Interview with Conductor Kazuki Yamada at the 743th Tokyo Subscription Concert

Interview with the conductor of the 743nd Tokyo Regular Concert!

Interviewer: Takayuki Komuro

-You first performed with the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra in October 2007, and five years later you became its principal conductor. Another 10 years have passed since then, but what does the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra mean to you, having performed with it for 15 years?

Looking back, we were able to create many programs that could only be done with the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra. But these weren't just my ideas; they were born out of a strong partnership with Masumitsu-san, the head of planning and production (he's from the same hometown as me, Hadano City, Kanagawa Prefecture!). Even the communication when deciding on the songs was fun (laughs). Sometimes I made suggestions, and other times I just accepted them completely because Masumitsu-san said so.
We've worked on many new pieces and projects, both for me and the orchestra, so I think it's an orchestra that I can take on new challenges with. We're a relationship that allows us to grow together through various challenges. In a way, I feel like we're comrades in arms.
Another important thing is that the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra is named after the country, not the place. Although it is not a national orchestra, it is still the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, so it is very significant that it performs Japanese works. This was also the wish of its founding conductor, Akio Watanabe, and it is for this reason that the Japan Philharmonic Series (a series of commissioned works from Japanese composers), which began in 1958, is still ongoing.

Your next challenge with the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra will be the Violin Concerto by Koichi Kishi (1909-1937) at the September concert. Completed in 1935, it is said to be the first violin concerto by a Japanese composer, and features a beautiful, romantic, and lyrical melody.

I knew his name, of course, but this will be my first time conducting one of his works. There's no doubt that this is one of Japan's greatest works of all time! The coexistence of a simple, easy-to-understand melody and a diverse range of sounds is truly fascinating. It exudes a Japanese flavor within Western writing, so I'm sure it will reach the hearts of the audience directly. The soloist this time will be Tanokura (concertmaster of the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra), who gave us a wonderful performance of Yoshio Mamiya's Violin Concerto in 2019, so I'm looking forward to an equally passionate performance.

The second half of the program features the British composer William Walton (1902-1983), whose choral work "Belshazzar's Feast" has recently been frequently performed in Japan. His Symphony No. 1 is featured, which, like Kishi Koichi's Violin Concerto, was completed in 1935.

This is a work that Masumitsu-san had been recommending to me for about 10 years. However, it's incredibly difficult, posing a significant challenge for both the conductor and the orchestra, so I couldn't justify taking it on. The reason I decided to take it up now is largely due to my appointment as Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor to the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in the UK starting in April 2023. This has made me determined to fully commit to British music. Up until now, I've only performed shorter pieces from Walton, so performing this Symphony No. 1 will be a major challenge. Even in minor keys, Walton's music is characterized by a crisp sound that doesn't become overly dark. While not necessarily in keeping with the demeanor of an English gentleman, its charm lies in its ability to exude nobility at all times. I hope that through this symphony, you will be immersed in a flood of sound, like the dazzling brilliance of a jewel-studded kaleidoscope.

Suntory Hall
Friday, September 2, 2022, 7:00 PM start time, pre-show 6:30 PM
3rd (Sat) 14:00 start Pre-show talk 13:20~
There will be pre-talks on both days!

*The program for the Tokyo Regular Concert in September will look back on his 10 years as principal conductor. Look forward to it!