1991

Sep. 24, 1991　Carnegie Hall, New York

Sep. 20, 1991　 Concertgebouw, Amsterdam

World tour (London, Düsseldorf, Amsterdam, New York); SKO is invited to Carnegie Hall’s 101st Season Opening Gala.

【CONCERT HIGHLIGHTS】

• Bartók: Violin Concerto No.1
• (Violin: Isaac Stern)
• Brahms: Symphony No. 2
• Brahms: Symphony No. 3
• [Conductor: Seiji Ozawa]

1994

The first overseas tour as part of the festival Saito Kinen Orchestra Europe Tour 1994
Aug. 24, 1994　The Herod Atticus Odeon, Athens

20th years since the passing of Hideo Saito.
An overseas tour (Athens, Cologne, Salzburg) in August, right before the festival opened.

【MAJOR PRODUCTIONS】

• Verdi: Requiem
• Conductor: Seiji Ozawa
• Soprano: Alessandra Marc
• Mezzo-Soprano: Florence Quivar
• Tenor: Vinson Cole
• Bass: Ferruccio Furlanetto

【CONCERT HIGHLIGHTS】

• Stravinsky: Apollon Musagète (1947 version)
• Stravinsky/Tchaikovsky: Pas-de-deux “Bluebird”
• Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4
• [Conductor: Seiji Ozawa]

1996

Poulenc: Opera Les Mamelles de Tirésias
Sep. 1, 3, 5, 1996　Nagano-ken Matsumoto Bunka Kaikan

Director Seiji Ozawa's dear friend Toru Takemitsu passes away.
The “Takemitsu Memorial Concert” series begins.

【MAJOR PRODUCTIONS】

• Poulenc: Les mamelles de Tirésias
• Conductor: Seiji Ozawa
• Stage Director : David Kneuss
• The Director: Jean-Philippe Lafont
• Theresa / Tirésias / Fortune Teller: Barbara Bonney
• The Husband: Jean-Paul Fouchécourt
• The Gendarme: Wolfgang Holzmair

【CONCERT HIGHLIGHTS】

• Takemitsu: My Way of Life -in memory of Michael Vyner-
• (Baritone: Dwayne Croft)
• Schubert: Symphony No. 8 “The Great”
• [Conductor: Seiji Ozawa]

1998

Poulenc: Opera Dialogues des Carmélites
Co-production with Opéra de Paris,
Sep. 3, 5, 7, 1998　Nagano-ken Matsumoto Bunka Kaikan

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of Poulenc’s birth, the Festival coproduced an opera with the Opéra national de Paris, a groundbreaking move in the history of music.

【MAJOR PRODUCTIONS】

• Poulenc: Dialogues des Carmélites
• Conductor: Seiji Ozawa
• Stage Director: Francesca Zambello
• Blanche de la Force: Patricia Racette Madame de Croissy
• Prieure du Camel: Felicity Palmer
• Mère Marie de l’Incarnation: Beth Clayton Madame Lidoine
• Nouvelle Pricure: Christine Goerke
• Sœur Mathilde: Joyce DiDonato

【CONCERT HIGHLIGHTS】

• Beethoven: Leonore Overture No. 3
• Barber: Knoxville: Summer of 1915
• (Soprano: Barbara Bonney)
• Beethoven: Symphony No. 6 “Pastoral”
• [Conductor: Seiji Ozawa]

2000

Winter Special Concert
Saito Kinen Orchestra
Dec. 31, 2000　Nagano-ken Matsumoto Bunka Kaikan
Jan. 2, 3, 4, 2001　Tokyo Bunka Kaikan

Held the concert “Saito Kinen Orchestra In Performance with 1000 Voices.”
SKO plays New Year winter concerts for a second time in Matsumoto and Tokyo, in addition to touring the United States (San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York) (2000/2001).

