Honorary Conductor Laureate Kenichiro Kobayashi receives the 77th Imperial Prize and Japan Art Academy Prize in 2
Kenichiro Kobayashi, Honorary Conductor Laureate of the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, has been awarded the Imperial Prize and the Japan Art Academy Prize.
He was awarded this prize in recognition of his outstanding achievements in the development of Japanese musical culture and its international dissemination, particularly in the field of music and arts in general, particularly in his work as a conductor. In addition, he has made significant contributions to education and is an excellent role model as a musician.
All the members of the orchestra would like to once again express our gratitude for your kind guidance over the years and offer our heartfelt congratulations.
A message from Maestro Kenichiro Kobayashi
"The people who come to my concerts are the greatest encouragement for me, and I've been able to continue performing until this age.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to our customers and to the fans who have been playing.
I would also like to express my deepest gratitude to each and every member of the orchestra and staff who supported our activities.
I am extremely honored and encouraged to receive this prestigious award.
It is true that we lose a lot of things, such as physical strength and intelligence, but the stairs we climb are not the same as the heights we climb.
I want to move forward, believing that there are also certain views that can be seen."
After graduating from Tokyo University of the Arts, Kenichiro Kobayashi won first prize at the 1st Budapest International Conductors' Competition in 1974. Since then, he has performed as a guest conductor with numerous orchestras both in Japan and abroad for over 40 years, expanding the base of classical music fans in Japan through the art of music and continuing to work hard for the Japanese music world. He became the Principal Conductor of the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra in 1988, succeeding its founding conductor, Akio Watanabe. He became Principal Conductor in 1990, Principal Guest Conductor in 1994, and Principal Conductor again in 1997. He served as Music Director from 2004 to 2007. He currently serves as Honorary Conductor Laureate, performing with the orchestra in many concerts, including regular concerts, Kobaken World, and the Ninth Symphony Concert.
Upcoming Concerts
Friday, October 19, 2021 18:00
124th Saitama Subscription Concert
Conductor: Ken-ichiro Kobayashi [Honorary Conductor Laureate]
Cello: Dai Miyata
Dvorak: Cello Concerto
Dvorak: Symphony No. 9 "From the New World"
Saturday, October 20, 2021 14:00
Conductor: Ken-ichiro Kobayashi [Honorary Conductor Laureate]
Cello: Dai Miyata
Dvorak: Cello Concerto in B minor, Op.104
Dvorak: Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95 "From the New World"
Sunday, March 21, 2021 14:00
Conductor: Ken-ichiro Kobayashi [Honorary Conductor Laureate]
Piano: Michie Koyama
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 "Emperor" in E-flat major, Op.73
Dvorak: Symphony No. 9 in E minor "From the New World" Op.95
Sunday, March 4, 2021 14:00
Conducting and Talk: Kenichiro Kobayashi [Honorary Conductor Laureate]
Piano: Kyoko Tabe
Grieg: Holberg Suite, Op. 40, No. 1 "Prelude"
Grieg: Piano Concerto in A minor, Op.16
Grieg: From the Music of Peer Gynt
"Morning," "The Death of Oze," "Anitra's Dance," "In the Palace of the Mountain King," and "Solveig's Song"
Sibelius: Symphonic poem "Finlandia" Op.26
Wednesday, April 7, 2021 19:00
[Rescheduled Performance] Kenichiro Kobayashi 80th Birthday (Kanju) Commemoration & Tchaikovsky 180th Anniversary Tchaikovsky Complete Symphony Cycle in Pro A
Conductor: Ken-ichiro Kobayashi [Honorary Conductor Laureate]
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 1 in G minor, Op. 13 "Winter Day Fantasy", Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36
Tuesday, April 13, 2021 19:00
Conductor: Ken-ichiro Kobayashi [Honorary Conductor Laureate]
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 2 in C minor, Op. 17 "Little Russia", Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64
Tuesday, April 27, 2021 19:00
Conductor: Ken-ichiro Kobayashi [Honorary Conductor Laureate]
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 3 in D major, Op. 29 "Polish", Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74 "Pathétique"
Saturday, October 8, 2021 17:00
367th Yokohama Regular Concert <Spring> (Kanagawa Prefectural Hall)
Conductor: Ken-ichiro Kobayashi [Honorary Conductor Laureate]
Piano: Kaoru Jitsukawa
Grieg: Piano Concerto in A minor, Op.16
Smetana: "Vyšehrad," "Vltava (Moldau)," and "Braník" from the symphonic poem cycle "My Country"
Sunday, March 9, 2021 14:00
Japan Philharmonic Suginami Public Hall Series 2021-22 1st
Conductor: Ken-ichiro Kobayashi [Honorary Conductor Laureate]
Piano: Kaoru Jitsukawa
Grieg: Piano Concerto in A minor, Op.16
Smetana: "Vyšehrad," "Vltava (Moldau)," and "Braník" from the symphonic poem cycle "My Country"
Sunday, March 27, 2021 14:00
Dream Concert Vol.117 To a new sparkling world
Conductor: Ken-ichiro Kobayashi [Honorary Conductor Laureate]
Piano: Tomoharu Ushida
Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21
Dvorak: Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95 "From the New World"
Tuesday, April 13, 2021 19:00
Conductor: Ken-ichiro Kobayashi [Honorary Conductor Laureate]
Piano: Ayako Uehara
Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, Op. 23, Manfred Symphony, Op. 58
Monday, August 30, 2021 19:00
Conductor: Ken-ichiro Kobayashi [Honorary Conductor Laureate]
Violin: Mayuko Kamio
Tchaikovsky: Polonaise from the opera "Eugene Onegin", Serenade for Strings in C major, Op. 48, Violin Concerto, Festive Overture "1812", Op. 49
