Now one of Japan's leading conductors, Tadaaki Otaka's wide-ranging activities include concert, opera, radio and television and also premieres of works by such distinguished composers as Teizo Matsumura, Toru Takemitsu and Akira Miyoshi.
He made his professional broadcasting debut in 1971 with the NHK Symphony Orchestra and was for 20 years permanent conductor of the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, during which time he toured extensively with them in the Far East and Europe, becoming their conductor laureate in 1991.
Between 1981 and 1986 he was chief conductor of the Sapporo Symphony and in May 1998 became their music adviser and principal conductor. Principal conductor of the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra between 1992 and 1998, his recordings with them include notable symphonic and operatic releases and, in his final season, he led their extensive and well-received European tour.
He made his North American debut in 1985 (American Symphony Orchestra) and in 1987 became principal conductor of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, making his BBC Proms debut with them the following year. London's Sunday Times wrote: "In his years with the orchestra Otaka has worked wonders in Wales".
His many appearances with the National Orchestra of Wales have included tours to Austria, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Germany and Russia, and the orchestra's first-ever Japanese and North American visits. Appointed the orchestra's conductor laureate in 1996, he continues to make frequent appearances with them.
He is currently music adviser and principal conductor of the Kioi Sinfonietta Tokyo, which he founded in 1995 and swiftly established as among Japan's best chamber ensembles. In September 2003 he was made honorary conductor laureate of this orchestra.
For three years (until 2001) he was director of the Britten-Pears Orchestra, conducting a variety of projects including a fully-staged Cosi fan Tutte.
His extensive guest conducting has included many visits to Australia, the Far East, Europe and North America, with the orchestras of such cities as Melbourne, Sydney, Hong Kong, Vancouver, Oregon, Lille, Strasbourg, Bamberg, Helsinki, Oslo, The Hague and Rotterdam.
He is a well-known figure in the UK, through his work in Wales, his many Proms appearances and engagements with such orchestras as City of Birmingham Symphony, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Royal Scottish National, Hallé, Bournemouth Symphony, BBC Symphony, London Symphony, City of Birmingham Symphony, London Philharmonic, Ulster Orchestra and English Chamber Orchestra.
Outside the UK, recent seasons have included Rotterdam Philharmonic, Bamberg Symphony, Strasbourg Philharmonic, Bergen Symphony, Warsaw Philharmonic, Oslo Philharmonic and Netherlands Philharmonic.
The 2005/6 season included his debut with the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra and a highly successful Brahms Requiem with the London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in St Paul's Cathedral as part of the 2006 City of London Festival. The 2007 season has included concerts with the Bergen Philharmonic and BBC NOW as well as his regular Japanese commitments.
With the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, he has made many excellent recordings for Nimbus and also a number of discs for BIS and Chandos. He recorded Britten's Peter Grimes in 1998 with Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra and a cast led by Anthony Rolfe Johnson and Josephine Barstow. Further releases are planned with BBC NOW and Kioi Sinfonietta Tokyo.
Tadaaki Otaka is a recipient of the prestigious Suntory Music Award, given each year to the most impressive individual Japanese musician or ensemble. In 1993 the Welsh College of Music and Drama conferred an honorary fellowship on him and he also holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Wales.
In 1997, he was awarded the CBE, in recognition of his outstanding contribution over many years to British musical life, and in November 2000 was awarded the Elgar Medal by the Elgar Society to mark a compelling record of conducting the composer's works overseas.
