Surprises from Tokyo’s “newspaper” orchestra

By Robert Markow, 25 November 2016

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“Kobayashi seemed intent above all with drawing lush, sumptuous, sustained sound from the orchestra”

Reviewed at Suntory Hall: Main Hall, Tokyo on 24 November 2016

Beethoven, Piano Concerto no. 3 in C minor, Op.37

Schubert, Impromptu no. 2 in A flat major, D.935

Brahms, Symphony no. 4 in E minor, Op.98

Brahms, Hungarian Dance no. 1 in G minor

Jörg Demus, Piano

Ken-Ichiro Kobayashi, Conductor

Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra

Rachmaninov, Beethoven from Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra

Dominic Lowe, 24th October

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.

****1

Ravishing Tchaikovsky from Weigle and the Yomiuri Nippon SO

Nahoko Gotoh, 3rd October

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

****1

Kerem Hasan conducts an exhilarating Tchaikovsky Fifth in Tokyo

Nahoko Gotoh, 18th June

Exciting Tchaikovsky from the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra, while Leeds winner Eric Lu is the sensitive soloist in Chopin's Second Concerto.

****1

Brahms to remember from Hisako Kawamura at Suntory Hall

David Karlin, 13th March

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.

****1

Exquisite playing from Naoko Yoshino in Boieldieu's Harp Concerto

Nahoko Gotoh, 11th January

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.

***11

Heavenly Mussorgsky from Japan's Newspaper Orchestra

Robert Markow, 28th April

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.

****1

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Robert Markow

Formerly a horn player in the Montreal Symphony, Robert Markow now writes programme notes for that orchestra and for many other musical organizations. He taught at Montreal’s McGill University for many years, has led music tours to several countries, and has written for numerous leading classical music journals.