【MAJOR PRODUCTIONS】

• J. S. Bach: Mass in B minor
• Conductor: Seiji Ozawa
• Soprano: Barbara Bonney
• Mezzo-Soprano: Angelika Kirchschlager
• Tenor: John Mark Ainsley
• Bass: Alastair Miles

【CONCERT HIGHLIGHTS】

• Beethoven: Fidelio Overture
• Beethoven: Symphony No. 2
• Beethoven: Symphony No. 5
• Mahler: Symphony No. 9
• [Conductor: Seiji Ozawa]

2002

Benjamin Britten: Opera Peter Grimes
Co-production with Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
Aug. 27, 29, Sep. 1, 3, 2002　Nagano-ken Matsumoto Bunka Kaikan

Orchestra Concert Program B
R.Strauss: Don Quixote
Sep. 11, 12, 2002　Nagano-ken Matsumoto Bunka Kaikan

The 100th anniversary of Hideo Saito’s birth.
The opera was a co-production with Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino.

【MAJOR PRODUCTIONS】

• Britten: Peter Grimes
• Conductor: Seiji Ozawa
• Stage Director: David Kneuss
• Peter Grimes: Anthony Dean Griffey
• Ellen Orford: Christine Goerke
• Captain Balstrode: Alan Opie
• John: Kyle Barry

【CONCERT HIGHLIGHTS】

• Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 “Choral”
• R. Strauss: Don Quixote
• (Cello: Mstislav Rostropovich, Viola: Mazumi Tanamura)
• [Conductor: Seiji Ozawa]

2003

Verdi: Opera Falstaff
Sep. 1, 3, 5, 7, 2003　Nagano-ken Matsumoto Bunka Kaikan

Having completed the Beethoven symphony series in the previous year, a Bruckner symphony was ambitiously performed for the first time at the Orchestra Concert.

【MAJOR PRODUCTIONS】

• Verdi: Falstaff
• Conductor: Seiji Ozawa
• Stage Director: Olivier Tambosi
• Sir John Falstaff: Paolo Gavanelli
• Mrs. Alice Ford: Marina Mescheriakova
• Dame Quickly: Bernadette Manca di Nissa
• Fenton: Gregory Turay
• Ford: Roberto Servile
• Nannetta: Maria Fausta Gallamini
• Mrs. Meg Page: Debora Beronesi

【CONCERT HIGHLIGHTS】

• Martin: Concerto for 7 winds, timpani, percussion and strings
• Bruckner: Symphony No. 7 (Nowak edition)
• [Conductor: Seiji Ozawa]

2004

The 30th anniversary of Hideo Saito’s passing
20th anniversary of SKO founding
Alban Berg: Opera Wozzeck
Aug. 29, 31, Sep. 2, 5, 7, 2004　Matsumoto Performing Arts Centre Main Hall

European tour in May (Valencia, Berlin, Vienna, Paris, London, Milan)The architect Tadao Ando designed the set for the opera.

The Matsumoto Performing Arts Centre opened; this has since been the venue for opera performances.

【MAJOR PRODUCTIONS】

• Berg: Wozzeck
• Conductor: Seiji Ozawa
• Stage Director: Peter Mussbach
• Wozzeck: Matthias Goerne
• Marie: Solveig Kringelborn
• Drum-Major: Štefan Margita
• Captain: Chris Merritt
• Doctor: Dale Travis
• Idiot: Jean-Paul Fouchécourt
• Marie’s Child: Koshiro Fujita

【CONCERT HIGHLIGHTS】

• Takemitsu: Requiem for Strings
• Bartók: Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta
• Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6 “Pathétique”
• Bartók: Concerto for Orchestra
• [Conductor: Seiji Ozawa]

• Falla: El Sombrero de Tres Picos
• [Conductor: Kazushi Ono]

• Beethoven: Symphony No. 8
• [Conductor: Robert Mann]

2005

Schönberg: Gurrelieder
Sep. 4, 6, 7, 8, 2005　Matsumoto Performing Arts Centre Main Hall

The music of Gershwin showcased with the Marcus Roberts Trio.
A charity concert also held to celebrate Ozawa’s 70th birthday.

