Italian Maestro
Tokyo Philharmonic
Orchestra
Orchestra
Dubai, UAE
On Monday 7th April 2025, the 14th InClassica International Music Festival, organised by SAMIT Event Group, continues with a symphonic concert marking the first appearance of the renowned Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra at this year’s event. Performing on the stage of Dubai Opera under the baton of acclaimed conductor Conrad van Alphen, the ensemble will be joined by the acclaimed Italian violinist Giuseppe Gibboni, who will be playing the 2024 Luiz Amorim violin, a replica of the Guarneri del Gesù Stauffer 1734. The highly anticipated performance will open with the Overture to Giuseppe Verdi's Nabucco, an opera that solidified his reputation as a celebrated composer. The programme will then debut the world premiere of Alexey Shor's Violin Concerto No. 7, a composition that skillfully blends modern and traditional elements, providing a rich, emotionally instigating experience for both performers and audiences. Finally, the evening will conclude with Franz Schubert's final symphony, Symphony No. 9, in C major, D.944, a thematic melody which is often referred to as “The Great”.
Conrad van Alphen has gained tremendous popularity with orchestras and audiences alike for his visionary interpretations which he craftly directs in his energetic, efficient, kind and communicative performance style.
Equally at ease with the classical genre as with large symphonic repertoire Conrad van Alphen boasts an impressive array of appearances with orchestras such as the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Stuttgarter Philharmoniker, Bochumer Symphoniker, Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie, Berliner Symphoniker, Russian National Orchestra, Svetlanov Symphony Orchestra, Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, Brussels Philharmonic, Residentie Orchestra The Hague, Bogota Philharmonic, Enescu Philharmonic Bucharest, Budapest Symphony Orchestra Mav, Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra of the Gran Teatre del Liceu and many more.
At the turn of the millennium Conrad founded Sinfonia Rotterdam, of which he remains chief conductor and artistic director. The orchestra presents successful concert series at de Doelen in Rotterdam, Amare in The Hague and at the Royal Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. Under Conrad’s energetic leadership Sinfonia Rotterdam is regularly invited to perform in venues and festivals around Europe and intercontinentally tours to Mexico, Brazil, Columbia, Chile, China and Russia.
Read MoreSoloists of the highest calibre hail Conrad for his masterful concerto accompaniments, to mention only a few: Mikhail Pletnev, Maxim Vengerov, Nikolai Lugansky, Ronald Brautigam, Alexei Volodin, Simone Lamsma, Alena Baeva, Alban Gerhardt and Mischa Maisky.
For four years Conrad van Alphen was chief conductor of the Russian State Safonov Philharmonic Orchestra. As former Artist of the Moscow Philharmonic Society he regularly conducted the major Moscow orchestras in the Grand Hall of the Moscow Conservatory and the legendary Tchaikovsky Hall.
Conrad van Alphen was born and bred in South Africa. After moving to The Netherlands at the age of 26 he joined the double bass section of the Netherlands Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Beethoven Academie Antwerp, whilst continuing his conducting studies with Eri Klas and Roberto Benzi.
- Chief Conductor and Artistic Director Sinfonia Rotterdam
- Programmer Festival van Zeeuwsch Vlaanderen
“Bright feast for the senses: Montreal music lovers can boast of having witnessed one of the most brilliant feats of their symphony orchestra, which delivered a performance of rare elegance. The charismatic conductor Conrad van Alphen breathed an impressive breath of fresh air into Rachmaninov’s majestic Second Symphony”
Review Montreal Symphony Orchestra
An extraordinary talent, Gibboni manages to astonish with each of his performances. Solid technique, impeccable intonation even on an instrument as unfamiliar to him as the Cannone, which he took up for the first time in these days, the young artist does not 'only' have the qualities of a great virtuoso: he also has a first-rate interpretative intelligence, a full cantabile and is capable of multiple dynamic nuances. La Repubblica, Roberto Iovino
With flawless technique and compelling expressiveness, Giuseppe Gibboni won over the jury and audience of the Paganini Violin Competition in Genoa in October 2021. The violinist, born in 2001, was the first Italian in 24 years to win the overall prize, as well as the audience choice prize and special prize for the best interpretations of Niccolò Paganini's Capriccios and Violin Concerto. Subsequently, the now 22-year-old musician has begun an extensive concert career. He made his debut with Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto with the Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia under the direction of Lorenzo Viotti. Shortly thereafter, he played with guitarist Carlotta Dalia at the invitation of Italian President Sergio Mattarella at the Quirinal Palace in Rome; the concert was broadcast live on Italian radio.
Read MoreThe highlights of the season 2022/23 include his US debut with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra under Jader Bignamini as well as concerts with the Orchestra della Toscana under Diego Ceretta and the Orchestra Teatro San Carlo in Naples under Dan Ettinger. Giuseppe Gibboni performed the Violin Concerto by Wynton Marsalis together with the Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della RAI under John Axelrod and Vivaldi’s *Four Seasons* with the Sinfonietta Riga in Latvia. He regularly plays recitals all over Italy, for example at Amici della Musica in Florence, Serate Musicali in Milan, Teatro Petruzzelli in Bari, as well as the Stresa Festival, among others.
