NHK Symphony Orchestra to Confer the Title of Honorary Conductor Laureate on Fabio Luisi, Chief Conductor, in September 2028, Upon the Expiration of his Contract

NHK Symphony Orchestra will present the title of Honorary Conductor Laureate to Fabio Luisi, who is currently the Chief Conductor of the orchestra, in September 2028 after the expiration of the contract. The title of Honorary Conductor Laureate of the NHK Symphony Orchestra is to be bestowed on conductors who have led the orchestra for many years and have made outstanding contributions to improving artistic quality. He will be the third recipient following the late Wolfgang Sawallisch and Herbert Blomstedt.
For details regarding the honor, please refer to the "Chairman's Comments" and "Message from Fabio Luisi".

Comments From Koichi Nakanoya, Chairman of the NHK Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo

It was in the year of 2022 when Mo. Fabio Luisi assumed the position of Chief Conductor of the NHK Symphony Orchestra. Back then we were forced to slow down and to reduce our orchestral activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Under such circumstances, Mo. Luisi and the NHK Symphony Orchestra have solidified our bond by sharing hardships we had to go through and by moments of joy in making music. Such a close interaction has brought us a new chapter of musical individuality, eventually attracted many people, and ultimately overcome the difficult times.
Mo. Luisi's most notable accomplishment is that he brought a great success to our European tour in May 2025. The fact we have received high artistic acclaim in many cities in Europe, which is the home to classical music, not to mention the Mahler Festival in the Dutch capital of Amsterdam, is a great pride of the NHK Symphony Orchestra. It is also our great pleasure that Mo. Luisi will lead the NHK Symphony Orchestra as Chief Conductor in the year we celebrate the centenary of our founding. In recognition of Mo. Luisi's such remarkable contribution to our orchestra, and as a token of trust and gratitude, we will present the title of Honorary Conductor Laureate in September 2028 when his contract of Chief Conductor expires, and we will engrave his name in our orchestra's history for many years to come.

Koichi Nakanoya
Chairman
NHK Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo

Message from Fabio Luisi

I am honored and delighted that the NHK Symphony Orchestra will bestow upon me the title of Honorary Conductor Laureate starting with the 2028/2029 season.
My relationship with the NHK Symphony Orchestra and its members, which started in 2001, has become increasingly consistent and deep over the years, culminating in my appointment as chief conductor, which will conclude in 2028.
The orchestra and I have achieved, and still will achieve, several milestones in the life of the orchestra, among them a fantastic European tour in 2025, with the prestigious invitation, as the first Asian Orchestra ever, to take part in the Mahler Festival in Amsterdam, along with concerts in important European musical centers. We, together, also celebrated the 2000th subscription concert with a performance of Mahler's 8th Symphony in December 2023.
In the Autumn of 2026, we will together celebrate the 100th anniversary of the NHK Symphony Orchestra with a series of highlights from important repertoire, among them Mahler's Second Symphony and a concerto performance of Puccini's opera Tosca.
My appointment as Honorary Conductor Laureate from 2028 will further unite our forces for the years to come, enabling us to continue exploring repertoire and to show our audience the artistic excellence of the NHK Symphony Orchestra.
It is a great honor and privilege to have been chosen to be part of the big family NHK Symphony Orchestra for many years to come, and I am extremely grateful to the administration and to the musicians for offering me this prestigious title.

Fabio Luisi
Chief Conductor
NHK Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo