Derrick Inouye
conductor
Maestro Derrick Inouye has a uniquely impressive international background combining a wealth of experience on the orchestral podium with an array of increasingly important operatic engagements, performing with such prominent orchestras and opera companies as the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera, Nurnberg Opera, Opera Nice Cote D’Azur, the New Japan Philharmonic, the Monte Carlo Philharmonic, the Philharmonia of London, and the Orchestra of St. Lukes in New York.
This last season Maestro Inouye conducted three performances of the new William Kentridge production of Berg’s LULU at the Metropolitan Opera and Bartok’s BLUEBEARD’S CASTLE in Japan. In recent seasons, Maestro Inouye conducted Wagner’s WALKURE and SIEGFRIED in the Met’s new production of the Ring cycle directed by Robert Lepage and a new production of LA BOHEME in Nice. Maestro Inouye first enjoyed great acclaim for his debut at the Met conducting three performances of the premiere production of Berlioz’ BENVENUTO CELLINI. His success subsequently prompted the Met to re-engage him to conduct TOSCA, LA TRAVIATA, the new production of DON PASQUALE, THE MAGIC FLUTE and Berlioz’ DAMNATION OF FAUST. Guest conducting this past year included several engagements in Japan with the New Japan Philharmonic and the Seiji Ozawa Saito Kinen Festival, among others, and Orchestre Philharmonique de Nice. This year was also Maestro Inouye’s twelth year as the staff conductor for the Verbier Festival in Switzerland, a position which Maestro Levine asked him to undertake.
Previously Maestro Inouye was first Kapellmeister with the Nurnberg Opera. In addition to premiering productions of RIGOLETTO, WERTHER and Philip Glass’ FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER, he conducted revivals of LA BOHEME, CARMEN, SALOME and FIDELIO. Other engagements have included the Tokyo City Philharmonic, Osaka Philharmonic, Nagoya Philharmonic, Sapporo Symphony, Kyoto Symphony, Hiroshima Symphony, New Zealand Symphony, Finnish Radio Orchestra, the Vancouver Opera, and six seasons appearing with the Florida Philharmonic. He was a frequent guest conductor with the Stuttgart Opera and the New York City Opera, music director of the Regina Symphony in Canada, and principal guest conductor of the Norddeutsche Philharmonie Rostock in Germany.
The release on Vox Records of Maestro Inouye conducting the Beethoven and Brahms violin concerti with Aaron Rosand and the Monte Carlo Philharmonic was reviewed by Fanfare magazine as “among the very best; the Beethoven, honesty compels me to affirm, is the very best…It’s one for the ages.”
Other musicians and administrators have written the following: James Levine – “His grasp of the techniques applicable to his work as an orchestral conductor is highly impressive, and he has demonstrated an extraordinary level of professionalism that only a few individuals in his field possess.” Aaron Rosand – “One of the outstanding young conductors in the classical music world… Derrick Inouye is destined to be the conductor of one of our finest orchestras in the U.S.” Paul Plishka – “Derrick is an opera and symphonic conductor of rare expertise… There are many people with the technical skills, but not with the gift of communication that Mr. Inouye possesses.” Paul Kellogg, General Director, New York City Opera – “I have found his work to be excellent and extremely insightful. His ability to inspire a large orchestra as well as singers onstage is extraordinary… Mr. Inouye has certainly proven that he is among the very top ranks of conductors in the music world.” Seiji Ozawa – “(Mr. Inouye) has a very deep musical mind which he clearly conveys through his performances. He has a conducting style that is strong and imaginative… I give him my highest recommendation.”