【MAJOR PRODUCTIONS】

• Schönberg: Gurre-Lieder
• Conductor: Seiji Ozawa
• Stage Director: Leo Iizuka
• Waldemar: Thomas Moser
• Tove: Christine Brewer
• Waldtaube: Michelle DeYoung
• Klaus: John Mark Ainsley
• Bauer/Sprecher: Franz Grundheber

【CONCERT HIGHLIGHTS】

• Tchaikovsky: Ballet Suite “The Nutcracker”
  Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5
• [Conductor: Mstislav Rostropovich]

• Gershwin: Piano Concerto in F
• (Piano, Bass, and Drums: Marcus Roberts Trio)
• [Conductor: Seiji Ozawa]

2006

The 15th anniversary of the Festival
Mendelssohn: Oratorio Elias
Co-production with Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
Aug. 27, 28, Sep. 2, 3, 2006 Matsumoto Performing Arts Centre Main Hall

The 15th anniversary of the Festival and the 10th anniversary of Toru Takemitsu’s passing.
The opera was a co-production with Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino.

【MAJOR PRODUCTIONS】

• Mendelssohn: Elias
• Conductor: Seiji Ozawa
• Stage Director: Jean Kalman
• Bass-Baritone: Jose van Dam
• Soprano: Sally Matthews
• Contralto: Nathalie Stutzmann
• Tenor: Anthony Dean Griffey
• Bass-Baritone: Mark Schnaible

【CONCERT HIGHLIGHTS】

• Mahler: Symphony No. 5
• [Conductor: Alan Gilbert]

• Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 “Emperor”
• (Piano: Mitsuko Uchida)
• Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5
• [Conductor: Seiji Ozawa]

2007

Tchaikovsky: Opera The Queen of Spades
Aug. 26, 28, 31, Sep. 2, 2007 Matsumoto　Performing Arts Centre Main Hall

The Festival, Boston Symphony Orchestra, and Orchestre National de France jointly commission Henri Dutilleux’s composition. Dutilleux personally came to Matsumoto for the concert.

【MAJOR PRODUCTIONS】

• Tchaikovsky: The Queen of Spades
• Conductor: Seiji Ozawa
• Stage Director: David Kneuss
• Herman: Vladimir Galouzine
• Lisa: Olga Guryakova
• Countess: Larissa Diadkova

【CONCERT HIGHLIGHTS】

• Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 2
• [Conductor: Junichi Hirokami]

• Dutilleux: Le temps l’horloge
• (Soprano: Renée Fleming)
• Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique
• [Conductor: Seiji Ozawa]

2008

Janáček: Opera The Cunning Little Vixen
Co-production with Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
Aug. 26, 28, 31, Sep. 2　Matsumoto Performing Arts Centre Main Hall

The opera performance was a new production created jointly with Teatro Maggio Musicale Fiorentino.

【MAJOR PRODUCTIONS】

• Janáček: The Cunning Little Vixen
• Conductor: Seiji Ozawa
• Stage Director: Laurent Pelly
• The Vixen: Isabel Bayrakdarian
• The Forester: Quinn Kelsey
• Harasta, the Poacher: Dale Travis
• The Fox: Lauren Curnow

【CONCERT HIGHLIGHTS】

• Smetana: Má vlast
• [Conductor: Tatsuya Shimono]

• Mozart: Symphony No. 32
• Takemitsu: Visions
• Mahler: Symphony No. 1 “Titan”
• [Conductor: Seiji Ozawa]

2009

Orchestra Concert Program B
Ravel: Shéhérazade
Mezzo-soprano: Susan Graham
Sep. 4, 6, 7, 2009　Nagano-ken Matsumoto Bunka Kaikan

Seiji Ozawa Music Academy Orchestra performed for the first time at the Festival, conducted by Robert Mann. Ravel: Shéhérazade was paired with L’enfant et les sortilèges, which later won the Grammy Award in 2016.

