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2025Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival (2025OMF) – Official Program Announcement

2025 Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival (2025OMF)
Dates set for Aug. 11 (Mon) – Sep. 9 (Tue)!

*The festival dates have been changed from the initial announcement.

We are pleased to announce the program outline for the 2025 Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival (2025OMF), which will be held over 30 days from August 11 (Mon) to September 9 (Tue), 2025.

This year, two conductors will take the podium for the orchestral concerts.
For Program A on August 23, British conductor Alexander Soddy will lead the Saito Kinen Orchestra. Having made a name for himself across Europe’s top opera houses, the rising star will conduct a program honoring the 50th anniversary of Dmitri Shostakovich's passing (1906–1975).
The first half will feature Daishin Kashimoto, 1st concertmaster of the Berliner Philharmoniker and a close music friend of Seiji Ozawa, as soloist in Shostakovich's Violin Concerto No. 1. The second half will present Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5, a masterpiece born from an era of turmoil.

Following this, the Program B on August 29, and August 30, will be conducted by the legendary Christoph Eschenbach, making his festival debut at the age of 85. As a pianist, Eschenbach shared a deep musical friendship with Seiji Ozawa, performing and recording extensively with him during Ozawa’s tenure with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. In honor of Seiji’s 90th Birthday celebration, Eschenbach will conduct Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, "Resurrection."
The performance will feature soloists Aleksandra Zamojska and Mihoko Fujimura, along with a grand chorus of over 100 singers, some of whom will be selected through auditions on March 8 at Kissei Bunka Hall in Matsumoto. This special stage, created in collaboration with the local community, promises to be an unforgettable experience.

This performance will also be held in Tokyo on September 1, as the Saito Kinen Orchestra Special Concert in Tokyo “Celebrating Seiji Ozawa at 90!”.

In this special year celebrating Seiji Ozawa's 90th birthday, the Saito Kinen Orchestra will perform in both Matsumoto, home to the festival for 34 years, and Tokyo, where the journey began with the 1984 Hideo Saito Memorial Concert.

The festival will also stage Benjamin Britten’s opera "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" on August 17, August 20, and August 24, marking the Saito Kinen Orchestra’s first opera production in three years.

Since the festival's inception, it has earned acclaim for its performances of 20th-century operas, beginning with Stravinsky's "Oedipus Rex" in 1992. Other notable performances include Honegger's "Jeanne d'Arc au bûcher" (1993, 2012), Stravinsky's "The Rake's Progress" (1995), Poulenc's "Les mamelles de Tirésias" (1996) and "Dialogues des Carmélites" (1998), Janáček's "Jenůfa" (2001) and "The Cunning Little Vixen" (2008), Britten's "Peter Grimes" (2002), Berg's "Wozzeck" (2004), Bartók's "Bluebeard's Castle" (2011), and the Grammy Award-winning production of Ravel's "L’enfant et les sortilèges" (2013). This year, Britten's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" will add a new chapter to this rich tradition.

In this production, Nodoka Okisawa, who made a striking debut last summer as the OMF Principal Guest Conductor, reunites with director Laurent Pelly following their successful collaboration on "Le Nozze di Figaro" in 2022. They are joined by an outstanding cast, including renowned countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo. This masterpiece, where a fantastical story intertwines with innovative music, promises to be an unforgettable experience. Look forward to a stage brought to life by world-class artists and a creative team.

The festival will also present Chamber Concerts by world-class musicians, along with a variety of open events. As part of the educational programs launched with the festival’s inception in 1992, under Seiji Ozawa's passionate vision, the Concert for Children and Opera for Children will continue to welcome sixth-grade elementary and first-year junior high school students from Nagano Prefecture. Further details about the full festival lineup will be announced at a later date.

Throughout his life, Seiji Ozawa built invaluable bonds of trust with the world’s leading orchestras, including the Vienna Philharmonic, the Berliner Philharmoniker, and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. These enduring connections, along with the spirit of innovation and dedication to nurturing the next generation upheld by the Saito Kinen Orchestra, come together to shape this year’s diverse and inspiring program. Enjoy the extraordinary performances that reflect this remarkable legacy.

Tickets go on sale on Saturday, June 14. Join us in celebrating the 34th year of Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival!