In autumn 2023, Giuseppe Gibboni gave his debut with the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Orchestra under Zubin Mehta, performing Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto, as well as with the Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano under Joel Sandelson, performing Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto. During the current season, following a tour throughout Brazil and among numerous engagements in Italy, he can also be heard as part of the series “Debüt im Nikolaisaal” in Potsdam as well as at Heidelberger Frühling.
The son of a family of musicians, Giuseppe Gibboni was first taught by his father Daniele Gibboni before attending the Salerno Conservatory “Martucci.” At the age of 14, he was admitted to the Stauffer Academy in Cremona, where he received lessons from Salvatore Accardo. He also successfully graduated with a Diploma of Honor from the Accademia Chigiana in Siena. After a five-year advanced course at the Accademia Perosi in Biella with Pavel Berman, he now studies at the Mozarteum University in Salzburg as a student of Pierre Amoyal.
Giuseppe Gibboni had already attracted attention with a series of competition successes. He became known to a large television audience in 2016 through his success in the *Prodigi – La musica è vita* competition broadcast by RAI 1 in collaboration with UNICEF. In the same year, he won the first prize and a special prize at the Andrea Postacchini Violin Competition, followed by successes at the Leonid Kogan International Competition in Brussels (2017), the George Enescu International Competition in Bucharest (2018), and the Valsesia Musica Competition (2020).
Giuseppe Gibboni recorded his debut CD at the age of 15 for the Warner Classics label. Since 2017, he has been sponsored by Classically Connected, Inc. (formerly the Si-Yo foundation), who provided his ‘F. Tourte bow 1800 Ca.’ He plays the violin ‘Auer, Benvenuti’ by Antonio Stradivari, Cremona 1699, kindly lent to him by a German Foundation. As the winner of the Paganini Competition, he also had the opportunity to perform the "Cannone," Niccolò Paganini's favorite instrument built by Guarneri del Gesù in 1743
In 2023, the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra celebrates its 112th anniversary of Japan’s first symphony orchestra. With about 160 musicians, TPO performs both symphonies and operas regularly. TPO is proud to have appointed Maestro Myung-Whun Chung, who has been conducting TPO since 2001, as Honorary Music Director, Maestro Andrea Battistoni as Chief Conductor and Maestro Mikhail Pletnev as Special Guest Conductor.
TPO has established its world-class reputation through its subscription concert series, regular opera and ballet assignments at the New National Theatre, and a full, ever in-demand agenda around Japan and the world, including broadcasting with NHK Broadcasting Corporation, various educational programs, and tours abroad. While Tokyo Phil is a frequent recipient of the ACA National Arts Festival Award in Japan, its recordings have been highly acclaimed internationally, winning the "OPUS KLASSIK 2021" award in the symphonic category (20th-21st century).
Read MoreTPO has partnerships with Bunkamura Orchard Hall, the Bunkyo Ward in Tokyo, Chiba City, Karuizawa Cho in Nagano and Nagaoka City in Niigata.
The Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra has the longest history and tradition of any orchestra in Japan, having been originally established in Nagoya in 1911. It is currently the largest orchestra in Japan with 166 members and is distinguished for its active and varied schedule embracing symphonic concerts, opera and ballet.
After moving its base to Tokyo in 1938 the orchestra played a pivotal role in bringing authentic opera to the Japanese public under Chief conductor Manfred Gurlitt (1890-1972.) Shortly after the war, the orchestra became a fully independent organization and changed its name to the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra focusing on subscription concerts, opera and ballet while also pursuing an active broadcasting program with NHK.
Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra performs regularly at Tokyo's most distinguished Suntory and Orchard Halls and at Tokyo Opera City where it has its base. The orchestra has received many awards and honors, including the Ongaku No Tomo Sha Prize (1984), the Agency for Cultural Affairs "Art Festival Prize"(1986) and "Art Festival Grand Prize" (1995). Furthermore, the orchestra has been designated as one of the organizations for the Agency for Cultural Affairs "Special Program to Artistic Creativity". From 1997 it became the regular orchestra at Tokyo's New National Theatre.
In 1999, Norio Ohga, Chairman of SONY Corporation, was appointed Chairman of the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2001, with visions of further growth, the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra merged with the Japan Shinsei Symphony Orchestra.
From 2001, Myung-Whun Chung has been the Special Artistic Advisor of Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra. Under his guidance the Orchestra carries out regular subscription concerts at Orchard Hall and Suntory Hall in Tokyo and opera and ballet performances at the New National Theatre while also continuing a varied broadcasting and special concert program.
In 2011 Mr. Ryoji Chubachi, Vice Chairman, Representative Corporate Executive Officer of Sony Corporation,assumed the position of the Tokyo Philharmonic's President, and Hiroshi Mikitani, Chairman and CEO of Rakuten, Inc., became Chairman.
In 2012, the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra's 100th Anniversary Special Concert, conducted by Myung-Whun Chung, was held at Suntory Hall.
The Orchestra regularly performs in regions outside Tokyo and engages in regional cultural exchange and education programs. Tokyo Philharmonic has carried out 3 well-received European tours and is regarded as an upcoming world-class orchestra.
