Masterpieces Performed by NHK Symphony Orchestra

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The NHK Symphony Orchestra has played a leading role in Japan's classical music scene across more than 90 years. It has gained international recognition for performances with renowned conductors and soloists. This program includes Beethoven's Symphony No.6, Sibelius's Symphony No.2, and Brahms's Symphony No.4.

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The NHK Symphony Orchestra leads Japan's classical music world. It held its first concert in 1927 and has since performed regularly for over 90 years. It continues its excellent performance to this day. In August 2013, it performed at Austria's Salzburg Festival, the world's most prominent classical music festival. In the spring of 2017, the NHK Symphony Orchestra held a concert in 7 key European cities including Berlin and Vienna. It has received global acclaim for its activities. We bring you 3 masterpieces conducted by 3 leading maestros.

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A selection of top performances by NHK Symphony Orchestra with world-class conductors to mark the end of the unprecedented 2020 and ring in the New Year.

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A selection of top performances by NHK Symphony Orchestra with world-class conductors to mark the end of the unprecedented 2020 and ring in the New Year.

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The fifth in the series presentation of Masterpieces Performed by NHK Symphony Orchestra is the 2021 Summer Special showcasing the orchestra performing the symphonies of Bruckner, Beethoven and Brahms with 3 world-renowned conductors. Enjoy the vibrant music forged by the NHK Symphony Orchestra and each conductor's highly individual interpretations that created these unforgettable performances. Music critic Katayama Morihide and presenter Yamamoto Miki set the scene in an introductory segment to the prerecorded concerts.

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The sixth in the series of Masterpieces Performed by NHK Symphony Orchestra presents 3 treasured performances from the orchestra's archives. The 2021 Winter Special kicks off with the official reintroduction of Fabio Luisi appointed as the Chief Conductor of the orchestra starting with the 2022-2023 season. Hailing from Genoa, Italy, Luisi is a world-renowned conductor who has held notable positions with the Metropolitan Opera and Staatskapelle Dresden. From his many previous appearances with the NHK Symphony Orchestra, we present his 2008 collaboration on one of Beethoven's masterpieces as a harbinger of the orchestra's new era under Luisi's tenure. Second in the series is a Tchaikovsky piece with Herbert Blomstedt at the helm with the work of Johannes Brahms as interpreted by Roger Norrington rounding out the triptych. Each presentation is introduced by music critic Katayama Morihide and Yamamoto Miki.

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The seventh in the series of Masterpieces Performed by NHK Symphony Orchestra kicks off with a brand-new performance recorded in May 2022. Conducted by Fabio Luisi, who just began his official tenure as chief conductor, it is one of the pieces performed at the memorial concert commemorating the anniversary of the reversion of Okinawa to Japan after 50 years under American administration. It is our hope that this musical message from Okinawa by Luisi and the NHKSO will resonate around the world still mired in war and strife. Next, Tugan Sokhiev makes a first-time appearance in this series with this 2019 magical baton-work. Then the series concludes with a historical 2002 performance by Wolfgang Sawallisch, who is credited to have created the NHKSO's distinctive sound. In each of the introductory segments, NHK WORLD-JAPAN presenter Yamamoto Miki and music critic Katayama Morihide highlight the relevant details of each performance. Revel in the featured concerts of this summer special.

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The eighth in the series of Masterpieces Performed by NHK Symphony Orchestra features three maestros conducting three Brahms symphonies. One of the pieces Fabio Luisi—appointed NHKSO's chief conductor in September of this year—chose for his inaugural commemoration performance was Brahms' Symphony No. 2 often referred to as the composer's "pastoral symphony." Here, we offer this brand-new performance to round out the three featured in this series. First up is the NHKSO performance Wolfgang Sawallisch conducted during his 2004 Japan visit followed by the 2017 concert helmed by Christoph Eschenbach, who had performed as the featured pianist with the NHKSO previously. Enjoy the three historical tentpole Brahms performances with an ear toward the influence a conductor and zeitgeist has on Brahms' music. NHK WORLD-JAPAN anchor Yamamoto Miki interviews music critic about the highlight of each performance.

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