August, 2013: Symphony No 7: Akeo Watanabe / Japan Philharmonic / Canyon Classic

Click to enlarge To many LP collectors, the name Akeo Watanabe brings back memories of one of the first complete Sibelius symphony cycles (and the first to be released in stereo). The boxed set, released in the US on the Columbia Epic label, was one of the first examples of a Japanese recording being issued internationally. It was a critical success and for many years provided the Japanese/Finnish conductor with an international reputation. Watanabe's sole Bruckner recording was issued by Canyon Classics in Japan and it was never released internationally. It was quickly deleted and has now been out-of-print for well over two decades. One can only imagine that it is a prized collectors item in Japan. I received a clone of this recording many years ago from a colleague in Tokyo. It was part of our first exchange and he has been a good friend and associate ever since. ================================== BRUCKNER: Symphony No. 7 Akeo Watanabe Japan Philharmonic 18-19/8/1991 Canyon Classics PCCL-00118