Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra

Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra (TMSO) 東京都交響楽団
Orchestra
Founded	1965
Concert hall	Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, Suntory Hall, Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre
Music director	Kazushi Ōno
Website	Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra

The Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra (東京都交響楽団, Tōkyo-to Kōkyō Gakudan) (also known as Tokyō (都響)) is a Japanese orchestra based in Tokyo. Their offices are based at the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, a concert venue owned by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. The orchestra performs regularly at Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, Suntory Hall and Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre.

History

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government established the orchestra in 1965, in the aftermath of the Tokyo Olympics (1964 Summer Olympics). Heinz Hofmann was the first titled conductor of the orchestra, serving from 1965 to 1967. Through the work of Hiroshi Wakasugi, Eliahu Inbal and Gary Bertini in particular, the orchestra has regularly featured the symphonies of Gustav Mahler..

The current music director of the orchestra is Kazushi Ōno, since April 2015. His most recent contract extension with the orchestra, announced in October 2021, is through March 2026. Since April 2018, Alan Gilbert has served as the orchestra's principal guest conductor. Kazuhiro Koizumi, principal conductor of the orchestra from 1995 to 1998, subsequently principal guest conductor from 1998 to 2008, then resident conductor from 2008 to 2014, now has the title of 'Honorary Conductor for Life', since April 2014. Eliahu Inbal was principal conductor of the orchestra from 2008 to 2014, and since April 2014 has the title of conductor laureate of the orchestra.

Conductors

Music directors, permanent conductors, and principal conductors

• Heinz Hofmann (Music Director and Permanent Conductor, 1965–1967)
• Tadashi Mori (Music Director and Permanent Conductor, 1967–1972)
• Akeo Watanabe (Music Director and Permanent Conductor, 1972–1978)
• Moshe Atzmon (Principal Conductor and Music Adviser, 1978–1983)
• Hiroshi Wakasugi (Music Director and Principal Conductor, 1986–1995)
• Kazuhiro Koizumi (Principal Conductor, 1995–1998)
• Gary Bertini (Music Director, 1998–2005)
• James DePreist (Permanent Conductor, 2005–2008)
• Eliahu Inbal (Principal Conductor, 2008–2014)
• Kazushi Ōno (Music Director, 2015–present)

Principal guest conductors

• Jakub Hrůša (2010–2018)
• Alan Gilbert (2018–present)

Awards

• Kyoto Music Award (1991)
• Japan's 50th Record Academy Award for Best Symphony Album (E.Inbal/ Shostakovich: Symphony No. 4, 2012)
• Japan's 53rd Record Academy Award for Special Award (E.Inbal+TMSO/ Neuer Mahler-Zyklus 2012–2013)

Note

• The Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra (都響, Tokyō) tends to be confused with the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra (東響, Tōkyō).
• The orchestra had mainly performed only classical music but came to also perform other symphonic music since around 2000, such as Dragon Quest soundtracks with Koichi Sugiyama, and soundtracks for Nodame Cantabile (anime and TV drama) and Red Cliff (film).

External links

• Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra official website
• Official English-language homepage of the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra