Principal Guest Conductor
Tadaaki Otaka - Principal Guest Conductor
One of Japan’s leading conductors, Tadaaki Otaka takes up the role of Principal Guest Conductor of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in 2010. He made his professional broadcasting debut in 1971 with the NHK Symphony Orchestra and was Permanent Conductor of the Tokyo Philharmonic for 20 years, becoming their Conductor Laureate in 1991. He is Music Adviser and Principal Conductor of the Kioi Sinfonietta Tokyo, which he founded in 1995, and from 1981 to 1986 was Chief Conductor of the Sapporo Symphony and has been their Music Adviser and Principal Conductor since 1998. He also held the position of Principal Conductor of the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra from 1992 to 1998.
His extensive guest conducting has included many visits to Australia, Asia, Europe and North America, and he is a well-known figure in the UK through his work with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales (where he is Conductor Laureate), his many Proms appearances, and engagements with such orchestras as the Hallé, London Philharmonic, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, and the London, BBC, City of Birmingham and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestras.
He is a recipient of Japan’s Suntory Music Award, and in 1993 received an Honorary Fellowship from the Welsh College of Music and Drama. In 1997, he was awarded the CBE in recognition of his outstanding contribution to British music, and in 2000 was awarded the Elgar Medal by the Elgar Society. He becomes Designate Artistic Director at the New National Theatre, Tokyo in 2010 where he is currently both Artistic Consultant and Acting Artistic Director.
