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Nodoka Okisawa×SKO [DELUXE EDITION]／SKO Brass～Live in Matsumoto 2025 to be released by Decca Classics on July 30th!

NODOKA OKISAWA / SAITO KINEN ORCHESTRA
"Brahms: Symphony No. 1 & No. 2" & "R. Strauss: Don Juan" [DELUXE EDITION]
SAITO KINEN ORCHESTRA BRASS ENSEMBLE – Live in Matsumoto 2025 –
to be Released by Decca Classics on July 30!

To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Saito Kinen Orchestra, "Brahms: Symphony No. 1 & No. 2" and "R. Strauss: Don Juan" conducted by Nodoka Okisawa, Principal Guest Conductor of the Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival, was released in December 2024. Now, a Deluxe Edition of that recording, along with Saito Kinen Orchestra Brass Ensemble – Live in Matsumoto 2025—a live recording from the ensemble’s Japan tour performance in Matsumoto last February—will be released by UK label Decca Classics on July 30 (Wed), 2025.

"Brahms: Symphony No. 1 & No. 2" [DELUXE EDITION] highlights two cornerstone works from the Saito Kinen Orchestra’s repertoire—pieces that played a pivotal role in shaping the orchestra’s artistic identity during its early international tours. Paired with R. Strauss’s Don Juan, the set is presented as a 2-disc SA-CD hybrid release, and includes a Blu-ray featuring live concert footage of all three works.

Also releasing on the same day is Saito Kinen Orchestra Brass Ensemble – Live in Matsumoto 2025, a dynamic live recording captured during the ensemble’s Japan tour concert in Matsumoto this past February. Formed in 2015 as part of the Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival’s chamber music series, the Saito Kinen Orchestra Brass Ensemble (SKO Brass) is comprised of the orchestra’s brass, timpani, and percussion sections. This vibrant album includes 17 colorful works, featuring the finale of Saint-Saëns’ Symphony No. 3 “Organ,” selections from Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet, and highlights from Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess. This album will also be available in digital form, online.

These two special releases arrive just ahead of the 2025 Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival, now in its 34th year, which runs from August 11 to September 9, and offer a vivid preview of the world-class artistry that continues to define the festival’s legacy.

【Product Information】

Nodoka Okisawa × Saito Kinen Orchestra
Brahms: Symphonies No. 1 & 2, & R. Strauss: Don Juan, symphonic poem [DELUXE EDITION]

Release Date: July 30 (Wed), 2025
Format: 2 SA-CD Hybrid Discs + Blu-ray | UCGD-9125
Price: ¥8,500 (incl. tax)
For more info:

For further information, check here>>>

【Track Listing】
[Disc 1]
1–4. Brahms: Symphony No.1 in C minor, Op. 68
5. R. Strauss: Don Juan, symphonic poem, Op. 20

[Disc 2]
1–4. Brahms: Symphony No.2 in D major, Op. 73

【Recording Details】
Recorded at Kissei Bunka Hall (Nagano-ken Matsumoto Bunka Kaikan), August 2024

【Blu-ray Contents】
Brahms: Symphony No.1 in C minor, Op. 68
Brahms: Symphony No.2 in D major, Op. 73
Recorded live at Kissei Bunka Hall (Nagano-ken Matsumoto Bunka Kaikan), August 17, 2024

R. Strauss: Don Juan, symphonic poem, Op. 20
Recorded live at Kissei Bunka Hall (Nagano-ken Matsumoto Bunka Kaikan), August 10, 2024

Saito Kinen Orchestra

Conductor: Nodoka Okisawa (OMF Principal Guest Conductor)

【Product Information】

Saito Kinen Orchestra Brass Ensemble
– Live in Matsumoto 2025 –

Release Date: July 30 (Wed), 2025
Format: UHQCD | UCCD-45037
Price: ¥3,520 (incl. tax)

For digital streaming and product details>>>

【Track Listing】
1. Leoš Janáček: Fanfare from Sinfonietta
2. Camille Saint-Saëns: Finale from Symphony No.3 “Organ”
3. Maurice Ravel: Pavane pour une infante défunte
Sergei Prokofiev: From "Romeo and Juliet"
4. Montagues and Capulettes
5. Romeo bids farewell to Juliet
6. Death of Tybalt
Astor Piazzolla: From "Maria De Buenos Aires"
7. Yo soy Maria
8. Balada para un organizo Loco / Habanera
9. Fuga y Misterio
George Gershwin: From "Porgy and Bess"
10. Introduction
11. Summertime
12. I Got Plenty o' Nuttin'
13. Bess, You Is My Woman Now
14. It Ain't Necessarily So
15. I Loves You, Porgy
16. Good Mornin’. Sistuh
17. O Lawd, I'm On My Way

