2018OMF close with 9543 audience!
2018 Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival closed its curtain on Sep. 7 (fri). This year we had in total 8 official programs / 8 performances and 9543 audience came to enjoy the festival.
The last but not the least program was Concert for Children. This is one of Director Ozawa's passion projects, and intended for Nagano Prefecture elementary school sixth grade students, delivered by Seiji Ozawa Music Academy Orchestra. The concert took place in Matsumoto and Nagano cities, and about 10,000 students from 174 schools joined.
The program was Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67 by Seiji Ozawa Music Academy Orchestra under the baton of Tatsuya Shimono. Introduction of Instruments were also performed, to explain which instrument make what kind of sound.
After Symphony No.5, they all played "Shinano no Kuni" with the students. This song was performed many times during 2018OMF. Please watch a short clip featuring "Shinano no Kuni" performed during the festival.
Sep.6 (thu) Concert for Children was open to the public for the first time. About 600 Nagano prefecture residents came to listen to the concert at Matsumoto City Gymnasium.
With Concert for Children on Sep.7 (fri), all the programs in 2018OMF finished. We would like to express all the gratitude for the audience, volunteer staffs and people in Matsumoto and Nagano prefecture. Thank you all for your support!
Message from Director Seiji Ozawa
I am deeply disappointed that I was unable to be in Matsumoto this year.
But my heart was always in Matsumoto.
I will surely go next year!
