On the passing of Robert Mann - Statement from Seiji Ozawa (OMF Director) and the OMF Executive Committee
Robert Mann passed away at the night of January 1st, 2018, at his home in Manhattan, NY. He was 97.
The statement from Seiji Ozawa (OMF Director)
I am extremely moved and very sad to hear about the loss of Robert Mann.
Bobby taught us about quartet and its importance in music. He was the one who created the chance for the beginning of what today is the International Chamber Music Academy Okushiga, the Seiji Ozawa International Chamber Music Academy in Switzerland, he created beautiful music with us at the Saito Kinen Festival. I am deeply grateful for all this.
He was a wonderful friend.
It's very sad to know he is no longer with us.
The statement from OMF Executive Committee
Robert Mann, a founding member of the Juillird String Quartet, which was formed in 1946, had been the first violinist for more than five decades. In 1993, he appeared at the Saito Kinen Festival for the first time as a member of the Juilliard String Quartet. In 1998, he returned to the festival with his wife, Lucy Rowan, for the performance of “WORD and MUSIC”, in which Robert Mann played violin and Lucy Rowan narrated. Since then he collaborated with the Saito Kinen Orchestra members many times for chamber music concerts, playing string quartet and piano quintet. His concerts at the Harmony Hall, Matsumoto became an annual event for the festival and attracted a large audience. He also conducted the Saito Kinen Orchestra and the Seiji Ozawa Music Academy Orchestra, and his involvement with the festival continued until the “Robert Mann Special Concert” in 2010, celebrating his 90th birthday.
In addition, he devoted his energy for educating young musicians every summer at the Chamber Music Study Group for Young People for teaching and conducting string orchestra as a part of the Saito Kinen Festival, and this study group has been developed as the Ozawa International Chamber Music Academy Okushiga, which is still going on.
He has brought enourmous influence into Matsumoto and Japan through his music and fantastic string quartet.
We express our sincere gratitude. May he rest in peace.
