TOKYO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
The Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, together with music director Jonathan Nott, has been attracting attention as a leader in the Japanese orchestra world.《Elektra in Concert Style(2023》won the 1st prize in the “Top 10 Concert 2023” following the 2nd prize of《Salome in Concert Style(2022)》on Ongaku no Tomo magazine as well as the Best Recording of Music Pen club Japan Award for Opera & Orchestra category and Tokyo Symphony Chorus, Orchestra’s amateur chorus also won the prize for Chamber & Chorus category.
Highlights of past seasons with Mo. Nott include Symphony 9 by Beethoven filmed by 40 cameras, the largest record of the orchestra history live-streamed nationwide, Gurre-Lieder by Schoenberg celebrating 15th Anniversary of Muza Kawasaki Symphony Hall, TSO’s home and Mozart’s Da Ponte Operas in concert style. In March 2020, the live-streamed concert without audience on nico-nico Live Channel which attracted more than 200,000 viewers nationwide, has been a mega-hit in Japan.
Outside of Japan, the orchestra has performed 78 concerts in 58 cities since 1976. The Tokyo Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1946 and has a reputation for giving first performances of a number of contemporary music and opera, and has been regularly performing various operas and ballets at the New National Opera Theatre, Tokyo since its opening in 1997.
History
-
1946
TSO’s founding years
-
1968
AKIYAMA Kazuyoshi
music director period -
2004
Hubert SOUDANT
music director period -
2014-
Jonathan NOTT
music director period
TSO’s founding years
1946
1st Apr. Toho Symphony Orchestra, predecessor of Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, is founded.
The first performance (conducted by Hitoshi Ueda) took place at the Hibiya Public Hall on 14 May. Group photo from that time
KONOE Hidemaro, Regular Conductor(1946～51)
UEDA Masashi, Regular Conductor(1946～64/Permanent Honorary Conductor)
Manfred GURLITT, Conductor(1946～49)
1947
29th Sep. Subscription Concerts begin.
Programme of the first subscription concert (29 September 1947) conducted by Hidemaro Konoe.
1951
Apr. Name changed to Tokyo Symphony Orchestra.
The orchestra left the Toho umbrella and changed its name.
SAITO Hideo, Regular Conductor(1951～53/Conductor 58～59)
1952
Contract with Radio Tokyo (predecessor of TBS).
There were no recordings at that time, and the concert was a one-off performance. (Photo circa 1958)
＜Award History＞
・1952 Mainichi Music Award
1954
24th Nov. Wilhelm Kemp visits Japan
Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium filled with 9,000 people.
Sep. Asahi Beer Open Air Concerts are held.
Gained popularity as an outdoor music concert during the summer season.
MORI Tadashi, Regular Conductor(1953～54)
＜Award History＞
・1954 Ministry of Education Award
1956
Apr. Foundation approved as “Tokyo Symphony Orchestra Foundation”.
Appointed Tamesaburo Yamamoto as president, Kosaku Yamada as director and 14 others.
1958
Oct. Arvid Jansons visits Japan.
Repeatedly performed with the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra and was hailed as ‘turning lead into gold’.
1963
1st Jul. Kazuyoshi Akiyama makes his debut at the age of 22.
After a series of radio and television recordings, the orchestra makes its concert debut on 12 February the following year.
YAMADA Kazuo, Conductor(1960～62)
AKIYAMA Kazuyoshi, Conductor(1963～65/Regular Conductor, 65～67/Music Director, 68～04/Conductor Laureate, 04～）
1964
Mar. The Foundation is dissolved due to financial failure.
Transformed into a self-managed orchestra.
1st Aug. Television broadcast of “Untitled Concert” begins.
Started as “Golden Pops Concert – Untitled Concert”, now produced by TV Tokyo (photo circa 1984).
AKIYAMA Kazuyoshi music director period
1968
Kazuyoshi Akiyama becomes first music director and principal conductor
TOOYAMA Shinji, Regular Conductor(1969～86/Permanent Honorary Conductor)
1976
Sep.~Oct. First overseas performances
KANAYAMA Shigeto became the orchestra’s representative and then its director, giving its first overseas performance and North American tour.
Dec. Beginning of the year-end concert “The Ninth and the Four Seasons”.
A year-end performance combining Beethoven’s Ninth and Vivaldi’s Four Seasons continued until 2018.
KOBAYASHI Kenichiro, Assistant Conducto(1971～74/Conductor, 74～75/Regular Conductor,76～78)
TSUTSUMI Shunsaku, Assistant Conductor(1971～74/Conductor, 74～78)
KUYAMA Keiko, Conductor(1975～79)
1978
Jan. The New Year’s Concert begins.
A traditional performance with AKIYAMA Kazuyoshi, NAKAMURA Hiroko (-2015) and KOYAMA Michie(2017-).
YAZAKI Hikotaro, Conductor(1979～87)
1980
May. Re-authorised as an “incorporated foundation”.
ITOKAWA Hideo became chairman of the board.
1982
Sep. Invited to the Republic of Korea Music Festival
Two performances at the Sejong Cultural Centre in Seoul.
1984
6th Oct. Valery Gergiev makes his debut in Japan.
Valery Gergiev makes his Japan debut at a concert commemorating the founding of the Japan-Soviet Music Association.
Sep. Celebrates its 40th anniversary with a tour of China.
4 concerts in Beijing and Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
1987
Sep. Tokyo Symphony Chorus is founded.
First rehearsals of Beethoven’s ‘Ninth’ and Mahler’s ‘Resurrection’ with 400 participants. The photo shows the encore “Light of Fireflies” from the Ninth performance.
1988
Apr. YOKOKAWA Tadashi (then Chairman of the Board of Skylark Co.) was appointed as chairperson of the board.
1989
Sep. R. Strauss: Concert performance of the opera “Salome”.
Two performances in Tokyo and Kanagawa with Callan ARMSTRONG in the leading role.
＜Award History＞
・1989 Japan Record Academy Award (Japanese artist)
1990
Jan. Mahler: Symphony No.8 “Symphony of a Thousand” is performed.
Conducted by Christoph ESCHENBACH.
＜Award History＞
・1990 Ongaku no Tomo Sha Award
1991
Sep.～Oct. 45th Anniversary “World Concert Tour”.
19 concerts, including performances at the UK Japan Festival in the UK and the UN Day Concert at the UN Plenary Hall in New York.
OTOMO Naoto, Permanent Conductor(1991～04/Regular Conductor, 04～13/Honorary Guest Conductor,2013～)
1992
Apr. The logo of the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra is changed.
Apr. The “Tokyo Metropolitan Theater Series” begins.
Aug. Queen Sirikit of Thailand’s 60th Anniversary Concert
Invited to perform at the 60th Anniversary Celebration Festival, giving two concerts in Bangkok and one in Singapore.
Nov. Skylark Ltd. receives the 2nd Mecenat Award
＜Award History＞
・1993 The Grand Prix of Kyoto Music Award
1994
May. Performances in Lisbon, Portugal.
3 concerts at the invitation of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation
IIMORI Norichika, Conductor (1994～04/Permanent Conductor,04～21)
NISHIMURA Akira, Composer-in-Residence(1994～97）
＜Award History＞
・1995 Mainichi Art Award
・1995 Agency for Cultural Affairs Art Award (Live CD: Moses und Aron by Schoenberg)
1996
Apr. The Department of Culture’s Arts Plan 21 is launched and the first organisation is selected to receive funding.
May. 50th Anniversary Concert Tour of Europe.
8 concerts in 8 cities, including Munich, Paris and Vienna.
＜Award History＞
・1996 Mobil Music Award
1997
Oct. Opening of the New National Theatre in Tokyo.
DAN Ikuma : First performance of the opera “Ken/TAKERU”. Since then, TSO has continued to perform regularly.
Dec. Janacek semi-staged operas.
Starting with The Cunning Little Vixen, six Janacek operas will be performed every three years (-2009).
1998
Apr. Tokyo Opera City Series begins.
Oct. Semi-Resident agreement signed with Niigata City.
The performances will be conducted by Paavo Järvi.
HOSOKAWA Toshio, Composer-in-Residence(1998～07）
＜Award History＞
・1998 Suntory Music Award
1999
Apr. Niigata Subscription Concerts begin.
・1999 Child Welfare Cultural Award recommended work Ministry of Welfare Award
2001
Sep. 55th anniversary concert tour of Turkey and Italy.
Nine performances in eight cities.
＜Award History＞
・2001 Special Prize of Kenzo Nakajima Music Award
2002
Apr. Launch of “Subscription Concerts for Children” jointly organised with Suntory Hall.
Photo : 16th Subscription Concerts for Children (2005)
Nov. Resident agreement signed with Kawasaki City.
2003
Mar. The number of Subscription Concerts reaches 500.
The 500th anniversary subscription concert was conducted by AKIYAMA, OTOMO and IIMORI.
2004
Jul. MUZA Kawasaki Symphony Hall, home of TSO, opens.
Mahler: Symphony No.8 “Symphony of a Thousand” was performed at the opening performance (1 July 2004).
Hubert SOUDANT music director period
2004
Sep. Hubert SOUDANT becomes the second music director.
The first pre-Kawasaki Subscription Concert celebrates the inauguration of the new Music Director with Beethoven’s Ninth.
Hubert SOUDANT, Music Director(2004～14/Conductor Laureate, 14～)
2005
Apr. The Kawasaki subscription concerts begin.
YAMASHITA Yoshihiko, Managing Director(2005～09)
2006
May. 60th anniversary concert in Beijing, China.
Participation in the “See You in Beijing” arts festival
Jun. Joint concert with the Kyoto Symphony Orchestra.
Performance of Schönberg: Gurre-Lieder to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the orchestra.
