In agreement with Maestro Jonathan Nott, Tokyo Symphony Orchestra (Tetsuya Okazaki, Chairman) announces today that their successful collaboration will end after his twelve-year contract expires in March 2026.
For the past 10 years the musicians and the management of the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra have worked together in a spirit of total commitment and joy, which they shared with enthusiasm at every level and in so many different circumstances.
The Orchestra feel though that by the time they have reached the end of the 12th season of their collaboration they will be ready for the next chapter in their long history and are excited by the prospect of a new challenge with a new music director.
Jonathan Nott conducted the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra for the first time at subscription concert No.593 in October 2011. This one collaboration proved decisive, and he became the orchestra's third Music Director in the 2014 season. His challenging initiatives have attracted a great deal of attention, including a dramatically improved standard of performance, successful tours of Europe including the Vienna Musikverein, a video conducting project during the pandemic disaster, Mozart's Da Ponte Trilogy and R. Strauss' opera in concert style.
Jonathan Nott and the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra have released 15 recordings on Octavia Records together, including Mahler, Bruckner, Shostakovich, Beethoven, R. Strauss, Stravinsky, Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky, Mr. Nott brought the 31st Music Pen Club Music Award for 'Best Recorded Work' in 2019, the 32nd Music Pen Club Music Award for 'Best Opera & Orchestra' in 2020 as well as 1st place in the 'Concert Best 10, 2023' by Ongaku no Tomo magazine for the first time in the history of the orchestra in January 2024.
Tokyo Symphony Orchestra would like to show our deepest respect to our Music Director, Jonathan Nott for his unparalleled artistic leadership and many great achievements, and to cherish each performance over the next two years.
Jonathan Nott
Among today’s renowned and interesting conductors, Jonathan Nott, is probably the most fascinating. His unique talent unites what appear to be irreconcilable opposites, creating deeply emotional yet gratifyingly intellectual interpretations, connecting to his musicians at the very humblest level, and bringing an unusual depth of analysis and spontaneous, heartfelt music-making, both in the symphonic and operatic repertoires, and in the field of contemporary music in all areas of music.
As Music Director of the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, he enjoys near Popstar status, due not only to his intense and explosive aura while performing but also to his unusual programming creativity.
Together with the TSO, he won "BEST CONCERT 2023" by Ongaku-no-tomo and "Best 10" by Mainichi Classical Navi for the concert opera series of R. Strauss "Salome" and "Elektra" as well as the 2020 Music Pen Club Japan Award.
Unsurprisingly, he has conducted all major orchestras, performed with almost all famous soloists, and enjoys a long list of award-winning multi-channel recordings with TUDOR, SONY, PENTATONE and OCTAVIA.
●Upcoming Concerts with Music Director Jonathan Nott
Kawasaki Subscription Concert No.96
Sat. 11th May 2024, 14:00, Muza Kawasaki Symphony Hall
Subscription Concert No.720
Sun. 12th May 2024, 14:00, Suntory Hall
Conductor = Jonathan Nott
Soprano = Eri Takahashi
Mezzo Soprano = Dorottya Láng
Tenor = Benjamin Bruns
Takemitsu : A Flock Descends into the Pentagonal Garden
Berg : Der Wein(concert aria)
Mahler : Das Lied von der Erde
Tokyo Opera City Series No.138
Fri. 17th May 2024, 19:00, Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall
The Masterpiece Classics No.197
Sat. 18th May 2024, 14:00, MUZA Kawasaki Symphony Hall
Conductor = Jonathan Nott
Viola = Atsuko Aoki（TSO Principal Viola）*
Viola = Sào Soulez Larivière**
Berlioz : Harold in Italy op.16*
Kenji Sakai : Viola Concerto "Historia"**
Ibert : Escales