【MAJOR PRODUCTIONS】

• Britten: War Requiem
• Conductor: Seiji Ozawa
• Soprano: Christine Goerke
• Tenor: Anthony Dean Griffey
• Baritone: James Westman

【CONCERT HIGHLIGHTS】

• Beethoven: Symphony No. 8
• [Conductor: Robert Mann]

• Ravel: Shéhérazade
• (Mezzo-Soprano: Susan Graham)
• Brahms: Symphony No. 2
• [Conductor: Seiji Ozawa]

2010

JapanNYC
Dec. 18, 2010　Stern Auditorium, Carnegie Hall

Atsuhiko Gondai’s composition Decathexis jointly commissioned by SKF and Carnegie Hall.
Seiji Ozawa and Tatsuya Shimono conducted SKO for three performances at Carnegie Hall’s “JapanNYC” festival in December.

【MAJOR PRODUCTIONS】

• R. Strauss: Salome
• Conductor: Omer Meir Wellber
• Stage Director: Francesca Zambello
• Salome: Deborah Voigt
• Herodias: Jane Henschel
• Herod: Kim Begley
• Jokanaan: Alan Held

【CONCERT HIGHLIGHTS】

• Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4(Piano: Yu Kosuge)
• Beethoven: Symphony No. 7
• [Conductor: Kazuki Yamada]

• Atsuhiko Gondai: Decathexis *world premiere
• Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.3(Piano: Mitsuko Uchida)
• Brahms: Symphony No. 1
• [Conductor: Tatsuya Shimono]

• Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique
• Britten: War Requiem (Soprano: Christine Goerke, Tenor: Anthony Dean Griffey, Baritone: Matthias Goerne)
• [Conductor: Seiji Ozawa]

2011

Bartók: Ballet The Miraculous Mandarin
Co-production with Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
Aug. 21, 23, 25, 27, 2011　Matsumoto Performing Arts Centre Main Hall

The opera was a co-production with Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino.
The Festival was held for the first time abroad in China (Beijing, Shanghai) to mark its 20th anniversary.

【MAJOR PRODUCTIONS】

• Bartók: The Miraculous Mandarin
• Conductor: Ryusuke Numajiri
• Stage Director / Choreographer: Jo Kanamori
• Dance: Noism1/Noism2

• Bluebeard’s Castle
• Conductor: Seiji Ozawa, Pierre Vallet
• Stage Director / Choreographer: Jo Kanamori
• The External Bluebeard: Matthias Goerne
• The External Judith: Elena Zhidkova
• The Bard: András Palerdi

【CONCERT HIGHLIGHTS】

• Bartók: Piano Concerto No. 3
• (Piano: Peter Serkin)
• Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4
• [Conductor: Diego Matheuz]

2012

The 20th anniversary of the Festival
Honegger: Oratorio dramatique Jeanne d'Arc au bûcher
Aug. 19, 26, 29, 2012　Matsumoto Performing Arts Centre Main Hall

SKF 20th Anniversary Special Concert held. Welcoming pianist Peter Serkin as guest, the concert was a full gathering with SKO, the Seiji Ozawa Music Academy Orchestra, Suzuki Method students, the SKF Matsumoto Chorus, and SKF Matsumoto Children’s Chorus.

【MAJOR PRODUCTIONS】

• Honegger: Jeanne d’Arc au bûcher
• Conductor: Kazuki Yamada
• Stage Director: Côme de Bellescize
• Jeanne d’Arc: Isabel Karajan
• Brother Dominic: Eric Génovèse
• Narrator: Christian Gonon

【CONCERT HIGHLIGHTS】

• Schubert: Symphony No. 3
• R. Strauss: An Alpine Symphony
• [Conductor: Daniel Harding]

2013

Ravel: Opera L'enfant et les sortilèges
Co-production with the Glyndebourne Festival
Aug. 23, 25, 28, 31, 2013　Matsumoto Performing Arts Centre Main Hall

Saito Kinen Festival Matsumoto Gig held with the Junko Onishi Trio.
The recording of L’enfant et les sortilèges won the 58th Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording in 2016.

【MAJOR PRODUCTIONS】

• Ravel: L’enfant et les sortilèges
• Conductor: Seiji Ozawa
• Stage Director: Laurent Pelly
• Child: Isabel Leonard
• Fire/Princess/Nightingale: Anna Christy
• Little Old Man (Arithmetic)/Frog/Teapot:
• Jean-Paul Fouchécourt

• Ravel: L’heure espagnole
• Conductor: Stéphane Denève
• Stage Director: Laurent Pelly
• Concepción (the clockmaker’s wife): Isabel Leonard
• Ramiro (a muleteer): Elliot Madore
• Torquemada (a clockmaker): Jean-Paul Fouchécourt
• Gonzalve (a student poet): David Portillo
• Don Íñigo Gómez (a banker): Paul Gay

【CONCERT HIGHLIGHTS】

• Mozart: Symphony No. 33
• Ligeti: Double Concerto for Flute, Oboe and Orchestra (Flute: Jacques Zoon, Oboe: Philippe Tondre)
• R. Strauss: Also sprach Zarathustra
• [Conductor: Kazushi Ono]

• Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue
• (Piano, Bass, and Drums: Junko Onishi Trio)
• [Conductor: Seiji Ozawa]

2014

Verdi: Opera Falstaff
Aug. 20, 22, 24, 26, 2014　Matsumoto Performing Arts Centre Main Hall

The Matsumoto Gig held for a second consecutive year. Ballet dancer Haruo Niyama, a native of Matsumoto City who won the top prize at the Prix de Lausanne this year, was a special guest at the Matsumoto Gig.

【MAJOR PRODUCTIONS】

• Verdi: Falstaff
• Conductor: Fabio Luisi
• Stage Director: David Kneuss
• Sir John Falstaff: Quinn Kelsey
• Mrs. Alice Ford: Maite Alberola
• Dame Quickly: Jane Henschel
• Fenton: Paolo Fanale
• Ford: Massimo Cavalletti
• Nannetta: Maureen McKay
• Mrs. Meg Page: Jamie Barton

【CONCERT HIGHLIGHTS】

• Mozart: Serenade No. 10 “Gran Partita”
• Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique
• Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue
• (Piano, Bass, and Drums: Marcus Roberts Trio)
• [Conductor: Seiji Ozawa]

• Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet, Suites No. 1, 2, 3
• [Conductor: Diego Matheuz]

2016

Orchestra Concert Program B
Mahler: Symphony No. 2 "Auferstehung"
Aug. 19, 21, 2016　Kissei Bunka Hall

For the Matsumoto Gig, Rhapsody in D commissioned to Marcus Roberts made its world premiere.

【CONCERT HIGHLIGHTS】

• Honegger: Symphony No. 3 “Liturgique”
• Mahler: Symphony No. 2 “Auferstehung”
• (Soprano: Rie Miyake, Alto: Mihoko Fujimura)
• [Conductor: Fabio Luisi]

• Marcus Roberts: Rhapsody in D
• [Conductor: Toshiaki Murakami]

• Beethoven: Symphony No. 7
• Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue
• (Piano, Bass, and Drums: Marcus Roberts Trio)
• [Conductor: Seiji Ozawa]

2017

Orchestra Concert Program C
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3
Piano: Mitsuko Uchida
Sep, 8, 10, 2017　Kissei Bunka Hall

Mitsuko Uchida performed with the SKO under Seiji Ozawa’s baton for the first time in 7 years.

【CONCERT HIGHLIGHTS】

• Mahler: Symphony No. 9
• [Conductor: Fabio Luisi]

• Dvořák: Symphony No. 7
• [Conductor: Nathalie Stutzmann]

• Beethoven: Leonore Overture No. 3
• Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3
• (Piano: Mitsuko Uchida)
• [Conductor: Seiji Ozawa]

2018

Orchestra Concert Program C "OMF Gig"
Gershwin: Variations on "I Got Rhythm"
[Marcus Roberts Trio]
Sep. 2, 2018　Kissei Bunka Hall

Appeared in Deutsche Grammophon 120 Gala Concert (Suntory Hall, December). Anne-Sophie Mutter performs with the SKO for the first time.

