| TADAAKI
OTAKA (Conductor) |
 Born
in Kamakura in 1947, Tadaaki Otaka made his professional debut in 1971
with NHK Symphony Orchestra. After 20 years as their Permanent Conductor,
he was appointed Conductor Laureate of the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra
in 1991. From 1981 to 1986 he was Chief Conductor of the Sapporo Symphony
and from l992 to 1998 was Chief Conductor of the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony
Orchestra. He led highly-successful European tours of several Japanese
Orchestras such as Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra (1984/1989) and Yomiuri
Nippon Symphony Orchestra (1993/1997).
In April 1987 Mr. Otaka became Principal Conductor of the BBC National
Orchestra of Wales. His activities with BBC NOW are highly acclaimed
through their concerts, recordings and tours to overseas which include
the Orchestra's first-ever Japanese and North American visits. To quote
London's Sunday Times: "In his eight years with the orchestra Otaka
has worked wonders in Wales".
From 1995 to 2003 Mr. Otaka was Music Adviser and Principal Conductor
of the Kioi Sinfonietta Tokyo and has led them on their most successful
first overseas tour of Europe in 2000. In 2001 he conducted well-received
European tour of the Sapporo Symphony. He makes frequent appearances
with London Philharmony, City of Birmingham Symphony, and Bamberg Symphony
regularly as well as the orchestras in Japan.
Mr. Otaka made many much-praised recordings including the works by Japanese
conductors and among these recordings, the complete Takemitsu works(BIS)
made with BBC NOW was chosen “Editor's choice” of UK Grammphon in 2002.
Further recordings which include the complete Glaznov Symphonies are
planned with BBC NOW.
In 1991 he received the 23rd Suntory Music Award. In 1993 the Welsh College
of Music and Drama conferred an Honorary Fellowship on Tadaaki Otaka
and he also holds an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Wales.
In 1997, he was awarded the CBE and is also first Japanese holder of
the prestigious Elgar Medal awarded by the UK Elgar Society in 1999. |
|
