Hiroshi Wakasugi
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Hiroshi Wagasugi (若杉 弘 Wagasugi Hiroshi?, born 31 May 1935) is a Japanese orchestra conductor. He has premiered many of the major Western operas in Japan, and has been honoured with many awards for cultural achievement.
Born in Tokyo, Hiroshi Wakasugi studied music with Hideo Saito and Norbert Kaneko at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. After graduation, he became Researching Conductor of the NHK Symphony Orchestra (Japan). From 1965, he led and developed the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra Tokyo, now one of the leading orchestras in Japan. For their premiere of Penderecki's "St. Luke Passion", Hiroshi was awarded the "National Arts Festival Prize" by the Agency for Cultural Affairs in 1968. He established the Tokyo Chamber Opera Theatre in 1969, and is currently its artistic director.
Besides leading many international orchestras, Hiroshi Wakasugi was Principal Conductor of the Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra from 1977 to 1983, and General Music Director of the Deutsche Oper am Rhein, Dusseldorf from 1981 to 1986. He was Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich (Switzerland) from 1987 to 1991. From 1982 to 1991, he was also a permanent conductor at the State Opera (Semperoper) Dresden and Staatskapelle Dresden.
He was music director (1986-1995) and principal conductor (1987-1995) of the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra. In spring 1995, he was appointed a permanent conductor of the NHK Symphony Orchestra.
In 2005, he was named artistic consultant to the opera division of the New National Theatre, Tokyo. This post precedes his appointment as the next artistic director (i.e. Music Director of the New National Theatre), scheduled for September 2007. He is currently also the artistic director of Biwako Opera Theatre, and of the Tokyo Chamber Opera Theatre.
Hiroshi Wakasugi holds a professorship at Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Toho Gakuen School of Music. He is a member of the Japan Art Academy.
| Preceded by Zdenek Macal |
Principal Conductors, WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne 1977–1983 |
Succeeded by Gary Bertini |
| Preceded by Christoph Eschenbach |
Chief Conductors, Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra 1987–1991 |
Succeeded by Claus Peter Flor (principal guest) |
| Preceded by Akeo Watanabe |
Music Directors, Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra 1986–1995 |
Succeeded by Gary Bertini |
