trombonist in 1971. In 1974, he took second prize in the International Besançon Competition for Young Conductors...
, as of April 2010. His initial contract is for 3 years.
Principal conductors (partial list)
- Willis PageWillis PageWillis Page , is a United States symphony orchestra conductor. He has conducted three major US orchestras – in Nashville, Des Moines and Jacksonville, Flo...
(1962–1963) - Hiroshi WakasugiHiroshi Wakasugiwas a Japanese orchestra conductor. He premiered many of the major Western operas in Japan, and was honoured with many awards for cultural achievement....
(1965–(?)) - Rafael Frühbeck de BurgosRafael Frühbeck de BurgosRafael Frühbeck de Burgos is a Spanish conductor and composer.Frühbeck studied violin, piano, and composition at the conservatories of Bilbao and Madrid...
(1980–1983) - Heinz RögnerHeinz RögnerHeinz Rögner was a German conductor. He was born in Leipzig.Rögner was a student of Hugo Steurer , Egon Bölsche and Otto Gutschlicht . From 1947 to 1951, he was a repetiteur and kapellmeister at the conductor at the Deutsches Nationaltheater and Staatskapelle Weimar...
(1984–1990) - Tadaaki OtakaTadaaki Otakais a Japanese-born, British-based conductor. He studied composition, theory, and French horn, at the Toho Gakuen School of Music, and later was a conducting student of Hideo Saito....
(1992–1998) - Gerd AlbrechtGerd AlbrechtGerd 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...
(1998–2007) - Stanisław Skrowaczewski (2007–2010)
- Sylvain CambrelingSylvain CambrelingSylvain Cambreling is a French conductor. Trained as a trombone player, he studied at the Paris Conservatoire. He joined l'Orchestre Symphonique de Lyon as a trombonist in 1971. In 1974, he took second prize in the International Besançon Competition for Young Conductors...
(2010–present)