【CONCERT HIGHLIGHTS】

• Haydn: Sinfonia Concertante
• (Violin: Kyoko Takezawa, Cello: Dai Miyata, Oboe: Philippe Tondre, Bassoon: Marc Goldberg)
• Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5
• [Conductor: Diego Matheuz]

• Ravel: Boléro
• Saint-Saëns: Symphony No. 3 “Organ”
• [Conductor: Kazuyoshi Akiyama]

• Saint-Saëns: Introduction et Rondo capriccioso en la mineur
• (Violin: Anne-Sophie Mutter)
• [Conductor: Seiji Ozawa]

2019

Tchaikovsky: Opera Eugene Onegin
Aug. 20, 22, 24, 2019　Matsumoto Performing Arts Centre

22 students from the Ozawa International Chamber Music Academy performed in Chamber Concert I with Seiji Ozawa.

【MAJOR PRODUCTIONS】

• Tchaikovsky: Eugene Onegin
• Conductor: Fabio Luisi
• Stage Director: Robert Carsen
• Onegin: Takaoki Onishi, Levent Bakirci
• Tatyana: Anna Nechaeva
• Lensky: Paolo Fanale
• Olga: Lindsay Ammann
• Prince Gremin: Alexander Vinogradov

【CONCERT HIGHLIGHTS】

• Mahler: Symphony No. 1 “Titan”
• [Conductor: Fabio Luisi]

• Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6 “Pathétique”
• [Conductor: Diego Matheuz]

• Prokofiev: Peter and the Wolf
• (Narration: Murotsuyoshi, Illustration: Nana Furiya)
• [Conductor: Radek Baborák]

2022

ONE EARTH MISSION
Nov.23, 2022　Kissei Bunka Hall
©Seiji Ozawa×SKO/JAXA ONE EARTH MISSION

To celebrate the festival’s 30th anniversary, special concerts were held in November.
For the ONE EARTH MISSION joint initiative with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), we delivered a live orchestra performance (conducted by Seiji Ozawa, Beethoven’s Egmont overture) to the International Space Station for the first time in history.

【MAJOR PRODUCTIONS】

• Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro
• Conductor: Nodoka Okisawa
• Production: Laurent Pelly
• Stage Director: Laurie Feldman
• Il Conte di Almaviva: Samuel Dale Johnson
• La Contessa di Almaviva: Ailyn Pérez
• Susanna: Ying Fang
• Figaro: Philippe Sly
• Cherubino: Angela Brower

【CONCERT HIGHLIGHTS】

• Takemitsu: Ceremonial
• (Sho: Mayumi Miyata)
• Stravinsky: Le Sacre du printemps
• [Conductor: Charles Dutoit]

• Mahler: Symphony No. 9
• [Conductor: Andris Nelsons]

2023

Orchestra Concert Program B
Sep.2, 2023　Kissei Bunka Hall

Orchestra Concert Program B
Sep.2, 2023　Kissei Bunka Hall

Orchestra Concert Program B
Sep.2, 2023　Kissei Bunka Hall

John Williams, a dear friend of Director Seiji Ozawa, visited Japan for the first time in 30 years and performed with SKO. The Special Gala Concert celebrating the 125th anniversary of the founding of Deutsche Grammophon was also held at Suntory Hall in Tokyo.

【CONCERT HIGHLIGHTS】

• Bernstein：Symphonic Dances from "West Side Story"
• John Williams：Concerto for Tuba and Orchestra
• （Tuba: Yasuhito Sugiyama)
• Poulenc：Stabat Mater FP.148
• （Soprano: Isabel Leonard)
• Ravel: Daphnis et Chloé Suite No. 2
• ［Conductor: Stéphane Denève］

• 《All John Williams Program》
• Tributes!(For Seiji)
• Superman March
• Three Selections from "Harry Potter"
• Theme from "Schindler’s List"
• Three Selections from "Star Wars"
• ［Conductor: John Williams,Stéphane Denève］