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Opera Tchaikovsky "Eugene Onegin" Backstage Tour

　Opera Tchaikovsky "Eugene Onegin" will host a backstage tour on Aug 22 (Thu). Please see below for details.

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【Opera Tchaikovsky "Eugene Onegin" Backtage tour】

Aug 22 (Thu) After 15:00PM performance
*No backstage tour on 20 and 24.

＜About＞
◯Participants must have Aug 22 performance ticket.
◯Maximum 50 people can participate. Please apply through application form at the venue on the day of the performance. When the number of people were more than 50, we will hold a lottery.
◯The application form is open from 14:00PM to 15:00PM. We will announce the participants during intermission.
◯Tour is about 30 min.
◯The tour may be cancelled for unavoidable circumstances.

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Opera Tchaikovsky "Eugene Onegin" Cast Change Announcement

Baritone singer Mariusz Kwiecien, who was to sing the title role in Opera Tchaikovsky Eugene Onegin on August 20, 22, and 24, has stepped down due to a knee injury.

Mr. Kwiecien sustained an injury to his knee on July 5 while performing in the Mozart opera Le nozze di Figaro at Bayerische Staatsoper (Germany). He underwent surgery on July 16, but has been diagnosed as requiring a few weeks to recuperate, rendering it impossible for him to come to Japan for OMF on August 7 as scheduled and to participate in the rehearsals and performances. It has thus been decided that his appearance in Eugene Onegin must be canceled. We deeply apologize to those who were looking forward to Mr. Kwiecien’s performance.

Turkish baritone Levent Bakirci will sing in place of Mr. Kwiecien. In 2018, Mr. Bakirci made his debut at the Festival of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino in the title role of Il prigioniero by Luigi Dallapiccola. He returned to the festival in 2019 as Graf von Gloster in Aribert Reimann’s Lear under the baton of Fabio Luisi, and is invited back in 2020 for Pizarro/Fidelio, under the baton of Zubin Mehta. Mr. Bakirci is an up-and-coming singer highly commended by Maestro Luisi, and we invite you to look forward to his performance.

Please see here for Levent Bkirci Profile

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Opera Tchaikovsky "Eugene Onegin"
Aug 20 (Tue) 18:30
Aug 22 (Thu) 15:00
Aug 24 (Sat) 15:00
Matsumoto Performing Arts Centre Main Hall
　
（Scheduled Cast）Eugene Onegin : Mariusz Kwiecien
（Cast change）Eugene Onegin : Levent Bakirci

Saito Kinen Orchestra
Conductor : Fabio Luisi

※Please note that no ticket refunds or exchanges will be made due to this change.

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Trumpet Clinic By Gábor Tarkövi !

Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival has been passionate about teaching local school children who plays music as one of the open events "Instrumental Clinic". We are thrilled to announce that this year the world famous trumpet player Gábor Tarkövi will be having special Trumpet Clinic and Master Class in Matsumoto.

Mr. Tarkövi will teach selected local school children (elementary to high school students) the basic technique of trumpet which followed by a group lesson. At the later part of the day, Mr. Tarkovi teaches 2 trumpet members from Seiji Ozawa Music Academy Orchestra as master class. The trumpet clinic, group lesson and master class are all open to public for audit. It will be an amazing opportunity for anyone who plays and/or teaches brass instruments.

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Trumpet Clinic ＆ Master Class

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Chamber Concert program details announcement!

We are happy to announce the program details of Chamber Concert I, II and III.
On 3 weekends in August the Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival present you the colorful and excellent series of music. On the 2nd day of the festival, The Chamber Concert I welcomes again the Seiji Ozawa International Academy Switzerland that the director Ozawa has been nourished for over 15 years. They will perform several string quartets and octet. Along with Academy Switzerland, Ozawa keeps his passion into educating Ozawa International Chamber Music Academy Okushiga. The alums of the Academy Okushiga will join the Switzerland members and play String Quartet No.16 (string orchestra), a piece that Beethoven completed at the last in his life. Please see their performance from previous year concert here.

Chamber Concert II presents the all Beethoven program. Saito Kinen Orchestra oboe section plaies trio performance at the first half of the program. The trio was formed when Philippe Tondre won the Beethoven Ring award for the first time as an oboe player, and ever since they call themselves as "Ring Trio" and performs vigorously mainly in Europe. Tondre, Matthieu Petitjean and Max Werner studied at the Conservatoire in Paris, they make a perfect trio performance. In the later half, SKO members give you superb septet by Beethoven.

One of the must-listen programs is string sextet by Brahms leaded by Takayoshi Wanami. The chamber concert regular Jacques Zoon and Iseut Chuat will perform together with Naoko Yoshino (harp) and Akira Eguchi (piano) in Chamber Concert III.

