Hiroshi Wakasugi
Encyclopedia
was a Japanese orchestra conductor
. He premiered many of the major Western opera
s in Japan, and was honoured with many awards for cultural achievement.
Born in New York, where his father was the Japanese Consul-General, Wakasugi studied music with Hideo Saito and Norbert Kaneko at the Tokyo University of the Arts. After graduation, he was appointed 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
, Wakasugi 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 was its Artistic Director at the time of his death.
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, Düsseldorf
from 1981 to 1986. He was artistic director and principal conductor of the Tonhalle Orchester Zürich
in Switzerland from 1987 to 1991. From 1982 to 1991, he was also a permanent conductor at the Semperoper
Dresden and Sächsische 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. He was appointed the artistic director (i.e. Music Director) of the New National Theatre in September 2007. At his death he was the artistic director of Biwako Opera Theatre, and of the Tokyo Chamber Opera Theatre.
Hiroshi Wakasugi held a professorship at Tokyo National University of the Arts and Toho Gakuen School of Music
. He was a member of the Japan Art Academy.
Wakasugi was a recipient of the 1986 Suntory Music Award
.
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
. He premiered many of the major Western opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
s in Japan, and was honoured with many awards for cultural achievement.
Born in New York, where his father was the Japanese Consul-General, Wakasugi studied music with Hideo Saito and Norbert Kaneko at the Tokyo University of the Arts. After graduation, he was appointed researching conductor of the NHK Symphony Orchestra
NHK Symphony Orchestra
The in Tokyo, Japan began as the New Symphony Orchestra on October 5, 1926 and was the country's first professional symphony orchestra. Later, it changed its name to Japan Symphony Orchestra and in 1951, after receiving financial support from NHK, it took its current name...
(Japan). From 1965, he led and developed the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra
Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra
The 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...
Tokyo, now one of the leading orchestras in Japan. For their premiere of Penderecki
Krzysztof Penderecki
Krzysztof Penderecki , born November 23, 1933 in Dębica) is a Polish composer and conductor. His 1960 avant-garde Threnody to the Victims of Hiroshima for string orchestra brought him to international attention, and this success was followed by acclaim for his choral St. Luke Passion. Both these...
's St. Luke Passion
St. Luke Passion (Penderecki)
The St. Luke Passion is a work for chorus and orchestra written in 1966 by Polish composer Krzysztof Penderecki...
, Wakasugi 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 was its Artistic Director at the time of his death.
Besides leading many international orchestras, Hiroshi Wakasugi was principal conductor of the Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra
WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne
The WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne is a German orchestra based in Cologne. The orchestra was founded in 1947 by Allied occupation authorities after World War II, as the orchestra of Nordwestdeutschen Rundfunk . The orchestra later acquired the names of the Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra and...
from 1977 to 1983, and general music director of the Deutsche Oper am Rhein, Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf is the capital city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and centre of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.Düsseldorf is an important international business and financial centre and renowned for its fashion and trade fairs. Located centrally within the European Megalopolis, the...
from 1981 to 1986. He was artistic director and principal conductor of the Tonhalle Orchester Zürich
Tonhalle Orchester Zurich
Tonhalle Orchester Zürich is a symphony orchestra founded in 1868 in Zürich Switzerland, where it established its residence in the neue Tonhalle in 1895....
in Switzerland from 1987 to 1991. From 1982 to 1991, he was also a permanent conductor at the Semperoper
Semperoper
The Semperoper is the opera house of the Sächsische Staatsoper Dresden and the concert hall of the Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden . It is located near the Elbe River in the historic center of Dresden, Germany.The opera house was originally built by the architect Gottfried Semper in 1841...
Dresden and Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden
Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden
The Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden is an orchestra based in Dresden, Germany founded in 1548 by Kurfürst Moritz of Saxony. It is one of the world's oldest orchestras...
.
He was music director (1986–1995) and principal conductor (1987–1995) of the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra
Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra
The , also known as Tokyō , is one of the representative symphony orchestras of Japan. The Orchestra was founded in 1965 by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, to commemorate the Tokyo Olympics ....
. In spring 1995, he was appointed a permanent conductor of the NHK Symphony Orchestra
NHK Symphony Orchestra
The in Tokyo, Japan began as the New Symphony Orchestra on October 5, 1926 and was the country's first professional symphony orchestra. Later, it changed its name to Japan Symphony Orchestra and in 1951, after receiving financial support from NHK, it took its current name...
.
In 2005, he was named artistic consultant to the opera division of the New National Theatre Tokyo. He was appointed the artistic director (i.e. Music Director) of the New National Theatre in September 2007. At his death he was the artistic director of Biwako Opera Theatre, and of the Tokyo Chamber Opera Theatre.
Hiroshi Wakasugi held a professorship at Tokyo National University of the Arts and Toho Gakuen School of Music
Toho Gakuen School of Music
is a private conservatoire located in Chōfu, Tokyo, Japan.-History:Toho Gakuen was founded in 1948 in Kudan as a music school for children, and two years later opened the Toho High School of Music, to provide quality musical education to teenage girls. 1955 saw the establishment of the Junior...
. He was a member of the Japan Art Academy.
Wakasugi was a recipient of the 1986 Suntory Music Award
Suntory Music Award
The , previously known as the , designed to promote Western music in Japan, has been given by the Suntory Music Foundation since their establishment in 1969. The award is presented annually to individuals or groups for the greatest achievement in the development of Western or contemporary music in...
.