Japanese Conductor Taijiro Iimori has Died, Aged 82

Iimori, recognized for his interpretations of works by Wagner and Bruckner, has died from an acute heart failure

Born in 1940 in northeastern China, Taijiro Iimori attended the Toho Gakuen School of Music and was mentored by Hideo Saito, Seiji Ozawa, Kazuyoshi Akiyama, and Michiyoshi Inoue.

In his 20s, he won prizes at the International Dimitris Mitropoulos Competition for Conductors and the Herbert von Karajan Conducting Competition. 

A long-time advocate of Wagner and Bruckner’s works, he later served as a music assistant at the Bayreuth Festival for more than 20 years from 1970. 

Early in his career, his rendition of Wagner’s The Ring Cycle with the Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra (TPO) established him as one of the top interpreters of the German composer in Japan. 

He led the TPO at what would be his final performance in April 2023, performing Bruckner’s Symphony No. 4 — of which his recording was one of Gramophone Japan’s March 2000 Critic’s Best Choice 3. Overall, he released 21 recordings, mainly on the Fontec label. 

As well as performing with the Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra, he was the chief conductor at the Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra, plus honorary conductor laureate of TPO and the Kansai Philharmonic Orchestra.

Additionally, he conducted the Vienna Symphony Orchestra and Italy’s Teatro Comunale di Bologna and was resident conductor at the Hamburg State Opera. From 1978 to 1983, he served as principal conductor for Holland’s Opera Forum Enschede, plus conducted the Enschede City Conservatory Orchestra until 1995.

From 2014 to 2018, Iimori served as the artistic director of opera at Tokyo’s New National Theatre and was a member of the Japan Art Academy.

His many accolades included the Suntory Music Award and the Japan Art Academy Prize. The Japanese government also honored him as a Person of Cultural Merit and awarded him the Medal with Purple Ribbon.

Mr. Imori is survived by his nephew. Our condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues.