The 678th Subscription Concert 2026.June.27（Sat）17:00～
/ June.28（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 March 2025 for performances with BBC NOW, featuring works by Bruch, Grace Williams and Rachmainov 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. 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.

Joaquín ACHÚCARRO（piano）

In October 2015, the prestigious French Magazine DIAPASON selected one of Achucarro’s recordings as one of “THE 100 MOST BEAUTIFUL PIANO RECORDINGS OF ALL TIME” together with legends such as Rachmaninoff, Horowitz, Rubinstein, Gieseking, Cortot, Richter, Gould, Arrau, Brendel, Argerich, Zimerman or Pollini.
Joaquin Achúcarro has been described by the Chicago Sun Times as “The Consummate Artist”. His impeccable and modelic artistic career has earned him a reputation of the highest degree both nationally and internationally.
Born in Bilbao, he won in his student days a number of International Prizes in Spain, France, Italy and Switzerland, but it was his victory in England at the 1959 Liverpool International Competition (one year after Zubin Mehta had won it as conductor) and the rave reviews in the London papers after his debut with the London Symphony in the Royal Festival Hall that marked the beginning of his career.
Since then, Achúcarro has been enjoying an uninterrupted international career touring 61 countries performing in venues such as Avery Fisher Hall, Berlin Philharmonie, Carnegie Hall, Concertgebouw, Kennedy Center, Musikverein, Royal Albert Hall, Salle Gaveau, Salle Pleyel, Teatro alla Scala, Suntory Hall, Sydney Opera House, Teatro Colón and The Barbican both playing recitals and as soloist with over two hundred different orchestras including: Berlin Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, La Scala of Milan, London Philharmonic, Sydney Symphony, Sta Cecilia di Roma, RTE Ireland, BBC Symphony, Philharmonia, Royal Scottish, City of Birmingham, Hallé, National de France, Yomiuri, Tokyo Philharmonic, Tokyo Symphony, RIAS Berlin, Tonkunstler Wien, Nacional de Chile, de Mexico, de Colombia, de Venezuela and, of course, every Spanish Orchestra, under more than 350 conductors such as Claudio Abbado, Sir Adrian Boult, Riccardo Chailly, Sir Colin Davis, Zubin Mehta, Sir Yehudi Menuhin, Seiji Ozawa and Sir Simon Rattle.
He was named “Artist for Peace” in 2000 by the UNESCO in Paris in recognition of “his extraordinary artistic achievement”. He is Accademico ad Honorem of the Accademia Chigiana in Siena, Italy, and in his home country, Achúcarro has received the highest honours in the Arts: the Gold Medal of Fine Arts, The National Award for Music and in 2003, King Juan Carlos of Spain bestowed upon him the Great Cross of Civil Merit.
The International Astronomical Union (IAU) named the miniplanet 2131 under Achucarro´s name as a tribute to his successful international career.
His DVD/BluRay “ACHUCARRO plays BRAHMS”, with Brahms n.2 piano concerto under Sir Colin Davis and London Symphony (Opus Arte), obtained 5 stars all over Europe, being “Editor´s Choice” of CLASSIC FM Magazine and rated “Outstanding” by the INTERNATIONAL RECORD REVIEW (both in London), immediately climbing to the top of the Bestsellers and Hot New Releases charts in amazon.com.
A few months later, Euroarts released Achucarro´s new DVD/BluRay ”FALLA and FRIENDS” playing Falla Nights in the Garden of Spain with Berlin Philharmonic and Sir Simon Rattle at the Philarmonie Hall in Berlin, also received with great acclaim.
Last year, Sony has reissued his famous GOYESCAS by Granados and his Falla CD with London Symphony and conductor Eduardo Mata.
Achúcarro rewrote and recorded also for SONY his own revision of Joaquin Rodrigo’s Piano Concerto. He has prize-winning recordings of de Falla, Granados, Ravel and Brahms with BMG-RCA, Claves and Ensayo. Other recordings include music by Schumann, Schubert, Chopin, Beethoven, Debussy, Bartok, Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, Turina and Hermann.
Since August 1989 he holds the Tate Chair at Southern Methodist University in Dallas adjusting his teaching periods to his busy concert schedule.
In 2008, the “Joaquin Achucarro Foundation” was created by a group of individuals and institutions from the Dallas community “to perpetuate his artistic and teaching legacy” and to help young pianists at the outset of their careers.