The 2023 OMF Screen Concert, which was scheduled to be held in Takao City, Taiwan, today on Sep. 3rd (Sun) at 19:00, has been postponed due to the typhoon. The new date and time will be announced in due course.
The Screen concert in Taipei will be held at Breeze Cinemas from 15:30 and 19:00 as initially scheduled.
Director Seiji Ozawa's long time friend John Williams came to Japan for the first time since 1993. Seiji’s long-awaited dream of co-starring with John Williams finally came true today.
As soon as the concert program was announced in February this year, there was an immediate huge response. For the first time in the festival's history, advance ticket sales were made by lottery, and the overall application rate was 14 times higher. The auditorium was filled with anticipation even before the performance began, marking the beginning of the last orchestral performance of the summer.
In the first half, two pieces related to Japan were conducted by Maestro Stéphane Denève. Mo. Denève who is well trusted by Mo. John Williams, conducted the gala concert celebrating Mo. John Williams' 90th birthday. It opened with "Sound the Bells", which was composed to commemorate the marriage of Prince Naruhito Princess Masako (at the time), and "Tributes! (For Seiji)", which was written to celebrate the quarter-century artistic collaboration between Seiji Ozawa and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. “Distant Earth” Suite, and “E.T.”' followed raising expectations for the second half.
The appearance of Mo. John Williams on stage inflamed the audience. “Superman March” was met with enthusiastic applause from the audience!
Mo.Williams spoke to the audience about his return to Japan after 30 years and the joy of re-uniting with beloved friend and the Director Seiji Ozawa. Cellist Sumire Kudo translated the message for the Japanese audience.
"Schindler's List" theme was played with Yasushi Toyoshima’s melancholic violin solo. Songs from “Harry Potter” and “Star Wars” were also played. The auditorium was filled with emotions. After the encores of "Yoda's Theme," "Raiders' March," and "Imperial March," the audience gave a long standing ovation for Mo.Williams and SKO.
Director Ozawa also appeared during endless curtain calls. Mo. John Williams, Mo. Stéphane Denève and SKO members appeared on the stage with the customary prefectural flower, gentian. Never ending enthusiastic and warm applause erupted from both the stage and the audience commented on the success of the performance. Thank you everyone who came to today!
Tomorrow, September 3rd, special screen concerts of the performance will be held at two locations in Matsumoto City. Free admission to the screen concert at Matsumoto Castle Park. Please experience the exciting performance yourself!
“I’m so pleased to have been able to return to Japan after so many years. Performing my music with the brilliant Saito Kinen Orchestra and most importantly reuniting with my dear friend Seiji Ozawa has been, for me, the honor of a lifetime.”
─ John Williams
“Thank you John for coming to Matsumoto.
My dream of you conducting and experiencing the SKO came true. I feel so fortunate and happy. It was wonderful. Thank you!”
─ Seiji Ozawa
Thank you for coming to Orchestra Concert Program B at Kissei Bunka Hall.
Encore were:
John Williams: Yoda's Theme
Raiders March
Imperial March
Orchestra Concert Program B Tickets for the Day Information
Sep. 2 (Sat) performance
Venue: Kissei Bunka Hall
Tickets Sold Out
Door Open: 14:30
Start: 15:00
The educational program “Opera for Children" invites first-year junior high school students in Nagano Prefecture to opera performances.
The history of the educational program goes back to 1992 with the founding of the Saito Kinen Festival Matsumoto. Director Seiji Ozawa’s strong passion has kept the program going for 30 years, and more than 430,000 children have been invited to opera performances.
The students enjoyed Act 1 and 2 from Puccini's "La Bohème". Before the performance began, an introduction to orchestral instruments was given. Eijiro Takanashi, who played the role of Alcindoro, served as the narrator and members of the Seiji Ozawa Academy Orchestra appeared from various locations such as the stage and audience to introduce the sounds of 14 instruments.
Under the direction of Maestro Diego Matheuz, the students were fascinated by the natural power of the singers' voices, the live performance of the orchestra, the luxurious stage equipment, and the dramatic story unfolding up close. The 2023 OMF "Opera for Children" was enjoyed by approximately 4,300 first-year junior high school students from 59 schools in Nagano prefecture.
Chamber Concert III Tickets information
Venue: The Harmony Hall
Tickets for the Day Sales Start: 17:30
Ticket Price: ¥6000 / U-25: ¥3000（All seats reserved）
Door Open: 18:30
Start: 19:00
Thank you for coming to Chamber Concert II～SKO Brass Ensemble～ at The Harmony Hall.
Encore were:
Alan Menken: A Whole New World
Joe Zawinul: Birdland
Aug. 29 (Tue) Chamber Concert II～SKO Brass Ensemble～ Tickets for the Day Information
Chamber Concert II～SKO Brass Ensemble～ Tickets information
Aug. 29 (Tue) performance
Venue: The Harmony Hall
Tickets Sold Out
Door Open: 18:30
Start: 19:00
The orchestra concert being held at Kissei Bunka Hall on September 2nd (Sun) will be available for public viewing at two venues in Taiwan: The Breeze Cinemas in Taipei and, at the Headphone Cinema (National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts) in Kaohsiung.
2023OMF Screen Concert in Taiwan
Date: Sep 3 (sun)
Place&Time:
Taipei City - Breeze Cinemas 15:30 / 19:00
Takao City - Headphone Cinema, National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts 19:00
Program (Recorded LIVE Screening)
2023OMF Orchestra Concert Program B
Bonus: ONE EARTH MISSION - Unite with Music
For details (Chinese only), please visit: https://www.muzik-jp.com/ozawa-festival
The concert began with “Symphonic Dance” from Bernstein's "West Side Story", then the masterpiece of John Williams' "Tuba Concerto" performed by soloist Yasuhito Sugiyama, followed by Poulenc's "Stabat Mater" with Soprano Isabel Leonard’s pure voice and the powerful voices of the OMF Choir and the Tokyo Opera Singers. The enthusiasm of the audience climaxed after the performance of Ravel's "Daphnis and Chloé". Stéphane Denève led the SKO again after a brilliant performance in 2013, and this time was very well received by the audience as well!
Please look forward to Orchestra Concert B on Sep. 2nd! (*Tickets are sold out)
