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2025 Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival Opens!

Thank you for attending the 2025 Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival Opening Concert, OMF Chamber Music Masterclass –Liedduo Recital–!
Six pairs of young musicians, selected through auditions, delivered superb performances under the warm guidance of Mitsuko Shirai, giving the festival a brilliant start.

Up next, the festival continues with the long-awaited return of opera by the Saito Kinen Orchestra (SKO) — A Midsummer Night’s Dream — being performed for the first time in three years. Look forward to the renewed collaboration between OMF Principal Guest Conductor Nodoka Okisawa and director Laurent Pelly.

Following this, highlights include the “Orchestra Concert Program A” with violinist Daishin Kashimoto as soloist, conducted by Alexander Soddy with the SKO; the “Orchestra Concert Program B” with Christoph Eschenbach and the SKO celebrating the 90th anniversary of Seiji Ozawa’s birth; the “Chamber Concerts I & II” featuring world-class artists; educational programs bringing the joy of music to children; and the ever-popular Welcome Parade.

The 2025OMF runs through Sep. 9 (Tue).
We look forward to welcoming you once again to Matsumoto

2025 Program

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OMF Chamber Music Master Class –Liedduo Recital– Encore

Thank you for attending the OMF Chamber Music Masterclass –Liedduo Recital– held on Aug. 11 (Mon/Holiday) at The Harmony Hall. The concert concluded with the following encore performed by all the artists:

[Encore]
Lyrics: Shoko Ema / Music: Yoshinao Nakata: Natsu no Omoide (Memories of Summer)

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Official 2025OMF Goods Now Available at Concert Venues and Online!

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OMF 2025 Plate / Sake Cup

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OMF 2025
OMF Original Blue & Red Socks

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OMF 2025 Original Handkerchief

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OMF 2025 Original Canvas Tote Bag / Packable Nylon Bag

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OMF 2025
SEIJI OZAWA MATSUMOTO FESTIVAL Official T-Shirt

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OMF 2025
2025 Opera T-Shirt

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OMF Original Sweatshirt

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SKO Orchestra T-Shirt – Seiji Ozawa 90th Birthday Edition

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OMF Original Cap / OMF Cotton Eco Bag / OMF Original Magnet / OMF Original Sticky Notes

photos: Takeshi Yamada/2025OMF

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Aug. 11 (Mon/Holiday) OMF Chamber Music Masterclass –Liedduo Recital– Tickets Information

OMF Chamber Music Masterclass –Liedduo Recital–
Tickets Information

Tickets will be available at the venue entrance (The Harmony Hall) from 1:30 p.m. on the day of the performance.

Aug. 11 (Mon/Holiday) performance
Same-day ticket sales begin: 1:30 p.m. (¥1,000 / All seats reserved)
Doors open: 2:00 p.m.
Concert begins: 3:00 p.m.
Ends: Around 5:00 p.m. (scheduled)

We look forward to welcoming you!

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Ticket Refund Information for the Canceled "Mitsuko Shirai & Michael Gees –Liedduo Recital–"

The “Mitsuko Shirai & Michael Gees –Liedduo Recital–,” originally scheduled for Aug 15 (Fri) as part of the 2025 Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival, has been canceled due to Ms. Shirai’s health condition. Full refunds will be issued to all ticket holders.

【Performance Eligible for Refund】
Mitsuko Shirai & Michael Gees –Liedduo Recital–
Date: Aug. 15, 2025 (Fri) 19:00
Venue: The Harmony Hall

【How to Request a Refund】
The refund procedure may vary depending on where you purchased your ticket, how you received it, and whether you have already received it. Please check the refund method that applies to your situation and proceed accordingly.

Refund Period:：From Aug. 8 (Fri), 2025 at 10:00 AM to Sep. 30 (Tue), 2025 at 11:59 PM (JST)（For mail-in requests, documents must arrive by this date.）
We kindly ask that you complete the refund process as early as possible within the designated period.

１　Customers who purchased tickets via the OMF Web Ticket system
２　Customers who purchased tickets at The Harmony Hall
３　Customers who purchased tickets via Ticket Pia
４　Customers who purchased tickets via e+ (ePlus)
５　Customers who purchased tickets via Lawson Ticket

１　Customers who purchased tickets via the OMF Web Ticket system
　①Customers who paid by credit card (excluding those who have already collected their tickets at 7-Eleven)
　Refund method: Refunds will be automatically processed to the credit card used for payment (no action is required from the customer).
　Refund coverage: Ticket price, handling fees, and shipping fees
　Refund period: Refunds will be processed as soon as preparations are complete.