2007
Apr. Launch of “Kids Programme”.
Kid’s programme with the Zurasian Brass, which was well received. Noted as a concert open to pre-school children.
Nov. Special Concert with Valery Gergiev
Performance of Mozart’s Symphony No. 41 “Jupiter” and Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique with Gergiev.
OHNO Junji, Managing Director(2009～22)
＜Award History＞
・2009 Music Pen Club Japan Awards: Best Concert Performance(Schubert cycles led by Hubert Soudant)
2010
Jul. Participates in the Dalian Summer International Arts Festival
The first Japanese orchestra to perform in Dalian, China, and invited back in 2011.
＜Award History＞
・2010 Music Pen Club Japan Awards: Best Recording and Best Sound Editing (CD: Bruckner’s 7th Symphony conducted by Hubert Soudant)
・2010 Himawari Medal of Honor, Group Category
2011
Mar. MUZA Kawasaki Symphony Hall is closed for two years due to damage caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake.
The Kawasaki Subscription Concert will be held at Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall during the final period of the season.
Apr. Established as the “Public Interest Incorporated Foundation Tokyo Symphony Orchestra” after receiving approval from the Cabinet Office.
Nov. Special concert with Lorin Maazel
For the 65th anniversary special concert, world-renowned conductor Lorin Maazel returned for the first time in 48 years. Beethoven: Symphony No. 1 Mahler: Symphony No. 1 ‘Titan’.
2012
Sep. SAWADA Hideo (then chairman of HIS Inc.) is appointed chairman of the board.
YOKOGAWA Tadashi became chairman of the board.
2013
Apr. Our home, MUZA Kawasaki Symphony Hall, is reopened.
The inaugural concert was conducted by SOUDAN, Bruckner: Symphony No. 9, Te Deum.
Krzysztof URBANSKI, Principal guest conductor(2013～16)
＜Award History＞
・2013 Kawasaki City Culture Award
Jonathan NOTT music director period
2014
Apr. Jonathan Nott becomes third music director.
Jonathan NOTT, Music Director(2014～26)
2016
Oct. 70th Anniversary European Tour
Five shows in five European cities.
Special Web Site
Dec. Launch of the Mozart concert-style opera ‘Da Ponte operas’.
Took three years to tackle the masterpieces Così fan tutte (2016), Don Giovanni (2017) and The Marriage of Figaro (2018).
2018
Aug. Concerts to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between Japan and China.
Performed in Shanghai and Hangzhou to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between China and Japan
＜Award History＞
・2018 Music Pen Club Japan Awards: Best Recording (CD: Mahler’s 10th Symphony and Bruckner’s 9th Symphony conducted by Jonathan Nott)
2020
Feb.~ Concerts were cancelled one by one due to the spread of the new coronavirus.
Mar. The “#nico-kyo” campaign is launched.
The Masterpiece Classics Series No.155 (8 March) and Mozart Matinee 40th (14 March) were the first orchestras to broadcast the complete works live, without an audience, for free on Nico Nico Live, with around 200,000 people tuning in.
This live broadcast was called #Nico-kyo, and the ability to share comments in real time created a new way to enjoy music (c)niconico
Jun.~Jul. Matching Gift Concert” was held.
The Matching Gift Concert was held with the support of the City of Kawasaki, raising awareness of this unprecedented community-orchestra initiative.
Jul. Challenging video-led performances
Music Director Jonathan NOTT, who was unable to visit Japan due to entry-restriction by covid-19, appeared in two programmes and four recorded video conducting performances.
＜Award History＞
・2020 Music Pen Club Japan Awards: Best Orchestra, Best Ensemble
2021
Mar. New concert at Team Lab Borderless. First professional orchestra to introduce electronic ticketing.
As part of the Culture and Arts Profit Enhancement Project commissioned by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, the orchestra became the representative organising body and held the concert together with professional orchestras from around the country.
HARADA Keitaro, Permanent Conductor(2021～)
2022
Jun. OKAZAKI Tetsuya(Director and Managing Executive Officer, SHOCHIKU Co.) appointed Chairman of the Board
SAWADA Hideo was appointed chairman.
Nov. R. Strauss Concert Opera Series Launched
Salome (2022), Elektra (2023) and Der Rosenkavalier (2024), masterpieces to be performed over three years
Dec. The performance of Beethoven’s Ninth was covered by 45 cameras, the largest number in history.
28-Dec-22
HIROOKA Yoshitaka, Managing Director(2022～)
＜Award History＞
・2023 20th Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation Music Award
2024
Jan. ”Electra” (2023) is awarded first prize.
Music Director Jonathan NOTT “Elektra (concert style)” was voted number one in “Concerts best 10” by Ongaku no Tomo magazine.
Feb. TSO launches Asia Project.
In a new form different from previous overseas tours by Japanese orchestras, the orchestra has established a new base in Asia, broadened its horizons from Japan to the whole of Asia, and developed multifaceted activities.