Osaka Philharmonic Orchestra

Founded in 1947 by Takashi Asahina as the Kansai Symphony Orchestra, the Osaka Philharmonic Orchestra took its current name in 1960. Asahina was its Principal Conductor and Music Director for 55 years, until 2001. Since 2018 the Music Director has been Tadaaki Otaka, who is represented by Askonas Holt.

Each year the orchestra gives ten subscription concerts at Osaka's Festival Hall and around 110 performances throughout Japan. It has worked with conductors including Charles Dutoit, Eliahu Inbal and Christoph Eschenbach. Its repertoire is built around Beethoven, Brahms and Bruckner and reaches from the Classical period to the present day. Under Otaka it has also championed Elgar, performing all three symphonies, including the incomplete Third, as well as The Dream of Gerontius.

Its recordings with Otaka include acclaimed complete symphony cycles of Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Brahms, Bruckner and Elgar.

The orchestra has toured Europe three times and has also performed in North America, South Korea and Taiwan.

In 2027 the orchestra celebrates its 80th anniversary. Askonas Holt is proud to work alongside the Osaka Philharmonic for its fourth European tour in June 2027, with concerts in Vienna, Linz, Manchester and London.