　②Customers who collected their tickets at 7-Eleven
　Refund method: In-person at the 7-Eleven store where the ticket was issued
　・Please bring your ticket to the 7-Eleven location where it was issued during the refund period. The store name can be found in the lower left corner of your ticket.
　・If it is difficult to visit the store where the ticket was issued, please contact the OMF Festival Office.
　Refund coverage: Ticket price, handling fees, and shipping fees
　Refund period: Aug. 8, 2025 (Fri) – Sep. 30, 2025 (Tue) [Tickets must be brought in within this period]

２　Customers who purchased tickets at The Harmony Hall
　Refund method: You will be contacted individually by The Harmony Hall
　Refund coverage: Ticket price only
　Refund period: Aug. 6 (Wed), 2025 – Aug. 31 (Sun), 2025 | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (in person only)
　Contact　　 The Harmony Hall ☎︎0263-47-2004

３　Customers who purchased tickets via Ticket Pia
　Refund method:
　　The refund method depends on how you received and paid for your tickets.
Please refer to the following page for details:
　　https://t.pia.jp/guide/refund.jsp
　Refund coverage: Ticket price and various handling fees (*payment processing fees are not refundable)
　Refund period: Aug. 8 (Fri), 2025, 10:00 AM – Sep. 30 (Tue), 2025, 11:59 PM
　Contact: Ticket Pia https://t.pia.jp/guide/refund.jsp

４　Customers who purchased tickets via e+ (ePlus)
　Refund method:
Refund procedures vary depending on how you received and paid for your tickets.
Please check the following page and follow the instructions based on your situation:
　　https://eplus.jp/refund1/

Follow the guided questions to check the appropriate refund method for your situation.
　Refund coverage: Ticket price and handling fees (*Bank transfer fees for convenience store/ATM/Pay-easy payments are not refundable)
　Refund period:　 Aug. 8 (Fri), 2025, 10:00 AM – Sep. 30 (Tue), 2025, 11:59 PM  (*Mail refunds must be received by this date)
　Contact: e+ (ePlus) https://eplus.jp/qa/

５　Customers who purchased tickets via Lawson Ticket
　Refund method:
Please take your ticket and any handling fee vouchers to a Lawson or Ministop store and complete the refund process using the Loppi machine.
For details, visit: https://l-tike.com/repayment/
※ If you selected “Store Pickup” and have paid but not yet collected your ticket, you must collect it before applying for a refund. Refunds cannot be processed without the ticket.
　Refund coverage: Ticket price and handling fees (*payment processing fees are not refundable)
　Refund period: Aug. 8 (Fri), 2025, 10:00 AM – Sep. 30 (Tue), 2025, 11:59 PM
　Contact: Lawson Ticket https://faq.l-tike.com/

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General Inquiries
Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival Executive Committee
TEL:0263-39-0001
Email: omf@city.matsumoto.lg.jp

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Cancellation Notice: Mitsuko Shirai & Michael Gees –Liedduo Recital–

The “Mitsuko Shirai & Michael Gees – Liedduo Recital,” scheduled for Aug 15 (Fri) has unfortunately been canceled due to Mitsuko Shirai’s health condition.

Although Ms. Shirai had already arrived in Japan to participate in the OMF Chamber Music Masterclass, she experienced throat problems shortly after her arrival. While her condition does not significantly affect her daily life, she has not recovered sufficiently to perform at the level required for a recital. After consultation with a doctor, Ms. Shirai and all involved had to make a difficult decision to cancel the performance.

The Okushiga Masterclass and Final Recital, along with the "OMF Chamber Music Masterclass –Liedduo Recital–" led by Ms. Shirai, will be held as scheduled.

We deeply apologize to all who were looking forward to this concert.
Details regarding ticket refunds will be announced on the official website and through each ticketing agency at a later date.

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A sculpture honoring the OMF Eternal Director Seiji Ozawa unveiled on the grounds at Tanglewood on July 28!

A sculpture honoring the OMF Eternal Director Seiji Ozawa, who served as the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s music director for 29 years, was unveiled on the grounds at Tanglewood in a private event on July 28.

Kim Taylor, Yo-Yo Ma, Seira Ozawa, Penelope Jencks, Barbara Hostetter (BSO Board Chair), James Taylor, Chad Smith with new Seiji Ozawa sculpture
©Hilary Scott, courtesy of the Boston Symphony

The Ozawa sculpture is the fourth one made by an American artist Penelope Jencks. It was commissioned and generously funded by a composer and Boston Pops Music Director Laureate John Williams and his wife Samantha. The Ozawa sculpture joins Jencks’ earlier busts of Aaron Copland (dedicated in 2011), Leonard Bernstein (2014), and Serge Koussevitzky (2019). It sited on a newly landscaped plaza overlooking Ozawa Hall with an expansive lawn and the Berkshire hills as a serene backdrop.

The event began inside Ozawa Hall with remarks by BSO President and CEO Chad Smith, following a music session by a violinist Keila Wakao who chose in tribute to Ozawa: the Largo from Bach’s Sonata No. 3 in C for solo violin and two works for violin and piano accompanied by Taiwanese pianist Yun Janice Lu: Torū Takemitsu’s Distance de fée and Williams’ own Theme from Sabrina.

The event was attended by a small audience of family and friends including Williams and his daughter Jenny, and Saito Kinen Orchestra (SKO) Representative Seira Ozawa with her son Masaki. They were joined by world renowned artists Yo-Yo Ma, James Taylor, and Emanuel Ax, as well as a BSO assistant principal oboe Keisuke Wakao who is one of the 39 current BSO players who joined the orchestra under Ozawa’s leadership, including several other BSO players.

