Japanese Literary Awards

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Taijiro Iimori

いいもり たいじろう

Iimori Taijiro

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1940-09-30 （Xinjing, Manchukuo (now Changchun, China)）
Died
2023-08-15 （Japan） age 82
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Xinjing, Manchukuo (now Changchun, China) → Germany → Netherlands → Japan

Career

Occupations
Conductor
Active Years
1960-2023
Affiliations
Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra, Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra, Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra, Kansai Philharmonic Orchestra, Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra, New National Theatre, Tokyo (Artistic Advisor / Artistic Director)
Memberships
Japan Art Academy
Influenced By
Hideo Saito, Dimitri Mitropoulos, Herbert von Karajan

Education

Toho Gakuen School of Music
Conducting Department / Conducting Department
Country: Japan

Awards

Geijutsu Sensho (Newcomer Award)
1973
Organization: Agency for Cultural Affairs (Japan)
Result: 受賞
Suntory Music Award (32nd, 2000)
2000
Organization: Suntory Music Foundation
Result: 受賞
Geijutsu Sensho - Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award (54th)
2003
Organization: Agency for Cultural Affairs (Japan)
Result: 受賞
Medal with Purple Ribbon
2004
Organization: Government of Japan
Result: 受章
Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Small Rosette
2010
Organization: Government of Japan
Result: 受章
Japan Art Academy Award
2013
Organization: Japan Art Academy
Result: 受賞
Osaka City Civic Award
2008
Organization: Osaka City
Result: 受賞
Person of Cultural Merit
2012
Organization: Government of Japan
Result: 顕彰
Mainichi Art Award (56th)
2015
Organization: The Mainichi Newspapers
Result: 受賞
Junior Fourth Rank (posthumous)
2023
Organization: Government of Japan
Result: 追贈
Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon (posthumous)
2023
Organization: Government of Japan
Result: 追贈

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Beethoven Symphonies Cycle (Bärenreiter edition)

Classical music / Symphony performance

Completed cycles of Beethoven symphonies using Bärenreiter editions with both the Tokyo City Philharmonic and the Kansai Philharmonic; recordings were released on CD. Emphasized historically informed readings based on source editions.

BeethovenSymphoniesUrtext / source-based interpretation
Adaptations
  • [Recording (CD)] Beethoven Symphonies (Bärenreiter edition) — recording

Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen (Orchestral Opera)

2000 Opera / Music drama (concert format)

Led performances of the four-part Ring cycle with the Tokyo City Philharmonic over four years from 2000 under the concept of 'orchestral opera', leaving a major mark on Wagner performance history in Japan.

WagnerMusic dramaOrchestral opera
Adaptations
  • [Concert / highlights recording] Der Ring des Nibelungen (highlights) (2021)

Lohengrin (Wagner)

2004 Opera / Music drama (concert format)

Conducted Lohengrin in 2004 with the Tokyo City Philharmonic. One of the performances that exemplified his 'orchestral opera' approach to Wagner.

WagnerMusic dramaOrchestral expression

Parsifal (Wagner)

2005 Opera / Music drama (concert format)

Conducted Parsifal in 2005, noted for interpretations that emphasized its religious and mystical character.

WagnerReligious themesMysticism

Tristan und Isolde (Wagner)

2008 Opera / Music drama (concert format)

Conducted Tristan und Isolde in 2008, known for expressing the work's passion through rich orchestral sonorities.

WagnerLove and fateLarge-scale orchestral expression

Bruckner Symphony Cycle

2011 Classical music / Symphony performance

Presented a cycle of Bruckner symphonies from 2011 to 2022 (10 concerts, including Symphony No. 0 and short/alternate versions).

BrucknerSymphoniesReligious and architectural structures

Adaptations

  • Beethoven Symphonies (recording)
  • Wagner music-drama concert recordings

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Proponent of 'orchestral opera' approachRefined, source-based interpretationsWeighty, architectonic orchestral textures
Recurring Motifs
WagnerBeethovenBrucknerLarge-scale orchestral forces

Health

  • Acute heart failure
    2023-08-15
    Died of acute heart failure on 15 August 2023; career ended.

Legacy

A leading figure in Wagner performance in Japan, he left a significant legacy in opera and orchestral performance. He completed cycles of Beethoven and Bruckner, promoted the concept of 'orchestral opera', served long tenures with major Japanese orchestras, and influenced subsequent generations of musicians.

Academic Societies

  • Japan Art Academy

Archives

  • Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra Archives
  • Kansai Philharmonic Orchestra Archives

In Popular Culture

  • Major concerts and recordings were widely covered in newspapers and magazines

Trivia

  • Born in Xinjing, Manchukuo (now Changchun).
  • Father was judge Shigenin Iimori; brother is logo designer Kakkutaro Iimori; uncle was Kōtarō Tanaka.
  • Graduated from Toho Gakuen School of Music (conducting), studied under Hideo Saito.
  • Long period of activity in Germany; served as a musical assistant at the Bayreuth Festival.
  • Led large-scale Beethoven and Wagner projects with the Tokyo City Philharmonic.
  • Died of acute heart failure on 15 August 2023 (age 82).