OSM / maestro Kent Nagano has received the Order of the Rising Sun

Kent Nagano has received the Order of the Rising Sun

Montreal, December 18, 2008 ’Äì On December 7 in San Francisco, Kent Nagano received the Order of the Rising Sun, the most prestigious decoration awarded by Japan to a non-Japanese. The country’Äôs government wished to call attention to his contributions to ’Äúthe promotion of musical exchanges between Japan and the United States, and to the development of musical culture in Japan.’Äù It acclaimed his willingness to introduce Japanese musicians and composers to the rest of the world, including Ichiro Nodaira (American premiere of his Piano Concerto and world premiere of his opera Madrugaga in 2005) and Toru Takemitsu. Moreover, Kent Nagano took part in a concert intended to raise funds for the victims of the Kobe earthquake in 1995, conducted a concert of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra featuring taiko drummers in 2000 and has collaborated on several occasions with Japanese artists and directors. He has also undertaken a number of important tours in Japan, with the Hallˆ© Orchestra (1996), the Opˆ©ra national de Lyon (1997), the Berlin Philharmonic (1999), the Deutsche Symphonie-Orchester Berlin (2003) and, in April 2008, with the Orchestre symphonique de Montrˆ©al. The Order of the Rising Sun, the first national decoration created by the Japanese government, was established in 1875 by the Emperor Meiji. It is the second most prestigious decoration in the country (after the Order of the Chrysanthemum). The modern version has been conferred on non-Japanese recipients since 1981. The order fourth class, which Mr. Nagano was awarded, has also been presented to Martha Argerich, William Elliot Griffis and George Takei.