Akeo Watanabe
Encyclopedia
Akeo Watanabe was a Japanese symphonic
conductor, known for his recordings of the works of Jan Sibelius.
Watanabe was born in 1919 to a Japanese
father and a Finnish mother. He studied music and conducted at the Tokyo Academy of Music in Japan and the Juilliard School
of Music in New York City, USA. His conducting premiere was with the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra
in 1945. He was music director of the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra
from 1948 to 1954.
In 1956, Watanabe founded the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra
and continued as its resident conductor until 1968. In 1970, he became music director of the Kyoto Symphony Orchestra, and remained so until 1972. From 1972 to 1978, he was the music director of the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra
. In 1978, he once again became resident conductor of the newly-reformed Japan Philharmonic (now renamed the Japan Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra), with whom he stayed until 1983. In 1988, he became the music director of the Hiroshima Symphony Orchestra, and remained there until 1990. He was also a professor of conducting at the Tokyo University of Arts from 1962 to 1967.
Watanabe was a regular guest conductor with orchestras in the United States and Europe. He was especially well regarded in Finland for his interpretations of Sibelius. Watanabe made the first complete set of recordings of Sibelius' symphonies in stereophonic sound with the Japan Philharmonic from 1960 to 1962 for the Nippon Columbia Company (these were released on Columbia's Epic label in the United States). He re-recorded the Sibelius symphony cycle in digital sound with the same orchestra in 1981 for Denon
. TDK released live recordings of Sibelius' First
, Fourth
and Seventh
symphonies with Watanabe and the Helsinki Philharmonic from 1983.
Watanabe died in 1991. Japan Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra records note that he remained as music director of the orchestra which he founded until his death.
Symphony
A symphony is an extended musical composition in Western classical music, scored almost always for orchestra. A symphony usually contains at least one movement or episode composed according to the sonata principle...
conductor, known for his recordings of the works of Jan Sibelius.
Watanabe was born in 1919 to a Japanese
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
father and a Finnish mother. He studied music and conducted at the Tokyo Academy of Music in Japan and the Juilliard School
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
of Music in New York City, USA. His conducting premiere was with the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra
Tokyo Symphony Orchestra
The , or TSO, was established in 1946 as the Toho Symphony Orchestra . It assumed its present name in 1951.Based in Kawasaki, the TSO performs in numerous concert halls and serves as the pit ensemble for some productions at New National Theatre, Tokyo, the city's leading opera house...
in 1945. He was music director of the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra
Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra
The claims to be the oldest classical orchestra in Japan, having been founded in Nagoya in 1911. It moved to Tokyo in 1938 and has some 166 members as of 2005....
from 1948 to 1954.
In 1956, Watanabe founded the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra
Japan Philharmonic Orchestra
The , is an orchestra based in Tokyo, Japan.-History:The Japan Philharmonic Orchestra was founded on June 22, 1956, as the exclusive subsidiary orchestra under the Nippon Cultural Broadcasting. Akeo Watanabe served the first Chief conductor of the orchestra...
and continued as its resident conductor until 1968. In 1970, he became music director of the Kyoto Symphony Orchestra, and remained so until 1972. From 1972 to 1978, he was the music director 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 1978, he once again became resident conductor of the newly-reformed Japan Philharmonic (now renamed the Japan Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra), with whom he stayed until 1983. In 1988, he became the music director of the Hiroshima Symphony Orchestra, and remained there until 1990. He was also a professor of conducting at the Tokyo University of Arts from 1962 to 1967.
Watanabe was a regular guest conductor with orchestras in the United States and Europe. He was especially well regarded in Finland for his interpretations of Sibelius. Watanabe made the first complete set of recordings of Sibelius' symphonies in stereophonic sound with the Japan Philharmonic from 1960 to 1962 for the Nippon Columbia Company (these were released on Columbia's Epic label in the United States). He re-recorded the Sibelius symphony cycle in digital sound with the same orchestra in 1981 for Denon
Denon
is a Japanese electronics company that was involved in the early stages of development of digital audio technology, while specializing in the manufacture of high-fidelity professional and consumer audio equipment. For many decades, Denon was a brand name of Nippon-Columbia, including the Nippon...
. TDK released live recordings of Sibelius' First
Symphony No. 1 (Sibelius)
Jean Sibelius's Symphony No. 1 in E minor, Op. 39 was written in 1898, when Sibelius was 33. The work was first performed on 26 April 1899 by the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by the composer, in an original version which has not survived. After the premiere, Sibelius made some...
, Fourth
Symphony No. 4 (Sibelius)
The Symphony No. 4 in A minor, Op. 63, is one of seven completed symphonies composed by Jean Sibelius. Written between 1910 and 1911, it was premiered in Helsinki on 3 April 1911 by the Philharmonia Society, with Sibelius conducting....
and Seventh
Symphony No. 7 (Sibelius)
The Symphony No. 7 in C major, Op. 105, was the final published symphony of Jean Sibelius. Completed in 1924, the Seventh is notable for being a one-movement symphony, in contrast to the standard symphonic formula of four movements...
symphonies with Watanabe and the Helsinki Philharmonic from 1983.
Watanabe died in 1991. Japan Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra records note that he remained as music director of the orchestra which he founded until his death.