Ken-ichiro Kobayashi won the 1st International Conductors’ Competition of the Hungarian Television in 1974, which made him a huge favourite with the Hungarian audience. His popularity soared even higher when he remained beside János Ferencsik as the assistant conductor of the Hungarian State Symphony, and after the death of the legendary conductor, he was appointed to take on his position as principal conductor from 1987 to 1992. He was later elected conductor laureate of the orchestra. His achievements in Hungary were acknowledged with the Liszt Memorial Award, the Hungarian Order of Culture, as well as the Middle Cross with the Star of the Order of the Republic of Hungary. Since 2010, he has borne the title Ambassador of Hungarian Culture. Even though he left Hungary nearly thirty years ago, the admirers of his work have been unfailingly loyal to him: whenever he returns to Hungary, concert tickets sell out. A full house is guaranteed not only by the appeal of Kobayashi himself, however, but also the outstanding concert programme featuring Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s two evergreen compositions: the Serenade for Strings and Symphony No. 4 written for a large orchestra.