Saito Kinen Orchestra Brass Ensemble
Trumpet: Gábor Tarkövi, Rainer Küblböck, Osamu Takahashi, Takaya Hattori
Horn: Radek Baborák, Yasushi Katsumata, Maro Abe
Trombone: Walter Voglmayr, Shinichi Go
Bass Trombone: Johann Ströcker
Tuba: Peter Link
Timpani & Percussion & Piano: Satoshi Takeshima

【Recording Information】
Recorded live at The Harmony Hall, February 13, 2025
All pieces arranged by Osamu Takahashi and Satoshi Takeshima

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The Official 2025 Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival Leaflet Is Now Available

The official leaflet for the 2025 Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival (2025OMF) is now ready.

It includes detailed information on ticketed programs such as orchestra concerts, opera performances, and chamber music concerts, as well as a variety of free open events.
It also includes the full member list of the 2025 Saito Kinen Orchestra.

Printed copies will be distributed at classical music venues and concert halls across Japan. If you see one, please feel free to pick it up.

The digital version is available at the link below.

2025OMF Offical Leaflet

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The SKO Brass Ensemble will be featured on NHK-FM on May 26 on NHK-FM "Best of Classic"

An outstanding brass ensemble formed by top musicians of the Saito Kinen Orchestra. Their Tokyo performance from this February’s widely acclaimed Japan tour will be broadcast on NHK-FM.

NHK-FM "Best of Classic"
May 26, 2025 (Mon) 19:35 – 21:15 (JST)

[Broadcast Program]
Leos Janacek: Fanfare from Sinfonietta
Camille Saint-Saens: Finale from Symphony No.3 "Organ"
Maurice Ravel: Pavane pour une infante défunte.
Prokofiev: From "Romeo and Juliet"
Astor Piazzolla: From "Maria De Buenos Aires"
Arkady Shilkloper: Phiga
George Gershwin: From "Porgy and Bess"
Yoko Kanno: Flowers Will Bloom（花は咲く）
Joe Zawinul: Birdland
NHK-FM "Best of Classic"

[Recorded]
February 19, 2025 – Sumida Triphony Hall, Main Hall

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2025 Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival (2025OMF) Full Line-up Announcement

2025 Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival (2025OMF) Full Line-up Announcement
Tickets go on sale JUNE 14 (Sat) 10:00 AM (JST)

We are pleased to announce the full program of the 2025 Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival (2025OMF).
Celebrating the 90th anniversary of the Festival’s Founder and Eternal Director, Seiji Ozawa's birth, the 2025OMF will present seven distinct programs across ten ticketed performances. These include Orchestra Concert Programs A and B, Opera, three chamber music concerts (including Mitsuko Shirai & Michael Gees –Liedduo Recital–, and the Chamber Concerts I & II), and the OMF Chamber Music Masterclass.
The Festival will take place over 30 days from August 11 (Mon) to September 9 (Tue), 2025.

[Orchestra Concert Program A and B]
The 2025OMF Orchestra Concerts will feature two distinguished conductors making their festival debut: Alexander Soddy (Program A) and Christoph Eschenbach (Program B).
In Program A, Soddy will lead the Saito Kinen Orchestra (SKO) in a program commemorating the 50th anniversary of Shostakovich’s passing. The performance will feature his Violin Concerto No. 1, with Daishin Kashimoto—a close musical friend of Seiji Ozawa—as soloist, followed by Symphony No. 5.
In Program B, the legendary 85-year-old maestro Christoph Eschenbach, takes the podium to honor his long-standing friendship with Seiji Ozawa, conducting Mahler’s monumental Symphony No. 2 “Resurrection.” He will be joined by soloists Alexandra Zamojska and Mihoko Fujimura, along with a grand chorus of over 100 singers—featuring the OMF Chorus, formed primarily by local members selected through auditions in Matsumoto, and the Tokyo Opera Singers—for a performance of extraordinary scale and emotion.
To celebrate the 90th anniversary of Seiji Ozawa’s birth, Program B will offer special ticket pricing: “Nagano Resident Tickets” and “U25 Tickets” (for those 25 and under), both available at ¥10,000.

