Seiji Ozawa
September 1, 1935 - Shenyang (China) — February 6, 2024 - Tokyo (Japan)
© DR
About
One of the most influential and beloved conductors of the last century, Seiji Ozawa "brought new life to the image of a classical conductor, with charisma worthy of Leonard Bernstein," according to Le Monde.
Born in 1935 in Shenyang, China. Seiji Ozawa studied piano from a young age, and after graduating from Seijo Junior High School, went on to study conducting under Hideo Saito at the Toho School of Music. In 1959, he won first prize at the International Competition for Young Conductors held in Besançon, France. He has studied under Charles Munch, Karajan, and Bernstein.
He went on to serve as assistant conductor of the New York Philharmonic and music director of the San Francisco Symphony. In 1973, he became the 13th music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, where his tenure of 29 years was the longest in the history of American orchestras. As music director of BSO, he built the orchestra’s reputation internationally. In autumn 2002, Ozawa became music director at Wiener Staatsoper, a position he held until spring 2010.
In Japan, Ozawa formed the Saito Kinen Orchestra to commemorate his late mentor, Hideo Saito. This eventually led to the inception of the Saito Kinen Festival Matsumoto (currently the Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival). Ozawa became director of this international music festival.
Ozawa established Ozawa International Chamber Music Academy Okushiga, Seiji Ozawa Music Academy, and Seiji Ozawa International Academy Switzerland, working actively to cultivate young musicians through performance. He also worked with the Mito Chamber Orchestra, serving as general director of the orchestra as well as director general of Art Tower Mito.