About YNSO

FACTS

The Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra, based in Tokyo, was founded in 1962 by Japan's three leading media companies--The Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper company, Nippon Television Network Corporation (NTV), and Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation (YTV). The orchestra performs around 100 concerts each year true to its founding mission of dedicating to promoting the world of classical music in Japan.

The YNSO is unique in that it has long been the world's only orchestra that is affiliated primarily with a newspaper group. The Yomiuri* Shimbun newspaper group, which was launched in 1874, is the leading quality newspaper in Japan with the largest daily circulation in the world, as endorsed by Guinness World Records in 2010. NTV went on air on August 28, 1953, as Japan's first commercial television station and continues to be the country's leading broadcaster, regularly attaining higher viewing rates. YTV, an NTV affiliate based in Osaka, is an influential television station in the Kansai region, western Japan.
(*The appellation Yomiuri is derived from the "read out and sell" practice of vendors of "kawaraban [tile prints]" or broadsides of Japan's Edo feudal period [1603-1867] that carried articles and illustrations depicting newsworthy events.)

Since its foundation, the YNSO has thus far had ten world-acclaimed maestros as its principal conductors, all of whom have been greatly instrumental in raising the level of musical excellence of the orchestra. The current and tenth Principal Conductor is Sebastian Weigle, who joined the orchestra in 2019. His predecessors include Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos from 1980 to 1983, Heinz Rögner from 1984 to 1989, Gerd Albrecht from 1998 to 2007 and Stanislaw Skrowaczewski from 2007 to 2010. Currently, the orchestra has Kazuki Yamada as Principal Guest Conductor, Masato Suzuki as Associate Conductor & Creative Partner, Sylvain Cambreling as Conductor Laureate, Yuri Temirkanov as Honorary Conductor, Tadaaki Otaka as Honorary Guest Conductor and Ken-ichiro Kobayashi as Special Guest Conductor.

Previously, the YNSO also invited Zubin Mehta, Günter Wand, Sergiu Celibidache, and Lorin Maazel among other distinguished maestros as guest conductors. To date, many of the world's esteemed soloists, including Arthur Rubinstein, Sviatoslav Richter, Martha Argerich, Mitsuko Uchida, Yo-Yo Ma, and Midori Goto have performed with the orchestra. Needless to say, their performances were highly admired by both classical music fans and critics in Japan.

The YNSO is recognized both in Japan and abroad for its outstanding artistry and performing abilities. In 2000, it became the first Japanese orchestra invited to perform in the annual Abonnement series at the Great Festival Hall in Salzburg. In March 2015, the YNSO's 10th overseas tour took it to four European countries with the audiences there singing the praises of the orchestra.

H.I.H. Princess Takamado is appointed as honorary adviser to the YNSO.

The YNSO performs major concert series at Suntory Hall, the Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre, and Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall among other venues. To showcase the allure of classical music, the orchestra's repertoire ranges from popular classical works to less-known pieces. It has received many honors and awards including the National Arts Festival Grand Prize sponsored by the Agency for Cultural Affairs of Japan and the Music Pen Club Japan Award.

Subscription concerts and other performances by the orchestra are broadcast on NTV and BS Nippon Television Network in the "Yomikyo (YNSO) Premier" series. The YNSO also produces concert CDs and DVDs.

The YNSO also actively contributes to society. To that end, the orchestra offers "YNSO 'Heartful' Concert" performances for cancer patients and their families at hospitals throughout Japan in cooperation with the charity Shoriki Welfare Foundation as well as "YNSO Friendship Concerts" at elementary and junior high schools. In addition, it provides "Salon Concerts" or small ensemble performances at various communities' medium-sized halls. The YNSO spares no effort to expand its cultural involvement with society.

(January 2024)