NHK Symphony Orchestra

Characterized by the finely nuanced playing of each member of the orchestra, and the precision of its ensemble, while also possessing a high degree of adaptability to meet the demands of each of its world-class conductors, Tokyo’s NHK Symphony Orchestra is one of Japan’s leading symphonic ensembles. Associated today with the national NHK broadcaster, the ensemble was originally founded as the autonomous New Symphony Orchestra in 1926, and performs concerts in Japan and abroad as well as recording extensively. Under the guidance of the Polish-born Joseph Rosenstock, who conducted the orchestra 1936-46, the New Symphony Orchestra built up its standard as a world class ensemble. In 1941, the orchestra was renamed the Japan Symphony Orchestra; then, in 1951, gained its present name when it came under the auspices of the NHK (Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai) public broadcast network. The NHK Symphony Orchestra’s principal conductors have included Charles Dutoit (1996-1998), subsequently appointed music director (1998-2003); Vladimir Ashkenazy (music director 2004-2007); and Paavo Järvi (chief conductor 2016-22), with whom the orchestra recorded extensively, notably in Romantic and post-Romantic repertoire, including a critically acclaimed cycle of Richard Strauss tone poems (released on Sony Music). The NHK SO has also recorded works by several Japanese composers, including Tōru Takemitsu and Yuzo Toyama. The orchestra’s current chief conductor since 2022 is Fabio Luisi. Honorary conductors have included Wolfgang Sawallisch, Herbert Blomstedt, and André Previn.