Classical music world mourns Kazuyoshi Akiyama, former maestro of Vancouver Symphony Orchestra

Championing rare and contemporary repertoire, the renowned conductor led the VSO through a growth period from 1972 to 1985

THE VANCOUVER SYMPHONY Orchestra’s legendary, long-time music director Kazuyoshi Akiyama has passed away.

Akiyama, who died in a Japanese hospital on January 26, led the orchestra from 1972 to 1985. He had suffered a fall in early January and the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra is reporting his official cause of death as pneumonia.

The VSO remembered him today in a tribute as “cherished by VSO musicians and audiences alike, frequently returning to Vancouver to conduct concerts through 2018”, adding he was “renowned for championing rare and contemporary repertoire”. Akiyama was 84 years old.

Beloved by the orchestras he led, Akiyama was conductor laureate of the Tokyo, Vancouver, and Syracuse orchestras. The VSO considers him one of the most important music directors in its history, a figure who led it through a period of growth and acclaim.

Born in Tokyo in 1941, Akiyama made his professional debut with the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra in 1964, and only months later became its music director and conductor. Akiyama’s first position in North America was as assistant conductor of the Toronto Symphony in 1968.

He conducted around the world, at orchestras such as the Royal Philharmonic, Cologne Broadcast Symphony, the Bayerischer Rundfunk, the San Francisco Symphony, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony, and the Cleveland and Philadelphia Orchestras.

In 1991, Akiyama led the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra on a successful world tour to celebrate the orchestra’s 45th anniversary, with performances in New York City at the United Nations.

“With a wide range of repertoire, Professor Akiyama and the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra have worked together on many historic performances, including Japan premieres,” Yoshitaka Hirooka, managing director and orchestra director of the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, said in a statement translated from the TSO’s site today. “We are shocked by the sudden news of his passing and have yet to accept it. However, we would like to express our deepest gratitude to Professor Akiyama, who treated the orchestra members like family and built the warm tone that is the foundation of our orchestra.”

Akiyama was honoured by the VSO as conductor laureate in 1985 and inducted into the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame. In 2001, he was awarded with Japan’s Medal with Purple Ribbon, the highest honour in his home country.

“Kazuyoshi Akiyama’s profound impact on the world of music will continue to resonate for generations to come,” the VSO posted today. “The VSO dedicates this Friday’s concert at the Orpheum to the Maestro’s memory and significant contributions to the musical vibrancy of our community.” At that concert, Italian-American violinist Francesca Dego joins Maestro Otto Tausk for her VSO debut with Beethoven’s Violin Concerto.

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Janet Smith

Janet Smith is founding partner and editorial director of Stir. She is an award-winning arts journalist who has spent more than two decades immersed in Vancouver’s dance, screen, design, theatre, music, opera, and gallery scenes. She sits on the Vancouver Film Critics’ Circle.

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