Kazumasa Watanabe, conductor

　Born in Tokyo. Kazumasa Watanabe made his conducting debut with the Tokyo Philharmonic in 1991. From April 2015 to May 2021, he served as Resident Conductor of the Tokyo Phil. He was also Principal Conductor of the Hiroshima Symphony Orchestra from 1995 to 2002. Throughout his career, he has appeared regularly with Japan’s leading professional orchestras, including the NHK Symphony Orchestra, earning wide respect and trust for his refined musical insight and authoritative conducting. In the field of opera, he has conducted Mascagni’s L’amico Fritz at the New National Theatre, Tokyo (NNTT). His ballet repertoire includes major productions with the NNTT Ballet such as Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, and Don Quixote. Notably, his leadership of the new production of Swan Lake in 2006 was met with outstanding acclaim. His international activities include guest appearances with orchestras abroad, among them the St. Petersburg Symphony Orchestra.
　In addition to his conducting career, Watanabe is an accomplished pianist. He performed with the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra and the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra at the age of eight. From 1987 to 1989, he pursued advanced studies in Europe under Professor Hans Leygraf. His pianistic artistry has continued to be highly esteemed, as demonstrated in performances with the Tokyo Philharmonic and the Hiroshima Symphony Orchestra, including programs in which he both conducted and performed as soloist.