Japan's Mito Chamber Orchestra is relatively new compared with Tokyo's well-established symphonic ensembles. Unusually performing both with and without a conductor, it has earned international acclaim. Seiji Ozawa has often conducted the group, but it has also welcomed a wide variety of guest conductors (there is no permanent conductor). Singers and soloists who have appeared with the MCO are world-class. The MCO gives eight concerts annually in Mito and has also appeared frequently in Tokyo, and has made several European tours, both with and without conductors. The orchestra has issued more than a dozen internationally distributed albums on the Sony and Universal labels, plus several more in collaboration with the broadcaster NHK. ~ James Manheim