The tickets for Chamber Concerts and OMF Chamber Study Group -Liedduo- Recital are now available at The Harmony Hall.

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2019OMF pre-event at Ginza NAGANO!

We are happy to announce that we will come back to Ginza NAGANO, the Nagano pref shop in Ginza for the 4th time. Saito Kinen Orchestra members Ribon Aida (violin) and Maiko Takimoto (viola) will perform 2 concerts; one for children and one for classical music fans.
2019OMF tickets and previous merchandises are aslo available for purchase at the venue. It will be the only chance that you can purchase 2019OMF ticket at window in Tokyo.

Please see below for the program details and see here for reservation.

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Date: July 7 (Sun)
Event: Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival comes to Ginza
Venue：Ginza NAGANO 2F Event Space （NOCO Build. 1/2/4F 5-6-5, Ginza, Chuo, Tokyo)

①11:00-11:30 Mini Concert for Children
【Artists】Ribon Aida＆Maiko Takimoto
【Program】Mozart: Duo for Violin and Viola in G Major
J.S. Bach: Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major
Ysaÿe: Violin Sonata in A Minor, Op. 27, No. 2 and more

【Price】Adult：1000 yen　/ Child （up to Junior High School Children): Free

②14:00-14:45 Salon Concert & Talk
【Artists】Ribon Aida＆Maiko Takimoto
【Program】Mozart: Duo for Violin and Viola in G Major
J.S. Bach: Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1009, IV. Sarabande
Ysaÿe: Violin Sonata in A Minor, Op. 27, No. 2
Halvorsen: Passacaglia in G Minor
Martinů: Duo No. 1, H. 313, "3 Madrigals"

【Price】Adult：3000 yen

Please see here for reservation

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Pre-event at Shinmai MEDIA GARDEN!

2019OMF pre-events will take place at newly-open Shinmai MEDIA GARDEN in Matsumoto! The rising star Baritone Takaoki Onishi who is one of cover casts at Opera: Tchaikovsky "Eugene Onegin", and Saito Kinen Orchestra piano/celesta player Mariko Kobayashi are going to make 2 performances on July 6 (Sat).

A native of Tokyo, Japan, baritone Takaoki Onishi is quickly gaining recognition as one of the most talented singers of his generation. In just one year, he won the Top Prize in Gerda Lissner International Vocal Competition, and the First Prize in both the Opera Index, Inc. Vocal Competition and the Licia Albanese-Puccini International Vocal Competition. He also received a prize in the 2013 Loren L. Zachary Competition. Most recently, he was named First Prize winner in the 2015 Giulio Gari Competition. Mr. Onishi will sing aria from "Eugene Onegin" as well as famous number "Ombra mai fu".

Shinmai Media Garden will be filled with music on the day of the event! Before the OMF concert, Gakuto Matsumoto Live will perform at the entrance square of the venue. Also you may enjoy OMF previous concerts videos between the concerts.

OMF merchandise and 2019OMF tickets are also available for purchase! It will be the only place you can purchase tickets includes Orchestra Concerts at window in Nagano pref. All programs are free of charge! We are looking forward to seeing you!

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OMF Pre-event Afternoon Concert

Date: July 6 (Sat)
Venue: Shinmai MEDIA GARDEN 1F Hall (2-20-2, Chuo, Matsumoto, Nagano) MAP
Artists: Takaoki Onishi (Baritone)
Mariko Kobayashi (Piano)
Time: ①　13:00 - 13:30 Concert　
　　　②　13:30 - 15:00 OMF previous videos
　　　③　15:00 - 15:30 Concert　
　　 12:00 - 16:00 OMF tickets & merchandise are available for purchase 　

※The program of concert ① and ③ are the same.
※Please see here for details of Gakuto Matsumoto Live from 12:00 PM.
※No parking area for visitors. Please use general parking nearby.

Programs：
Rossini: Il barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville), -Largo al factotum
Handel: Serse (Xerxes), HWV40, - Ombra mai fu
Tchaikovsky: Eugene Onegin, Op.24, TH.5, - Vi mnye pisali - Uzhel ta samaya Tatyana

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Seiji Ozawa Music Academy Brass Ensemble performs at Randonée Picnic 2019 in Matsumoto!

Seiji Ozawa Music Academy Brass Ensemble performs at Randonée Picnic 2019 in Matsumoto again!

The outdoor event Randonée Picnic marks its 3rd year to be held in Agata no Mori Koen in Matsumoto city. The event organizes various work shops, fashion show, live stages and talk events. 2 years in a row, Seiji Ozawa Music Academy Orchestra Brass Ensemble quintet performs refreshing harmony with popular children's songs, Disney medley and more.

