Hiroyuki Iwaki
Encyclopedia
was a Japan
ese conductor
and percussionist.
in 1932. Shortly after he entered an elementary school
, he moved to Kyoto
due to his father's transference. He came to play the xylophone
at nine years old. He moved back to Tokyo when he was passing on to the fifth grade.
In May 1945, suffering from an air raid
, he evacuated to Kanazawa
, where his relatives lived. After the end of World War II
, he moved to mountainous area of Gifu
for his father's work. In 1947, he was admitted to Gakushuin Boy's Junior High School. He graduated from Gakushuin Boy's Junior High School in 1951. He had applied for admission to the Department of German Literature of University of Tokyo
, but he gave up on account of a high fever he ran on the eve of the examination. Eventually he went to the Percussion Department, Faculty of Music, Tokyo University of the Arts. However, he dropped out later. In those days, manners of discrimination depending on specialities was in the faculty, and above all, the Percussion Department ranked among the lowest group in the faculty.
He made his conducting debut with the NHK Symphony Orchestra
in 1956, and was later honored a permanent conductor of that orchestra.
In 1977, he became the first Japanese to conduct the Vienna Philharmonic on its regular concert as a substitute for Bernard Haitink
while he had a sudden sickness.
He first conducted the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
(MSO) on a 1973 Australian tour, and was Chief Conductor of the MSO for a record term of 23 years (1974–97), during which time he took the orchestra on two tours of Japan. In 1990 he was appointed the orchestra's Conductor Laureate, while remaining Chief Conductor until his retirement in 1997. He remained the Conductor Laureate after retirement.
He made efforts to found the Orchestra Ensemble Kanazawa
and was appointed as the first music director, where he established the composer-in-residence system and tried hard to perform their commissioned works first in the world.
In his later years, it was a remarkable work that he conducted all the symphonies of Ludwig van Beethoven
in one concert all by himself at Tokyo Bunka Kaikan
from the afternoon of 31 December 2004 to the morning of 1 January 2005. In the following year, he performed the same program again from memory at Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space
on 31 December 2005.
On 13 June 2006, he died of heart failure in Tokyo, Japan.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese conductor
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...
and percussionist.
Biography
Iwaki was born in TokyoTokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
in 1932. Shortly after he entered an elementary school
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
, he moved to Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
due to his father's transference. He came to play the xylophone
Xylophone
The xylophone is a musical instrument in the percussion family that consists of wooden bars struck by mallets...
at nine years old. He moved back to Tokyo when he was passing on to the fifth grade.
In May 1945, suffering from an air raid
Strategic bombing
Strategic bombing is a military strategy used in a total war with the goal of defeating an enemy nation-state by destroying its economic ability and public will to wage war rather than destroying its land or naval forces...
, he evacuated to Kanazawa
Kanazawa, Ishikawa
is the capital city of Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan.-Geography, climate, and population:Kanazawa sits on the Sea of Japan, bordered by the Japan Alps, Hakusan National Park and Noto Peninsula National Park. The city sits between the Sai and Asano rivers. Its total area is 467.77 km².Kanazawa's...
, where his relatives lived. After the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he moved to mountainous area of Gifu
Gifu Prefecture
is a prefecture located in the Chūbu region of central Japan. Its capital is the city of Gifu.Located in the center of Japan, it has long played an important part as the crossroads of Japan, connecting the east to the west through such routes as the Nakasendō...
for his father's work. In 1947, he was admitted to Gakushuin Boy's Junior High School. He graduated from Gakushuin Boy's Junior High School in 1951. He had applied for admission to the Department of German Literature of University of Tokyo
University of Tokyo
, abbreviated as , is a major research university located in Tokyo, Japan. The University has 10 faculties with a total of around 30,000 students, 2,100 of whom are foreign. Its five campuses are in Hongō, Komaba, Kashiwa, Shirokane and Nakano. It is considered to be the most prestigious university...
, but he gave up on account of a high fever he ran on the eve of the examination. Eventually he went to the Percussion Department, Faculty of Music, Tokyo University of the Arts. However, he dropped out later. In those days, manners of discrimination depending on specialities was in the faculty, and above all, the Percussion Department ranked among the lowest group in the faculty.
He made his conducting debut with 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 1956, and was later honored a permanent conductor of that orchestra.
In 1977, he became the first Japanese to conduct the Vienna Philharmonic on its regular concert as a substitute for Bernard Haitink
Bernard Haitink
Bernard Johan Herman Haitink, CH, KBE is a Dutch conductor and violinist.- Early life :Haitink was born in Amsterdam, the son of Willem Haitink and Anna Haitink. He studied music at the conservatoire in Amsterdam...
while he had a sudden sickness.
He first conducted the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra is an orchestra based in Melbourne, Australia. It has 100 permanent musicians. Melbourne has the longest continuous history of orchestral music of any Australian city and the MSO is the oldest professional orchestra in Australia...
(MSO) on a 1973 Australian tour, and was Chief Conductor of the MSO for a record term of 23 years (1974–97), during which time he took the orchestra on two tours of Japan. In 1990 he was appointed the orchestra's Conductor Laureate, while remaining Chief Conductor until his retirement in 1997. He remained the Conductor Laureate after retirement.
He made efforts to found the Orchestra Ensemble Kanazawa
Orchestra Ensemble Kanazawa
The is a professional chamber orchestra, founded in 1988, based in Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan, and is a full member of Association of Japanese Symphony Orchestras. The Orchestra's home is Ishikawa Ongakudo . Since 2007, its music director is Michiyoshi Inoue.-Activities:The orchestra performs more...
and was appointed as the first music director, where he established the composer-in-residence system and tried hard to perform their commissioned works first in the world.
In his later years, it was a remarkable work that he conducted all the symphonies of Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential composers of all time.Born in Bonn, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of...
in one concert all by himself at Tokyo Bunka Kaikan
Tokyo Bunka Kaikan
The Tokyo Bunka Kaikan is a Japanese concert hall located in Ueno Park, Taito, Tokyo. It was built in 1961 and renovated in 1998-99. Its larger hall seats 2303 people, and its small hall seats 649. It is operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture.- External links :...
from the afternoon of 31 December 2004 to the morning of 1 January 2005. In the following year, he performed the same program again from memory at Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space
Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space
The Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space is a Japanese concert hall and theater located in Ikebukuro, Toshima, Tokyo, operated by Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture.- External links :...
on 31 December 2005.
On 13 June 2006, he died of heart failure in Tokyo, Japan.
Honours
- For his contribution to Australian musical life, he was appointed an honorary Member (AM) of the Order of AustraliaOrder of AustraliaThe Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
in 1985, which was later upgraded to honorary Officer status (AO). - Monash UniversityMonash UniversityMonash University is a public university based in Melbourne, Victoria. It was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the state. Monash is a member of Australia's Group of Eight and the ASAIHL....
awarded him an honorary Doctor of Laws in 1986, and in 1991 appointed him their first Fellow of the Faculty of Arts. - Recipient of the 19th Suntory Music AwardSuntory Music AwardThe , 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...
(1987) - In 1990 he was made an Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters in FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. - In 1995 the Australian Broadcasting CorporationAustralian Broadcasting CorporationThe Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
named its SouthbankSouthbank, VictoriaSouthbank is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia located direct south of the Yarra River opposite Melbourne's Hoddle Grid. The northernmost area is considered part of the Central Business District and Central Activities District of the city. Its Local Government Area are the...
studio in Melbourne the "Iwaki Auditorium". - Japan awarded him the Medal of Honour with Purple Ribbon in 1996.