The new sign board at Matsumoto City Hall in Ote has been renewed and features a photo of the Saito Kinen Orchestra and Director Seiji Ozawa in 2016, alongside the festival logo. Matsumoto is ready for the Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival and welcomes you to come and enjoy the city as well!
"Unraveling Le nozze di Figaro with the Cembalo" will be held at the Agata no Mori Bunka Kaikan Auditorium with two artists from the opera. Mr. Takuya Nemoto, who has been a regular face at the festival for many years and will be the opera’s chorus conductor, will analyze the charm of the opera by playing selections from "Le nozze di Figaro" on the cembalo. At the same event Stage Director Laurie Feldman will give a presentation about the production, which is based on the original concept by director Laurent Pelly and with whom she has collaborated closely throughout the creation.
For those eager to enjoy the opera more deeply, or for those who have yet to decide to attend this year’s production, please join and rediscover the beauty of the opera by hearing from both artists!
"The 30th Anniversary Demae Concert” is also scheduled at the Matsumoto City Museum of Art on the same day. Female cover singers of "Le nozze di Figaro" will perform highlights from the famous opera. Both events are free of charge. Enjoy the great opportunity!
2022OMF Special Event -Unraveling Le nozze di Figaro with the Cembalo-
Aug. 7 (Sun) Agata no Mori Bunka Kaikan Auditorium
Door Open：10:30 ／ Start：11:00 ／ Close：12:00
Starring：Takuya Nemoto ("Le nozze di Figaro" Chorus Master)
Laurie Feldman ("Le nozze di Figaro" Stage Director)
Entrance Free
Max: 150 people
30th Anniversary Demae Concert in Matsumoto City Museum of Art - Le nozze di Susanna?-
Aug. 7 (Sun) Matsumoto City Museum of Art Entrance Hall
Door Open：18:15 ／ Start：18:30 ／ Close：19:30
Starring：Marlen Nahhas (La Contessa di Almaviva)
Rena Fujii (Susanna)
Yuki Akimoto (Cherubino)
Ai Ishii (Marcellina)
Karin Tsunezuka (Barbarina)
Entrance Free
Max: 80 people
Celebrating 30 years with new artwork! Mosaic Art at Matsumoto Station has been installed to commemorate the 30th anniversary of OMF.
The mosaic art is made of more than 40,000 photos taken at the festival from 1992 to 2021, creating the image of Seiji Ozawa and the Saito Kinen Orchestra. The photos include not only performances, but also significant festival events such as Parades and Joint Concerts in which the citizens of Matsumoto also participated. The large art piece welcomes all visitors to “The Music City Matsumoto”.
Singers and pianists who participate OMF Chamber Music Study Group - Liedduo - Recital are now on the website.
This year, the festival welcomes Ms. Mitsuko Shirai as a teacher again since 2019 and has Liedduo Masterclass at Okushiga Kogen. We will have concerts in Okushiga and Matsumoto to show their growth.
OMF Photo Exhibitions are now taking place at MIDORI Matsumoto and The Hachijuni Bank Gallery in Ote, Matsumoto city.
2022OMF Festival Photo Exhibition
MIDORI MATSUMOTO 2F
July 19 (Tue) - September 8 (Thu)
The Hachijuni Bank Gallery
July 15 (Fri) - September 9 (Fri)
Exhibitions of photographs from SKF/OMF taken by official photographer Michiharu Okubo.
Chamber Concert III ～SKO Brass Ensemble～ performance video is arrived! Please see Program Page for the great performance video. The video is a live from 2019 Tokyo performance.
10 days till 2022OMF all tickets go on sale!
Here is a short movie of our beautiful hometown, Matsumoto city in Nagano prefecture.
We are looking forward to seeing you in Matsumoto!
【Let’s go to Matsumoto Short Movie】
2022 Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival Official Leaflet has arrived! As well as the list of all programs of this year, you may find the most anticipated Saito Kinen Orchestra Member list too. The printed version will be available at classical music concerts and concert halls. Please take a look when you find the signature cover by Mr. Hiroshi Senju with OMF 30th specail logo.
※Saito Kinen Orchestra Member List includes musicians who play at "30th Anniversary Special Concerts" in November. Member list of each programs will be announced shortly.
Born in 1992 (then as the Saito Kinen Festival Matsumoto), the Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival marks its 30th anniversary this year. This will be the first festival in three years, having been cancelled consecutively in 2020 and 2021. In this milestone anniversary year, the festival will be held for 28 days, from Saturday, August 13, through Friday, September 9. Not only that, after the summer this year, we will hold a special concert in November as well.
Please see Program pages for each programs information. Tickets go on sale on June 11 (Sat) 10:00 AM (JPT).
While prudently implementing measures to prevent transmission of COVID-19, we are preparing to deliver the best in performances to venues in Matsumoto and Nagano Cities.
After having done concert tours in the West since 1987, good fortune brought the Saito Kinen Orchestra and me to establish Matsumoto as our home and launch the festival in 1992. We mark our 30th anniversary this year.
I still vividly remember the apprehension of the first year. We boldly filled the stage of the freshly-built Matsumoto Bunka Kaikan (now Kissei Bunka Hall) with water in its inauguration with Oedipus Rex, which won an Emmy Award in the US. I was also amazed at how fans set up tents to camp out by the booths before tickets went on sale. The many concerts with the Saito Kinen Orchestra, which is my musical family, and the many innovative and ambitious opera productions all hold special memories for me, such as the outdoor opera (La damnation de Faust) held in the garden of Matsumoto Castle, the 1000 Voices chorus, and joint concerts with the children of Matsumoto. The festival was welcomed by the majestic nature and warm people of Matsumoto, and I am truly delighted that this has continued for 30 years. I am thankful anew for the support of audiences and the local Matsumoto community.
The orchestra concert in the first year opened with Ceremonial, for which the festival commissioned Toru Takemitsu. The orchestra concert this year again will start with Ceremonial. I believe that this will be a special concert that links the past 30 years to the coming 30 years. This year, we will also hold special autumn concerts in November to celebrate our 30th anniversary.
I invite you to enjoy our festival this summer in Matsumoto, and in November in Nagano as well. The Saito Kinen Orchestra members and I look forward to seeing you.
Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival Director