Also at OMF booth, we will have "Brass Instruments Touch and Play" service. We will have some brass instruments for adult and kids, and brass artists will kindly teach you how to play them. Children are all welcome here.

Date: June 22 (Sat) and 23 (Sun) 【2 stages】

Venue：Agata no Mori Koen Heiwa Hiroba (3-2102-4, Agata, Matsumoto, Nagano) MAP
① June 22 (Sat) 13:30 - 14:00
② June 23 (Sun) 13:15 - 13:45

Artists：Seiji Ozawa Music Academy Orchestra Brass Ensemble (quintet)

Trumpet：Ryutaro Hagehashi, Ken Yoshii
Horn：Haruna Horiguchi
Trombone：Akari Minami
Tuba：Tsuyoshi Wakabayashi

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Randonnée Picnic 2019 in Matsumoto　（Japanese only)
Date: June 22 (Sat) - June 23 (Sun), 2019
Schedule: Day 1: 10:00-17:00 / Day 2: 10:00-16:00
Venue: Agata no Mori Koen Heiwa Hiroba (3-2102-4, Agata, Matsumoto, Nagano) MAP
Entrance: Free

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OMF Pre-event at MARUNOUCHI RUGBY FESTIVAL!

To celebrate Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan, Seiji Ozawa Music Academy Orchestra Brass Ensemble members will make a performance at MARUNOUCHI RUGBY FESTIVAL. The OMF Director Seiji Ozawa is a huge fan of rugby and he participated this festival to mark this historical sport event. The Brass Ensemble will be on a stage of ART SCRUM Opening Event on June 15th (Sat). They will perform the World Cup theme song "World in Union" as well. We are looking forward to seeing you!

Date: June 15 (Sat)

Event: MARUNOUCHI RUGBY FESTIVAL ART SCRUM Opening Event
Venue：Marubiru 1F Maru Cube
　　　(2-4-1, Marunouchi, Chiyoda, Tokyo)
Performance: 15:15-16:30
Seiji Ozawa Music Academy Orchestra Brass Ensemble (Octet)

Trumpet ：Ryutaro Hagehashi, Ken Yoshii, Chika Suzuki
Horn: Haruna Horiguchi
Trombone: Akari Minami, Ryo Inoue
Bass Trombone: Kohei Yamada
Tuba: Tsuyoshi Wakabayashi

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Don't miss our pre-event stage at Flower Festival!

OMF will present you series of mini concerts to celebrate this year's festival at several events.

First we will perform at Shinshui Hana Festa 2019 (Shinshu Flower Festival) . 8 brass ensemble from Seiji Ozawa Music Academy will make performances. s
Please come and enjoy our mini-concerts in early-summer!

Date: Jun 1st (Sat) and 2nd (Sun) 【Total 3 stages】
Event: Shinshu Hana Festa 2019
Venue：Nagano Matsumotodaira Koiki Koen（Shinshu Sky Park）
　　　①June 1st (Sat) 14:30-15:00　＠Hare No Hiroba (outdoor stage)
　　　②June 2nd (Sun) 11:30-12:00 ＠Hare No Hiroba (outdoor stage)
　　　③June 2nd (Sun) 13:30-14:00 ＠Yamabiko Dome (indoor stage)
Seiji Ozawa Music Academy Orchestra Brass Ensemble (Octet)

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2019OMF Leaflet and message from Director Seiji Ozawa are here!

2019 Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival Leaflet is here!

Please take a look at the details of 8 paid programs, educational programs, open events, Saito Kinen Orchestra member list (as of today) and seating map.
（Ticket Information Dial written on the leaflet will be open on May 9th (thu) 10:00 AM)

2019OMF Leaflet (PDF)

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Message from Director Seiji Ozawa

This will be the 28th season since the Saito Kinen Orchestra settled in Matsumoto and launched a music festival. It has been many years now, and I sense that the seeds we planted are gradually starting to bear fruit.
When I’m riding a train or walking along a road in Tokyo, sometimes a young, respectable stranger will approach me and say, “I performed under your baton at the gymnasium or castle in Matsumoto a long time ago.”
Some children who sang in the Children’s Chorus in operas I conducted are now working hard as professional singers. All of these bring me the greatest happiness. 　
I am thrilled that this year, Fabio (Luisi) will conduct the opera for the first time in a while, and that our close colleague Radek (Baborák) will conduct at Matsumoto for the first time.
Diego (Matheuz), who has become a familiar presence at the Festival, is another conductor whom I greatly trust.
Also, I am personally very excited because the programs are full of pieces that I love. 　

Together with my deeply treasured Saito Kinen Orchestra, I wholeheartedly look forward to seeing everyone this summer in Matsumoto.
I would also be absolutely delighted if the music we create in Matsumoto continues to reach many.