PORTRAIT
The artistic itinerary of Kazuki Yamada surprises for its quality and significance , despite his relatively young age . His skill and charisma led him to approach the most important stages worldwide . Born in Kanagawa ( Japan ) in 1979 , Yamada quickly became involved in the music world . He graduated at the prestigious Tokyo National University of Fine Arts & Music under the guidance of the skilled Ken-ichiro Kobayashi and Yōko Matsuo . In 2002 , he attended the International Summer Academy — Mozarteum University in Salzburg ( Austria ), guided by the renowned conductor Gerhard Markson . His talent did not hesitate to be revealed .
In 2001 , he had already been awarded the Ataka Prize and some years later , in 2009 , he was given the Grand Prix and the Audience Prize at the Concours International de Besançon for young conductors . ( Besançon International Competition ). In 2011 , he received the Idemitsu Music Prize for Young Artists .
Since then , his career as conductor has allowed him to lead iconic orchestras like the Philharmonic of Saint Petersburg , Helsinki , Stockholm and Paris ; the Symphonic of Goteborg , Birmingham , Berlin , Australia , NHK ( Tokyo ) and RAI ( Italian National Broadcasting ) in Turin . Particularly fond of Opera and Ballet , he collaborates with very important artists , having been appointed as Permanent Music Director of the Yokohama Sinfonietta , of the Philharmonic of Tokyo and the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra . He is also Principal Guest Conductor at the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and at Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra as well as at the International Academy of Seiji Ozawa .
Since September 2016 , Yamada has occupied the position of both the Artistic and Music Director of the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra . He has brought his considerable knowledge to the Principality demonstrating an extraordinary artistic symbiosis with all the musicians . Witness his recent performance at the Festival Printemps des Arts de Monte-Carlo where , on the 27th March 2021 , he offered a powerful interpretation of Berg ’ s ‘ Concerto for Violin ’ and Schönberg ’ s ‘ Pelleas und Melisande ’, enriched by the first violinist , Tedi Papavrami .
Second Viennese School performed by the Solo Violin Player Tedi Papavrami and the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra directed by Kazuki Yamada ( Festival Printemps des Arts de Monte-Carlo , 27 th March 2021 ).
© Alice Blangero
Hello Monaco Summer — Autumn 2021 / 61 www . hellomonaco . com