Orchestra Concert

Orchestra Concert Program A

Aug. 23 (Sat) 15:00
Kissei Bunka Hall (Nagano-ken Matsumoto Bunka Kaikan)


Shchedrin: Concerto for Orchestra No. 1 “Naughty Limericks”
Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No. 1, A minor, Op. 77*
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5 in D minor, Op. 47

Saito Kinen Orchestra
Conductor: Alexander Soddy
Violin: Daishin Kashimoto (1st Concertmaster of the Berliner Philharmoniker)*

Orchestra Concert Program B

Aug. 29 (Fri) 19:00
Aug. 30 (Sat) 15:00
Kissei Bunka Hall (Nagano-ken Matsumoto Bunka Kaikan)

Mahler: Symphony No. 2 in C minor “Auferstehung”

Saito Kinen Orchestra
Conductor: Christoph Eschenbach

Soprano: Aleksandra Zamojska
Mezzo-Soprano: Mihoko Fujimura
Chorus: OMF Chorus, Tokyo Opera Singers
Chorus Master: Akihiro Nishiguchi

Saito Kinen Orchestra Special Concert in Tokyo
“Celebrating Seiji Ozawa at 90!”

Sep. 1 (Mon) 19:00
Sumida Triphony Hall Main Hall

Mahler: Symphony No. 2 in C minor “Auferstehung”

Saito Kinen Orchestra
Conductor: Christoph Eschenbach
Soprano: Aleksandra Zamojska
Mezzo-Soprano: Mihoko Fujimura
Chorus: OMF Chorus, Tokyo Opera Singers
Chorus Master: Akihiro Nishiguchi

Opera

Opera
Britten: “A Midsummer Night's Dream”

Aug. 17 (Sun) 15:00
Aug. 20 (Wed) 17:00
Aug. 24 (Sun) 17:00
Matsumoto Performing Arts Centre Main Hall

Saito Kinen Orchestra
Conductor: Nodoka Okisawa (OMF Principal Guest Conductor)
Stage Director/Costume: Laurent Pelly
Associate Set Designer: Massimo Troncanetti
Lighting Designer: Michel Le Borgne

Oberon: Anthony Roth Costanzo
Tytania: Sydney Mancasola
Puck: Faith Prendergast
And more

Chorus：OMF Junior Chorus

Production originally designed and created by Opéra de Lille, France.

※Ticket prices and the full festival lineup will be announced at a later date.
※The performance information is current as of February 25, 2025, and is subject to change. Please check the OMF official website for the latest information.

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2024OMF Nodoka Okisawa × SKO Orchestra Concert Program B to be exclusively streamed on Deutsche Grammophon’s Stage+

The Orchestra Concert Program B from the 2024 Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival will be streamed on Deutsche Grammophon’s streaming service, Stage+.

Nodoka Okisawa, appointed by Seiji Ozawa as the festival's first-ever Principal Guest Conductor, stepped in to lead the Saito Kinen Orchestra in a powerful and heartfelt performance of Brahms. Experience the emotional intensity of Program B, recorded on August 17—a performance that received widespread acclaim and is now yours to enjoy.

Deutsche Grammophon "STAGE+"
<On Air Schedule>
February 28 (Fri) 20:00 JST
Rebroadcasts: March 1 (Sat) 4:00 & 10:00 JST
Click here to watch the stream

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Saito Kinen Orchestra Brass Ensemble 2025 Japan Tour Encore

The Saito Kinen Orchestra Brass Ensemble 2025 Japan Tour has concluded with today’s performance in Ibaraki. Thank you to everyone who attended!
The encore pieces performed during the tour were as follows:

John Williams: "Star Wars" Throne Room & Finale
Yoko Kanno: Hana wa Saku (Flowers Will Bloom)
Joe Zawinul: Birdland

The Tokyo performance will be broadcast on NHK BS4K/BS. The broadcast date will be announced on the program's official website, the festival's official website news page, and SNS.　

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[Audition announcement] 2025OMF Chamber Music Master Class -Liedduo-

©Michiharu Okubo / From the 2023 Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival

At the Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival, we are dedicated to nurturing young musicians, a philosophy upheld by our founder, Seiji Ozawa, and we achieve significant results each year. In 2025, for the "OMF Chamber Music Master Class" we will invite world-renowned mezzo-soprano Mitsuko Shirai as a Instructor and hold a "Liedduo" workshop for singers and pianists at Okushiga Kogen.
Ms. Mitsuko Shirai, together with Hartmut Höll, has been actively performing worldwide as a "Lied Duo," going beyond the conventional concept of "singing and accompaniment." She also teaches in the Lied department at Karlsruhe University of Music. She conducts masterclasses across Europe and the U.S., training numerous singers who go on to successful careers.
This workshop will be conducted in a retreat format with intensive lessons over approximately one week. Additionally, two public performances will be held in Okushiga Kogen and Matsumoto City to showcase the achievements of the participants. Below are the details regarding the workshop and auditions.