[Opera]
After a three-year hiatus, the Saito Kinen Orchestra returns to the opera stage with Benjamin Britten’s "A Midsummer Night’s Dream." Since its 1992 production of Stravinsky's "Oedipus Rex," OMF has earned high acclaim for its interpretations of 20th-century opera. This year, that tradition continues with the addition of Britten’s magical masterpiece.
The production will be conducted by Nodoka Okisawa, who made a striking debut as Principal Guest Conductor last summer. Reuniting with director Laurent Pelly following their 2022 collaboration on "Le Nozze di Figaro," Okisawa will lead a stellar cast in bringing this enchanting work to life.

[Chamber Concerts]
2025OMF will offer three high quality chamber concerts at The Harmony Hall, renowned for its excellent acoustics.

In addition to the Mitsuko Shirai & Michael Gees – Liedduo Recital—marking Shirai’s debut Liedduo appearance at the OMF—, Chamber Concert I will feature violinist Kyoko Takezawa leading an exceptional ensemble in works by Brahms, Shostakovich, and Tchaikovsky, showcasing the full depth and beauty of chamber music.
In Chamber Concert II, guest violinist Daishin Kashimoto joins for a diverse program including works by Vaughan Williams, Bruch, Webern, and Schönberg. Experience the rich and expressive sound of the SKO's renowned string ensemble in this extraordinary collaboration.

[OMF Chamber Music Masterclass –Liedduo Recital–]
At this year’s festival, world-renowned mezzo-soprano Mitsuko Shirai will lead an intensive week-long masterclass in Okushiga Kogen. The young participating artists will present the fruits of their work in a recital that will open the festival on a celebratory note.

[Educational Programs]
As part of the educational program that began with the launch of the Festival in 1992 and has continued under the passionate vision of Seiji Ozawa, this year’s OMF will once again host two special events: the Concert for Children, inviting sixth-grade elementary school students from across Nagano Prefecture, and the Opera for Children, welcoming first-year junior high school students.

In addition, a variety of free open events are scheduled to further enliven the festival atmosphere. With a rich and diverse program lineup, this year’s OMF will once again bring vibrant color to the summer in Matsumoto.
Tickets go on sale JUNE 14 (Sat) 10:00 AM (JST). We look forward to welcoming you!

2025OMF Programs

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Notice of Orchestra Program Schedule Changes - Cancellation of SKO Special Concert in Tokyo

We regret to inform you that the Saito Kinen Orchestra Special Concert in Tokyo originally scheduled to take place on September 1 (Mon), 2025, has been cancelled due to the lack of sufficient funding that could not be raised within the limited preparation period.

We offer our deepest apologies to all those who were looking forward to the performance, as well as to everyone involved, for the inconvenience and concern this may cause.

In light of the Tokyo concert cancellation, the schedule for 2025OMF Orchestra Concert Program B has been revised as follows, in hopes that more guests will be able to join us in Matsumoto.

2025OMF Orchestra Concert Program B

Aug. 29, 2025 (Fri) 19:00
Aug. 30, 2025 (Sat) 15:00
Kissei Bunka Hall (Nagano-ken Matsumoto Bunka Kaikan)

↓

Aug. 30, 2025 (Sat) 15:00
Aug. 31, 2025 (Sun) 15:00
Kissei Bunka Hall (Nagano-ken Matsumoto Bunka Kaikan)

The Festival Executive Committee remains fully committed to ensuring the success of this year’s event. We sincerely hope to share the weekend of August 30 (Sat) and 31 (Sun) with you as a special occasion to celebrate Seiji Ozawa’s 90th birthday.
We kindly ask for your understanding regarding the cancellation and changes to the program.

2025 Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival (2025OMF) Full Line-up Announcement

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2025OMF Screen Concerts Coming to Aomori, Kyoto, Nagoya & Toyonaka

Ahead of the 2025 Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival (2025OMF), screen concerts will be held in four cities: Aomori, Kyoto, Nagoya, and Toyonaka.

