Hiroshi Wakasugi

Hiroshi Wakasugi was a Japanese conductor born on May 31, 1935, in Tokyo. He achieved professional recognition for a musical career characterized by historically informed performances and for leading many Western operas in their Japanese premieres. Wakasugi achieved professional recognition for a career that began after he studied piano and gained experience as a piano accompanist for the Tokyo Nikikai. He achieved professional recognition for studying conducting at the Tokyo University of the Arts under Hideo Saito and Mitsuo Kaneko. Wakasugi achieved professional recognition for his debut in 1959 conducting the opera Le nozze di Figaro. His recording career included serving as the permanent conductor of the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra between 1965 and 1975. Wakasugi achieved professional recognition for receiving the Art Selection Minister of Education Award and the Japan Academy of Art Award. He achieved professional recognition for serving as the chief conductor of the Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra from 1977 to 1983 and the artistic director of the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich between 1987 and 1991. His discography included serving as the music director of the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra from 1986 to 1995. He achieved professional recognition for serving as the opera artistic director for the New National Theatre Tokyo starting in 2007. Wakasugi died on July 21, 2009.