John Williams and Penelope Jencks listen as Seira Ozawa and Kim Taylor speak at Seiji Ozawa statue dedication event
©Hilary Scott, courtesy of the Boston Symphony

At the conclusion of the musical program, guests gathered outside around the still-shrouded sculpture for the brief remarks by ex-BSO press director who worked closely with Seiji Ozawa and John Williams Caroline (Kim) Taylor and Seira Ozawa. SKO Representative Seira Ozawa then gave a speech recalling the 29 summers she spent at Tanglewood, starting as an infant. She concluded her speech with the following remarks:

I cannot express how happy my Dad was when John came to our summer festival, Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival in 2023, when John made music with Dad’s family like, Saito Kinen Orchestra. John, thank you so much for your love and friendship with Dad. I will never forget this purity of love, respect and friendship between human beings, that you and Dad generously share with everyone. This monument is not only for Dad, it is a “form” of the goodness in human being that we can see and touch, and it lives here forever. I love you, John, like I love Dad. Thank you so much.

Finally, along with Jencks and Taylor, Seira removed the cloth covering the sculpture as Williams and other guest looked on and applauded.

Seira Ozawa, Masaki Ozawa, Kim Taylor, James Taylor and the new Seiji Ozawa statue
©Hilary Scott, courtesy of the Boston Symphony

For the official report made by the BSO Press office, and official program of the event, please see here.
For official media material, please contact OMF press at pr@ozawa-festival.com.

For any further information and additional comments on the event, please contact BSO press office directly.
Contact details can be found at: https://www.bso.org/press.

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Orchestra Concerts (Programs A & B) – Shuttle Bus Available Between Matsumoto Station and Kissei Bunka Hall

For the Orchestra Concert Program A (Aug.23) & B (Aug 30, 31), a special shuttle bus service will run between Matsumoto Station and Kissei Bunka Hall. Please see the details below and make use of this convenient service. We look forward to welcoming you to the concerts!

◼️Shuttle Buss Schedule

○Aug 23 (Sun)– Orchestra Concert Program A

Before the concert:
From Matsumoto Station (Bus Terminal Platform 2): 13:00 / 13:15 / 14:00 / 14:15

After the concert:
From Kissei Bunka Hall: Starting at 17:00 (Drop-off at Matsumoto Station Castle Exit)
The last bus will wait until around 18:00. If you are in a hurry, please take an earlier bus.
Maximum capacity per bus: 40 passengers.

○Aug 30 (Sat) & Aug 31 (Sun) – Orchestra Concert Program B

Before the concert:
From Matsumoto Station (Bus Terminal Platform 2): 13:00 / 13:15 / 14:00 / 14:15

After the concert:
From Kissei Bunka Hall: Starting at 17:00 (Drop-off at Matsumoto Station Castle Exit)
The last bus will wait until around 18:00. If you are in a hurry, please take an earlier bus.
Maximum capacity per bus: 40 passengers.

◼️Bus Ticket Sales
From Matsumoto Station:
Purchase tickets at the special counter at Bus Terminal Platform 2.

From Kissei Bunka Hall:
Purchase tickets at the “Shuttle Bus Ticket Counter” in the lobby. After the concert, if tickets are still available, they will also be sold near the bus boarding area.

*Please note that bus ticket sales will end once the planned number of tickets has been sold. Passengers without a ticket will not be permitted to board. We kindly ask that you use taxis or local buses instead.

◼️Fares
Adults (Junior high school students and above): 250 yen
Children (Elementary school students): 130 yen
Infants (ages 1–6): Free for 1 child per 1 paying adult. If there are 2 infants per adult, a child fare applies for the second child.
Babies under 1 year old: Free.
Payment is cash only. IC cards and QR code payments are not accepted.

Matsumoto Bus Terminal

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Kick Off the Festival Season with Beautiful Harmony at Shinmai MEDIA GARDEN on Aug. 2!

One of the OMF open events that heralds the start of the festival season, the Welcome Concert “Harmony at the City of Music” will take place at Shinmai MEDIA GARDEN Square on Saturday, August 2.
Enjoy the beautiful and powerful voices of the SK Matsumoto Chorus and SK Matsumoto Junior Chorus, joined this year by special guests from China — the Changzhou Poly Children’s Choir.

◼️Welcome Concert "Harmony at the City of Music"
Aug. 2 (Sat) 10:30 - 12:00 (Free admission)
Shinmai MEDIA GARDEN Square (Address: 2-20-2 Chuo, Matsumoto City, Nagano)
*In case of rain: Shinmai MEDIA GARDEN Hall

2025OMF Harmony at the City of Music flyer.pdf

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2025OMF SKO Members Announced for Orchestra Concerts (Programs A & B) and Britten’s "A Midsummer Night’s Dream"!

The full member list of the Saito Kinen Orchestra is now available!
Don’t miss the one-of-a-kind sound created by some of the world’s leading musicians.

Check the links below to see the SKO members performing in each program!

Orchestra Concert Program A SKO Member List
Orchestra Concert Program B SKO Member List
Opera Britten: “A Midsummer Night's Dream”