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
