NAGOYA PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
The Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra （NPO） is recognized as the leading orchestra in the Tokai region, the central part of Japan. The NPO has an excellent reputation on the Japanese classical music scene, for both its innovative programming and its wonderful performances. The NPO is called “Mei-Phil”, with love by Japanese audiences, and holds a firm position as one of Japanʼs top professional orchestras.
In April 2023, KAWASE Kentaro became the NPO’s Music Director. The NPO has established relationships with many conductors. Its present conductors are, KOIZUMI Kazuhiro （Honorary Music Director since 2023）, KOBAYASHI Kenʼ ichiro （Conductor Laureate since 2003）, Moshe ATZMON （Honorary Conductor since 1993） and Thierry FISCHER （Honorary Guest Conductor since 2011）. In April 2023, KOIDE Noriko was appointed the fourth “Composer in Residence” of the NPO.
The NPO has toured internationally four times, performing very highly acclaimed concerts as follows:
– 1988
France and Switzerland / Conductor: HIROKAMI Jun’ichi
– 2000
Brunei, Singapore, the Philippines, South Korea, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand and Taiwan / Conductor: HONNA Tetsuji
– 2004
Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic （”Prague Spring” international music festival） / Conductor: NUMAJIRI Ryusuke, MUTO Hideaki and Tomáš HANUS
– 2006
Singapore, the Philippines, Taiwan, South Korea, Thailand, Hong Kong and Malaysia / Conductor: SHIMONO Tatsuya
Musicians from the City of Nagoya and the surrounding area founded the NPO in July 1966. The first subscription concert delighted the audience in October 1967. Subsequently, the NPO received an endowment from the City of Nagoya in 1973.
Today, the NPO performs about 110 concerts a year. Various concerts include Subscription Concerts, popular Famous Works Series, Welfare Concerts for disabled persons and Orchestra Concerts for Kids and Families.