Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra
The Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra,Tokyo (読売日本交響楽団 Yomiuri Nippon Kōkyō Gakudan) is a Japanese 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.
Principal conductors (partial list)
- Willis Page (1962–1963)
- Hiroshi Wakasugi (1965–(?))
- Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos (1980–1983)
- Heinz Rögner (1984–1990)
- Tadaaki Otaka (1992–1998)
- Gerd Albrecht (1998–2007)
- Stanisław Skrowaczewski (2007–2010)
- Sylvain Cambreling (2010–present)