Schedule	August 1 (Fri) – August 11 (Mon, holiday), 2025 August 1: Travel to Okushiga Kogen, Nagano Prefecture August 2–8: Seminar at Okushiga Kogen August 9: Concert at "Forest Music Hall," Okushiga Kogen August 10: Travel from Okushiga Kogen to Matsumoto City August 11: Concert at Matsumoto Performing Arts Center
Location	Okushiga Kogen, Nagano Prefecture: "Forest Music Hall," Okushiga Kogen Hotel Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture: Matsumoto Performing Arts Center
Program	1) Liedduo lessons 2) Two public performances (Aug 9 in Okushiga Kogen, Aug 11 in Matsumoto City)
Instructor	Mitsuko Shirai (Mezzo-Soprano / Professor at Karlsruhe University of Music, Visiting Professor at Kunitachi College of Music) Profile
Participation Fees	The festival will cover tuition, accommodation, and meal expenses. * However, participants must cover their own audition-related expenses. For international participants, travel support may be available. Please contact us for details.
Number of Participants	Planned for 6 Liedduo pairs (12 participants: singers and pianists).
Eligibility	Applicants must be 39 years old or younger as of April 1, 2025. Applicants must be enrolled in or have graduated from a music university, graduate school, or a specialized institution, or possess equivalent skills. Participation is limited to duos.
Audition Repertoire	3 Free songs (DeutscheLieder). 10 min per duo.
Application Process & Deadline	Upload a performance video to a downloadable platform such as Google Drive or Dropbox, and submit the required details along with the video URL via the designated application form. Application Form URL: https://forms.gle/VFXiUEx3WgBRfweYA
Application Deadline	April 6, 2025 (Sunday)
Selection Results	Results will be announced to all applicants by the end of April, regardless of acceptance.
Contact	Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival Tokyo Office E-mail: omftokyo@ozawa-festival.com

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Feb. 19 (Wed) [Tokyo] SKO Brass Ensemble　Same-Day Ticket Information

Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival –Special Concert –Saito Kinen Orchestra Brass Ensemble Same-Day Ticket Information

Feb. 19, 2025 (Wed) [Tokyo] Sumida Triphony Hall Main Hall
Same-Day Ticket Sales Start: 18:00
Ticket Price: S ¥6,000 (All seats reserved)
*Please note that U-25 tickets are only available via OMF Web Ticket.

Doors Open: 18:30
Curtain Time: 19:00
Estimated End Time: Around 21:00

For details on the 2025 SKO Brass Tour, click here.

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Feb. 13 (Thu) [Matsumoto] SKO Brass Ensemble　Same-Day Ticket Information

Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival –Special Concert –Saito Kinen Orchestra Brass Ensemble Same-Day Ticket Information

Feb. 13, 2025 (Thu) [Nagano] The Harmony Hall

Tickets Sold Out

Doors Open: 18:30
Curtain Time: 19:00
Estimated End Time: Around 21:00

For details on the 2025 SKO Brass Tour, click here.

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Obituary of Conductor Kazuyoshi Akiyama

January 26, 2025 – It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of conductor Kazuyoshi Akiyama due to pneumonia.

Mr. Akiyama was a devoted disciple of the esteemed educator Hideo Saito, studying alongside Seiji Ozawa, Director of the Festival. He deeply embraced and carried forward Saito’s teachings. In September 1984, marking the 10th anniversary of their mentor’s passing, Mr. Akiyama and his elder colleague Ozawa gathered over 100 musicians from around the world who had studied under Saito to perform a memorial concert. This concert became the catalyst for the creation of the Saito Kinen Orchestra (SKO), which later formed the foundation of the Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival (formerly the Saito Kinen Festival Matsumoto).

After the 1984 Hideo Saito Memorial Concert, Mr. Akiyama collaborated with the SKO on various notable occasions, including European tours in 1987 and 1989, 1993 performance with the Wind and Brass Ensemble of the Saito Kinen Orchestra, and the 2004 “Hideo Saito Memorial Concert.” His final collaboration with the SKO came in 2018 after a 14-year hiatus, during which he conducted a French program featuring works by Ibert, Debussy, Ravel, and Saint-Saëns.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Akiyama for his extraordinary contributions to the world of classical music and offer our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones. His dedication, artistry, and passion will forever be remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing him and experiencing his work.

Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival Executive Committee

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2024OMF Nodoka Okisawa × SKO Orchestra Concert Program B to be aired on abn (Asahi Broadcasting Nagano)

The Orchestra Concert Program B (Conducted by Nodoka Okisawa / Performed by the Saito Kinen Orchestra), held in Matsumoto on August 16, will air on abn (Asahi Broadcasting Nagano) at 10:00 am. Nodoka Okisawa, OMF Principal Guest Conductor, stepped in to lead the Saito Kinen Orchestra in a powerful and heartfelt performance of Brahms. Experience the emotional intensity of the opening night of the B Program, a performance that garnered widespread acclaim. The program will also feature festival highlights, including the Seiji Ozawa Day event and an exclusive interview with SKO cellist Dai Miyata.

<On Air Schedule>
Dec. 29 (Sun) 10:00 -
abn (Asahi Broadcasting Nagano)

2024 Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival
Orchestra Concert Program B

<Program>
Brahms: Symphony No.1 in C minor, Op. 68 (I, IV)
Brahms: Symphony No.2 in D major, Op. 73

Saito Kinen Orchestra
Conductor: Nodoka Okisawa

Recorded: 2024 Aug. 16, at Kissei Bunka Hall (Nagano-ken Matsumoto Bunka Kaikan), Matsumoto, Japan

Reference Link: 2024OMF Orchestra Concert Program B

Note: This program broadcast is limited to Japan.

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Special Program featuring Director Seiji Ozawa on Asahi Broadcasting Nagano is now streaming on TVer!

The special program featuring Director Seiji Ozawa, titled "Endless Applause Forever… Seiji Ozawa’s Legacy for the Future" which aired in August on Asahi Broadcasting Nagano, is now available for streaming on TVer.
The program will feature Asahi Broadcasting Nagano’s exclusive archival footage, along with reflections on Seiji Ozawa's life and accomplishments through the words of those who knew him well. Don't miss it!

Streaming Period: December 20, 2024 - January 19, 2025
TVer

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Nodoka Okisawa × Saito Kinen Orchestra 2024OMF Live Recording to be Released by Decca Classics on Dec 18

The year 2024, marking the 40th anniversary of the Saito Kinen Orchestra, will culminate with the release of "Brahms: Symphony No. 1 & No. 2", a live recording of the orchestra conducted by Nodoka Okisawa at the 2024 Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival (2024OMF). This recording is set to be released on December 18th (Wednesday) by the British label, Decca Classics.

Nodoka Okisawa, appointed by Director Seiji Ozawa as the first Principal Guest Conductor in the festival’s history, leads SKO in performances of Brahms’ Symphonies No. 1 and 2. For SKO, Brahms’ symphonies are a core part of their repertoire, having been performed in their entirety during the orchestra’s early international tours and shaping their artistic direction in their formative years. This summer’s debut performance of Okisawa as Principal Guest Conductor featured these Brahms symphonies and was met with great acclaim. The main feature of this release is the live recording from this highly lauded concert, coupled with R. Strauss' Don Juan, symphonic poem.

Seiji Ozawa and the SKO have an extensive recording history, highlighted by the 2016 release of Ravel L'enfant et les sortilèges by Decca Classics, which won the 58th Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording. The most recent release by the Saito Kinen Orchestra was a live recording of the Deutsche Grammophon 125th Anniversary Special Gala Concert, conducted by Ozawa’s long time friend, conductor and composer John Williams, which was released in May 2024 by Deutsche Grammophon.

NODOKA OKISAWA / SAITO KINEN ORCHESTRA
"Brahms: Symphony No. 1 & No. 2"
Release Date: Wednesday, December 18, 2024
MQA/UHQ-CD UCCD-45032/3
Price: ¥4,400 (¥4,000 + 10% tax)

[Disc１]
1-4. Brahms: Symphony No.1 in C minor, Op. 68
5. R. Strauss: Don Juan, symphonic poem, Op. 20
[Disc２]
1-4. Brahms: Symphony No.2 in D major, Op. 73

Recorded at Kissei Bunka Hall (Nagano-ken Matsumoto Bunka Kaikan), August 2024

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