The Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra (TMSO) has announced the title conductors for the 2026-27 season.

The orchestra announced that Pekka Kuusisto will be the Chief Conductor while Daniele Rustioni will be the Principal Guest Conductor.

Meanwhile, Kazushi Ono, Alan Gilbert, Kazuhiro Koizumi, and Eliahu Inbal will continue to collaborate with the orchestra.

Ono is the current Music Director and concludes his tenure in March 2026. From April 2026 he will serve as Artistic Advisor for two years, and then take up the role of Conductor Laureate. Kuusisto will become Chief Conductor from April 2028, serving an initial three-year term while Rustioni will join the roster from April 2026, with an initial three-year tenure.

Gilbert is the current Principal Guest Conductor and will become the Permanent Guest Conductor / Music Partner from April 2026. Koizumi will also continue as Honorary Conductor for Life.

Tetsuki Kunishio, Director of Artistic Planning, TMSO said, “We are extremely pleased to announce Pekka Kuusisto as our next Chief Conductor from April 2028. He is an exceptional musician, brimming with creativity, and able to captivate with his authentic, lively performances. I will never forget the joy and surprise I felt when he conducted TMSO for the first time in April 2024. Before taking up this role, he will collaborate with TMSO as Artist in Residence from April 2026, both as conductor and violinist.”

He added, “We also warmly welcome Daniele Rustioni as Principal Guest Conductor from April 2026. He has built a close relationship with the TMSO in a short time, in both opera and symphonic concerts. His energetic conducting and expressive performances are sure to be popular, and we look forward to working with him on a wide range of repertoire, including vocal music.”

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