The Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, together with music director Jonathan NOTT, has been attracting attention as a leader in the Japanese orchestra world. 《Der Rosenkavalier in Concert Style（2024）》 concluded the finale of R. Strauss project with a great acclaim. 《Elektra in Concert Style (2023)》 won the 1st prize in the “Top 10 Concert 2023” following the 2nd prize of 《Salome in Concert Style (2022)》 on Ongaku no Tomo magazine as well as the Best Recording of Music Pen club Japan Award for Opera & Orchestra category and Tokyo Symphony Chorus, The third installment, “Der Rosenkavalier” in December 2024, also received rave reviews. Orchestraʼs amateur chorus also won the prize for Chamber & Chorus category.
Highlights of past seasons with Mo. NOTT include Symphony 9 by Beethoven filmed by 45 cameras, the largest record of the orchestra history live-streamed nationwide, Gurre-Lieder by Schoenberg celebrating 15th Anniversary of Muza Kawasaki Symphony Hall, TSOʼs home and Mozartʼs Da Ponte Operas in concert style. In 2018, TSO launched “TSO Music & Video Subscription”, first-ever digital project in Japanese Orchestras, which provides live-concert video and music as well as CD recording. In March 2020, the live-streamed concert without audience on nico-nico Live Channel which attracted more than 200,000 viewers nationwide, has been a mega-hit in Japan. Outside of Japan, the orchestra has performed 83 concerts in 59 cities since 1976. In 2016, the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra celebrated its 70th anniversary and took a European tour including the concert at Musikverein Großer Saal in Vienna with Mo. Nott. In 2024, The Tokyo Symphony Orchestra Asia Project has launched to improve music culture throughout Asia.
The Tokyo Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1946 as Toho Symphony Orchestra, and changed its name to Tokyo Symphony Orchestra in April 1951, and has a reputation for giving first performances of a number of contemporary music and opera. Through these activities, the orchestra has received most of Japanʼs major music awards such as the Minister of Education Award, the Grand Prix of Kyoto Music Award, Mainichi Art Award, Agency for Cultural Affairs Art Award, Suntory Music Award and Kawasaki City Culture Award.
Since becoming the resident orchestra of the City of Kawasaki in 2004, and a semi-resident orchestra agreement with the City of Niigata in 1999, the orchestra has been enthusiastic for school concerts and community concerts. The Tokyo Symphony Orchestra has been regularly performing various operas and ballets at the New National Opera Theatre, Tokyo since its opening in 1997.
Mr.VIOTTI will become the 4th Music Director from April 2026.
