is a Japanese conductor.
Biography
Otaka was born in
Kamakura, Japan on November 8, 1947.
He studied composition, theory, and
French horn
The French horn (since the 1930s known simply as the horn in professional music circles) is a brass instrument made of tubing wrapped into a coil with a flared bell. The double horn in F/B (technically a variety of German horn) is the horn most o ...
, at the
Toho Gakuen School of Music in
Chōfu. He was subsequently a conducting student of
Hideo Saito.
Otaka has served as conductor of the
Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra and became conductor laureate since 1991. From 1981 to 1986, he was chief conductor of the
Sapporo Symphony Orchestra, and since May 1998 held the titles of music adviser and principal conductor. From 1992 to 1998, he was principal conductor of the
Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra. He founded the Kioi Sinfonietta Tokyo in 1995, and has served as its music adviser, principal conductor, and honorary conductor laureate.
In the UK, Otaka was principal conductor of the
BBC National Orchestra of Wales (BBC NOW) from 1987 to 1995. Otaka now has the title of conductor laureate with the BBC NOW. From 1998 to 2001, he directed the
Britten-Pears Orchestra. In 2012, Otaka was named international president of the
Welsh Sinfonia.
In September 2009, Otaka was appointed principal guest conductor of the
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO), effective as of 2010. After the sudden departure of MSO's chief conductor
Oleg Caetani in October 2009, Otaka's role was accelerated for him to assume the post in late 2009.
In May 2017, Otaka was appointed Artistic Advisor of the Sapporo Community Plaza. Otaka is currently Music Director of the
Osaka Philharmonic Orchestra from April 2018. He took 2 months of medical leave from the orchestra in 2019.
Awards
Otaka was the recipient of the 23rd
Suntory Music Award in 1991. He received an Honorary Fellowship from the
Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama in 1993, he also holds an Honorary Doctorate from the
University of Wales. He was appointed an honorary
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...
in 2010.
In 2000, Otaka became the first Japanese person to be awarded the
Elgar Medal.
[Per remarks of Katie Derham on BBC Radio 3']
Sunday Breakfast program
28 February 2010
References
External links
Askonas Holt agency page on Tadaaki OtakaTokyo Philharmonic Orchestra page on Tadaaki Otaka
{{DEFAULTSORT:Otaka, Tadaki
1947 births
People from Kamakura
20th-century Japanese conductors (music)
20th-century Japanese male musicians
21st-century Japanese conductors (music)
21st-century Japanese male musicians
Japanese expatriates in the United Kingdom
Japanese male conductors (music)
Honorary commanders of the Order of the British Empire
Living people
Toho Gakuen School of Music alumni
Principal conductors of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales
Chief conductors of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra