The Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra (YNSO), commonly known as Yomikyo, has unveiled an exciting lineup for its 2025-2026 concert season, kicking off April 16. The orchestra will welcome an array of distinguished conductors, including regular collaborators Sebastian Weigle and Sylvain Cambreling, alongside renowned guest maestro Kent Nagano. Additionally, the season features celebrated soloists such as pianist Kyohei Sorita and violinists Isabelle Faust and Akiko Suwanai.
April to June Highlights
Ukrainian conductor Oksana Lyniv, who currently serves as music director at Italy’s Teatro Comunale di Bologna, will lead the opening concerts. This marks Lyniv’s debut with the YNSO. Although known primarily for her work in opera, she has received considerable acclaim for recent orchestral performances.
Lyniv will conduct two distinct programs in April. The first pairs Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 1 with Beethoven’s iconic Symphony No. 5. Her second program includes Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto No. 1 and Bartok’s dynamic suite “The Miraculous Mandarin,” showcasing Lyniv’s operatic sensibilities.
In May, honorary guest conductor Tadaaki Otaka will present a special performance of “Eine Symphonische Phantasie ‘Steppe’,” composed by his father, renowned composer-conductor Hisatada Otaka. The program will also include Bruckner’s Symphony No. 9 (Cohrs edition). The rarely performed “Steppe” is anticipated as a significant highlight of the season.
