Kazuki Yamada (山田 和樹; born 26 January 1979[1]) is a Japanese conductor.

External videos
video icon You may see Kazuki Yamada conducting the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra in 2020 with Nelson Freire in Ludwig van Beethoven's:
Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58
Symphony No. 8 in F Major, Op. 93
Here on archive.org

Biography

Yamada was born in Hadano, Kanagawa Prefecture. He studied music, with a focus on percussion,[2] at the Tokyo University of the Arts, where his conducting teachers included Ken-Ichiro Kobayashi and Yoko Matsuo. Whilst at the university, he and fellow students founded an orchestra, the TOMATO Philharmonic Orchestra, with Yamada as its music director. The orchestra renamed itself the Yokohama Sinfonietta in 2005, and incorporated professionally in 2011. Yamada was the first prize winner in the 51st Besançon International Conducting Competition in 2009. Other honours include the Akeo Watanabe Music Foundation Music Award and the Hideo Saito Memorial Fund Award, both dating from 2012. He holds the post of 'permanent conductor' of the Japan Philharmonic, and is contracted with the orchestra through August 2017. In September 2017, the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra announced the appointment of Yamada as its next principal guest conductor, effective April 2018, with an initial contract of three years.[3]

In Europe, Yamada first guest-conducted the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande (OSR) in 2010. He became the OSR's principal guest conductor in 2012, with an initial contract of 3 years, after attempts to secure him as the orchestra's next principal conductor did not come to fruition.[4] In June 2014, his contract as principal guest conductor of the OSR was extended through 31 August 2017.[5] Yamada has conducted several commercial recordings with the OSR for the Pentatone label.[6][7]

Yamada first guest-conducted the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra (OPMC) in 2011. In the fall of 2013, he became the orchestra's principal guest conductor. In April 2015, the OPMC announced the appointment of Yamada as its next principal conductor and artistic director, effective September 2016, with an initial contract of three years.[8][9] In September 2020, the OPMC announced the most recent contract extension for Yamada, through the 2023–2024 season.[10]

Yamada first guest-conducted the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) in 2012. In May 2018, the CBSO announced the appointment of Yamada as its next principal guest conductor, effective with the 2018–2019 season.[11] In January 2021, the CBSO announced the extension of Yamada's contract as principal guest conductor with CBSO until 2023.[12] In September 2021, the CBSO announced the appointment of Yamada as its next chief conductor and artistic advisor, effective 1 April 2023, with an initial contract of 4.5 years.[13][2]

Yamada, his wife, and their family reside in Berlin.[2]

Selected discography

References

  1. ^ Andrew McGregor (2022-07-25). "Prom 14: Kazuki Yamada conducts the CBSO (interval discussion)". BBC Proms. Retrieved 2022-08-30.
  2. ^ a b c Imogen Tilden (2021-09-14). "CBSO names Kazuki Yamada as new chief conductor". The Guardian. Retrieved 2021-09-16.
  3. ^ "Kazuki Yamada – Principal Guest Conductor of the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra" (Press release). KD Schmid Agency. 15 September 2017. Retrieved 2018-03-11.
  4. ^ Sylvie Bonier, "Le jeune Kazuki Yamada est proposé pour diriger l'OSR". Tribune de Genève, 18 June 2010.
  5. ^ Rocco Zacheo (2014-06-23). "Kazuki Yamada prolonge avec l'OSR". Tribune de Genève. Retrieved 2015-09-05.
  6. ^ Andrew Achenbach (August 2014). "Bizet, L'Arlésienne Suites / Fauré, Masques et Bergamasques". Gramophone. Retrieved 2015-09-07.
  7. ^ Andrew Achenbach (September 2014). "Ballet Music". Gramophone. Retrieved 2015-09-07.
  8. ^ "Communiqué: Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo" (PDF) (Press release). Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra. 3 April 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 2015-09-05.
  9. ^ "Kazuki Yamada Announced New Principal Conductor and Artistic Director in Monte Carlo" (Press release). Konzertdirektion Schmid. 3 April 2015. Archived from the original on 12 June 2015. Retrieved 2015-09-05.
  10. ^ Andrew Achenbach (2020-09-22). "Il maestro Kazuki Yamada guiderà per altri 3 anni l'Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo". Monte Carlo News. Retrieved 2021-09-16.
  11. ^ "City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra announces its 2018–19 Concert Season at Symphony Hall, Birmingham" (PDF) (Press release). City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. 9 May 2018. Retrieved 2018-05-20.
  12. ^ "CBSO's Family of Conductors" (Press release). City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. 22 January 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
  13. ^ "City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra appoints Kazuki Yamada as Chief Conductor and Artistic Advisor" (Press release). City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. 14 September 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-14.

External links

Principal Conductors of the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra music directors
Authority control databases
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