Kerem Hasan conducts an exhilarating Tchaikovsky Fifth in Tokyo

A rewarding visit from this Japanese orchestra under principal conductor Sebastian Weigle featured a fine Rachmaninov Second Symphony and a vivid, gusty Beethoven Violin Concerto from soloist Christian Tetzlaff.

The Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra under their Principal Conductor Sebastian Weigle show top-form in Tchaikovsky before their upcoming European tour. 

Hisako Kawamura shows excellence and stamina in tackling two huge concertos, while Kazuki Yamada and the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony give compelling Brahms but are less convincing in Amy Beach.

Italian conductor Gaetano d’Espinosa is currently doing the rounds of Japanese orchestras, standing in for many of his colleagues who are unable to enter due to border closures.

One of Japan’s leading orchestras, the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra, turned in performances of two warhorses as different as night and day. In between came a revelation in the form of a young cellist destined for greatness.

Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra's Sunday matinee, which was the final concert for its outgoing Principal Conductor Sylvain Cambreling, had many French connections.