Takeo Noguchi (1964-2023)

Takeo Noguchi, a Japanese musicologist and conductor passed away suddenly on September 20th. He was an active Brucknerian and was Director of the Wilhelm Furtwaengler Institute in Tokyo. Mr. Noguchi was a strong advocate of Nineteenth and early Twentieth Century performance practices and as such had a keen interest in the first published editions of Bruckner's symphonies. As recently as September 15th, Mr Noguchi was in contact with me regarding the performances of Bruckner symphonies that he had conducted. He wrote, "I have organized the Bruckner performances that I have led so far and have prepared them as CDs. They are as follows:

Furtwangler Institute Orchestra Tokyo:
Symphonies 2, 3, 4 (twice), 5 (three times), 6, 7 (three times), 8 (twice), 9 (five times)

Japan Electronic Orchestra (four electronic organs):
Symphonies 4,5,7,8,9 (twice)

The Bruckner Archive holds several of these recordings and, as of this writing, it is unclear if we are to receive more.

To honor Mr. Noguchi and his pioneering work in Japan, I am offering his performance of the Symphony No. 5 in the Schalk Edition, which he conducted at the Furtwangler Institute in 1996. It is offered as the Download of the Month for October, 2023. Mr. Noguchi was instrumental in publishing the Schalk Edition of the Bruckner 5th in Japan.