In Aomori, Kyoto, and Nagoya—each hosting for the first time—audiences will have the chance to experience the Orchestra Concert Program B, conducted by Nodoka Okisawa and recorded on August 16, 2024, at the 2024OMF, which received widespread acclaim. In Toyonaka, screenings will feature performances conducted by Seiji Ozawa, Eternal Director, with the Saito Kinen Orchestra from the 2007 and 2010 Saito Kinen Festivals and the 2016OMF.

Enjoy these powerful performances in vivid detail and rich sound on a large screen—bringing the atmosphere of the concert hall directly to you. We look forward to welcoming you.

2025OMF Screen Concert – Free Admission
Nodoka Okisawa Conducts the Saito Kinen Orchestra

【Date / Venue】
Tuesday, May 13, 18:30
＜Aomori＞Linkmore Heiankaku Hall (Aomori Civic Hall)
Flyer

Friday, June 6, 14:00
＜Kyoto＞Kyoto Concert Hall, Ensemble Hall Murata
Flyer

Saturday, June 21, 17:00
＜Nagoya＞Nagoya City Hisaya odoriPark Media Hiroba
Flyer

【Part 1】 Eternal Director Seiji Ozawa: The Journey Woven in Matsumoto
【Part 2】 2024OMF Orchestra Concert Program B 　
Brahms: Symphony No.1 in C minor, Op. 68
Brahms: Symphony No.2 in D major, Op. 73
Saito Kinen Orchestra
Conductor: Nodoka Okisawa (OMF Principal Guest Conductor)

2025OMF Screen Concert – Free Admission
Seiji Ozawa Conducts the Saito Kinen Orchestra

【Date / Venue】
Friday, June 27, 18:30
<Toyonaka City> Toyonaka Rose Cultural Hall
Flyer

【Part 1】
2007SKF
　Ravel: Pavane pour une infante défunte
　Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique Op.14
【Part 2】
2010SKF
　Tchaikovsky: Serenade for Strings in C major, Op. 48, 1st Mov.
2016OMF
　Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 in A major Op.92

Saito Kinen Orchestra
Conductor: Seiji Ozawa

※Pre-registration for concerts will be required at several venues. For further information, please contact the venue directly using the telephone number stated.

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The SKO Brass Ensemble will be featured on NHK on April 13 on ETV "Classic Ongakukan" and on April 17 on NHK BSP４K・BS "Classic Club"

An outstanding brass ensemble formed by top musicians of the Saito Kinen Orchestra. Their Tokyo performance from this February’s widely acclaimed Japan tour will be broadcast on NHK.

NHK ETV "Classic Ongakukan"
April 13, 2025 (Sun) 21:00 – 23:00 (JST)
*The SKO Brass Ensemble segment is scheduled to begin around 22:48.

[Broadcast Program]
Astor Piazzolla: From "Maria De Buenos Aires" Fuga y Misterio
Joe Zawinul: Birdland
NHK ETV "Classic Ongakukan"

NHK BSP４K・BS "Classic Club"
NHK BS　　　 April 17, 2025 (Thu) 5:00 – 5:55 (JST)
NHK BSP４K　April 17, 2025 (Thu) 6:15 – 7:10 (JST)

[Broadcast Program]
Leos Janacek: Fanfare from Sinfonietta
Maurice Ravel: Pavane pour une infante défunte.
Prokofiev: From "Romeo and Juliet"
Arkady Shilkloper: Phiga
George Gershwin: From "Porgy and Bess"
NHK BSP４K・BS "Classic Club"

[Recorded]
February 19, 2025 – Sumida Triphony Hall, Main Hall

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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 30, and August 31*, 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!

Notice of Orchestra Program Schedule Changes - Cancellation of SKO Special Concert in Tokyo (May 14, 2025)
2025 Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival (2025OMF) Full Line-up Announcement (May 14, 2025)

*The role of Oberon will now be performed by Nils Wanderer. (5/14 Update)

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. 30 (Sat) 15:00
Aug. 31 (Sun) 15:00*
Kissei Bunka Hall (Nagano-ken Matsumoto Bunka Kaikan)

*The date and time have been changed from the initial announcement. (5/14 Update)

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) 15:00*
Matsumoto Performing Arts Centre Main Hall

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

Oberon: Nils Wanderer*
Tytania: Sydney Mancasola
Puck: Faith Prendergast
And more

Chorus：OMF Junior Chorus

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

*The time and cast have been changed from the initial announcement. (5/14 Update)

※Ticket prices and the full festival lineup will be announced at a later date.
※The performance information is current as of May 14, 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.