The 663rd Subscription Concert 2024.September.14（Sat）17:00～
/ September.15（Sun）13:00～ Sapporo Concert Hall; Kitara

© Martin Richardson

Tadaaki OTAKA（conductor）

Japanese-born Tadaaki Otaka has been Music Director of Osaka Philharmonic Orchestra since April 2018 and, following a distinguished tenure as Principal Conductor of BBC National Orchestra of Wales, became their Conductor Laureate. This remarkable relationship with BBC NOW stretches back more than three decades and he has appeared with them each season since his debut. Long esteemed as one of Japan’s finest conductors, he also holds the titles of Permanent Conductor of the NHK Symphony, Conductor Laureate of Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Honorary Guest Conductor of the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra and Honorary Conductor Laureate of Kioi Hall Chamber Orchestra Tokyo. He has had a close association with Sapporo Symphony Orchestra for four decades, leading highly-successful European tours and establishing them internationally as one of Japan’s leading ensembles; and since 2015 has served as their Honorary Music Director. Between 2009 and 2012 he served as Principal Guest Conductor of Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and was Artistic Director of the New National Theatre, Tokyo (2010 to 2014).
Mo. Otaka returns to Europe in April 2024 for performances with BBC NOW, featuring works by Elgar, Grace Williams and William Mathias. He continues to conduct extensively in Japan and is also a highly regarded teacher of young conductors, holding posts as Honorary Professor of the Tokyo University of the Arts, Visiting Professor of the Soai University and the Kyoto City University of Arts and Guest Professor of the Kunitachi College of Music. He combines these activities with regular European visits and in the 2021/22 season will return to the BBC National Orchestra of Wales’ with performances of Mahler's Symphony No.5. Recent BBC NOW highlights include BBC Proms, and he also served on the juries of the Donatella Flick Conducting Competition in London, the Malko Competition in Copenhagen and the 18th Tokyo International Music Competition for Conducting. (from https://askonasholt.com/artist/tadaaki-otaka)

Radovan VLATKOVIĆ（horn）

Radovan Vlatković has travelled the globe performing extensively as a soloist and popularizing the horn as recording artist and teacher.　　Born in Zagreb in 1962 he completed his studies with Professor Prerad Detiček at the Zagreb Academy of Music and Professor Michael Höltzel at the Music Academy in Detmold, Germany. Radovan Vlatković is the recipient of many first prizes in national and international competitions, including the Premio Ancona in 1979 and the ARD Competition in Munich in 1983.　　From 1982 until 1990 he served as Principal Horn with the Radio Symphony Orchestra Berlin (now Deutsches Symphonie Orchester). From 1992 to 1998 he held the post of Horn Professor at the Stuttgart Musikhochschule. In 1998 he became Horn Professor at the Mozarteum in Salzburg. Since 2000 he holds the Horn Chair “Canon” at the “Queen Sofia” School in Madrid.　　Vlatković has appeared as soloist with many distinguished symphony and chamber orchestras, and appeared in number of festivals worldwide. He has premiered concertos written for him, and his discs were acknowledged and given the German Critics Award. His　recordings including chamber music have been issued by EMI, DECCA, Philips, Deutsche Grammophon, Teldec, Dabringhaus & Grimm and Denon labels. In 2014 Vlatković was awarded an Honorary Membership of the Royal Academy of Music (Hon RAM),　and is now Visiting Professor of Showa University of Music, Japan.