In recent years, we’ve gotten used to listening to our favourite music with just a few taps on a screen. Yet there’s still something special about sitting in a concert hall and hearing a symphony orchestra perform those music pieces live. This September, Vasily Petrenko, Music Director of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO), will be heading back to Japan with the orchestra for a series of concerts in cities across the country.
Petrenko’s connections to Japan and his performances there stretch back for 30 years, where he’s had time to admire the acoustics inside concert halls like Suntory Hall in Tokyo, and see the way the audiences there listen closely and pick up on the finer details. Petrenko also brings a type of meditative level of focus when performing in Japan and this helps him to build up strong connections with the Japanese audience.
Featured Image Credit: © Sarah Louise Bennett
The 2026 Japan Tour & Reunion with Nobuyuki Tsujii
The RPO Japan Tour 2026 runs from September 6 to 13, with performances planned in six cities. The tour begins in Fukuoka on September 6, followed by two performances at Tokyo’s Suntory Hall on September 7 and 9. The orchestra then heads to Nagoya on September 10, Tachikawa on September 11, Niigata on September 12 and Osaka on September 13.
Petrenko will be joined on the tour by pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii, continuing a musical partnership that goes back several years. The two have performed together in Japan and the UK, including their 2018 performance at Suntory Hall, and more recently at London’s Royal Festival Hall in 2023. Their return to the stage together will be another exciting part of this year’s Japan tour!
Vasily Petrenko on Japan, the RPO, and AI
We caught up with Vasily Petrenko ahead of the Japan tour to talk about his connection with Japan, working with Nobuyuki Tsujii and what audiences can expect from the upcoming performances.
As you head to Japan this September, what excites you most about visiting Japan again?
VP: Japan was part of my life and my art for at least 30 years by now, I’ve been there many times with concerts or ballet performances. And always loved the country with its traditions, history and very rich cultural life! So, coming back another time feels like being able to discover even more in a very familiar place which you love.
You’ve spoken before about the importance of orchestral sound and flexibility. How do you shape that approach for a hall like Suntory Hall, with its particular acoustics?
VP: Suntory Hall is one of the best in the world by acoustics and atmosphere, it allows us to bring an incredible range of colours, dynamics and emotions when we perform there. Of course, we will search for even more flexibility and organic interpretation – it is always a huge pleasure for the orchestra to perform there!
What are you most looking forward to when reuniting with Nobuyuki Tsujii?
VP: Nobu is incredible, we have known each other for many years now and every time he surprises me with new ideas, new depths in his playing – and we have a lot of fun off stage as well!
Are there any Japanese foods you find yourself craving when you are back in the UK or look forward to when going back?
VP: Almost all of it! From seafood to ramen, beef or special chicken dishes, from mochi to yuzu – it is my preferred cuisine wherever I am in the world!
Do you have a favourite memory or a specific “hidden” discovery you’ve made while touring Japan?
VP: There’s so much to discover! Just a few days ago I visited Zojoji Temple and Gardens in Tokyo again and discovered Toshogu Shrine slightly outside the main paths, with huge history and incredible peacefulness.
After your tours in Japan, would you say that what you experienced while in concert halls there has influenced your approach to performance over the years?
VP: To me the level of attention and discipline the public has in concert halls in Japan is, perhaps, the highest in the world and this focus on music – a kind of meditation while performing – is something I’m trying to bring to many other places
As a conductor, when touring abroad, how do you connect with audiences from different cultures?
VP: There are always connections. We’re performing for the public, and without the public we wouldn’t exist. In Japan it is quite incredible that fans are finding the ways to see me after the concerts, asking for photos and autographs, in hotels and even sometimes very far from the concert venue!
The RPO’s research on AI reveals a range of views on its role in music. Some argue that technology democratises music. Would you agree and how could AI be used successfully in the music industry?
VP: AI has many implementations. It is useful when organising things, for example; finding the best logistics solutions, booking flights and hotels and organising rehearsals schedules, cargo and extra players in the most efficient way… For distribution too, we can get to know our public much better due to AI research, so we can shape and focus concerts based on knowledge of demands and future expectations.
What message would you send to the audiences awaiting your arrival in Japan for your upcoming tour?
VP: Come to the concerts, bring your friends and enjoy live performance – nothing can replace such an experience!
Looking beyond the Japan tour, what continues to drive your work with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra?
VP: We’re in incredible shape right now and celebrating our 80th Anniversary soon after tour. Now, I see even further goals, even higher mountains, in every concert and in every day recognition for the orchestra. RPO deserves it!
RPO Japan Tour 2026: Dates and Venues
Petrenko’s return to Japan this September continues his ongoing relationship with the country and the many fans he has built up there. He’s mentioned that there are always new things to discover when he visits Japan, especially finding quieter spots such as Zojoji Temple in Tokyo. We’re curious to see what he finds on this trip and how any of those experiences influence his performances.
Next month, as the RPO travels around Japan, there will be several opportunities to see Petrenko and the orchestra perform live. If you’re in Japan, we hope you’ll be able to experience it first hand. Here are the full tour dates and Nobuyuki Tsujii will perform with the RPO at all concerts listed below:
06 September – Fukuoka, Japan | ACROS Fukuoka
07 September – Tokyo, Japan | Suntory Hall
09 September – Tokyo, Japan | Suntory Hall
10 September – Nagoya, Japan | Aichi Prefectural Art Theater
11 September – Tachikawa, Japan | Tachikawa Stage Garden
12 September – Niigata, Japan | RYUTOPIA Niigata City Performing Arts Center
13 September – Osaka, Japan | Festival Hall, Osaka
We hope you enjoyed this article on Vasily Petrenko and the upcoming RPO tour. For more travel related posts, why not explore our travel section. If you’re interested in Japanese culture, check out our culture section, or head to our Instagram account for posts of fantastic restaurants in the UK (and Japan), festivals, and travel experiences.
