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2018OMF Kazuyoshi Akiyama X SKO Orchestra Concert Program B on NHK-FM "Best of Classic "!

2018 Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival Orchestra Concert Program B will be broadcast on Nov 23 19:30- on NHK-FM radio.
You can enjoy the all French program on radio, PC and smartphones through website or apps.
・NHK radio
・radiko.jp

<On Air Schedule> Nov 23 (Fri) 19:30 - 21:10
NHK-FM "Best of Classic"

<Program>
Ibert: Ouverture de fête
Debussy: Prélude à L'après-midi d'un faune
Ravel: Boléro
Saint-Saëns: Symphony No.3 in C minor, Op. 78 “Organ”
<Performance> Saito Kinen Orchestra
<Conductor> Kazuyoshi Akiyama
<Recorded> 2018 Ag 31 at Kissei Bunka Hall (Matsumoto)

*Program B will be screened on Nov 9 18:00 - outdoor screen concert at Roppongi Hills Arena.
For more information please click here.

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Saito Kinen Orchestra Brass Ensemble Japan Tour 2019 Ticket Information are Out!

Ticket information on Saito Kinen Orchestra Brass Ensemble Matumoto, Osaka, Tokyo performances are out!
Matsumoto Osaka and Tokyo Tickets go on sale on Nov 24 (Sat) 10AM.
Please see program page for how to purchase your tickets!
Don't miss out the sublime performance of world top class brass, timpani & percussion artists!

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2018OMF Orchestra Concert Program B on big screen! Nov 9(Fri)18:00 @Roppongi Hills Arena

2018 Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival Orchestra Concert Program B will be screened at Roppongi Hills Arena on Nov 9 (Fri) 18:00!
Please enjoy Saito Kinen Orchestra's memorable performance under the baton of Maestro Kazuyoshi Akiyama, which took place on Aug 31 at Kissei Bunka Hall in Matsumoto city.
Entrance free, we look forward to seeing you at Roppongi!

2018OMF Orchestra Concert Program B / Screen Concert in Tokyo
Date: Nov 9 (Fri) 18:00-20:00 (subject to change)
Venue: Roppongi Hills Arena
Program:
　Ibert: Ouverture de fête
　Debussy: Prélude à L'après-midi d'un faune
　Ravel: Boléro
　Saint-Saëns: Symphony No.3 in C minor, Op. 78 “Organ”
Saito Kinen Orchestra
Conductor: Kazuyoshi Akiyama
Recorded: Aug 31 at Kissei Bunka Hall in Matsumoto

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Saito Kinen Orchestra Brass Ensemble Japan Tour in 2019!

Saito Kinen Orchestra Brass Ensemble was born in 2015 at Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival Chamber Concert. Their sublime sound mesmerized the audience and the 12 members came back on the stage at the curtain call many times to appreciate the never-ending applause. OMF Director Seiji Ozawa has complete confidence in the world top class brass and percussion players of Saito Kinen Orchestra. The Saito Kinen Orchestra Brass Ensemble was formed out of two voices. One is the player's will, which is "We want all the Japanese to know about the OMF. And we'd very much like to play as us, this 12 players". And the other is strong request from the audience that they want to see more of their performances. Answering the two voices, Saito Kinen Orchestra Brass Ensemble had started touring in January 2017. Their quests for the sublimation of their harmony jumped out from the festival, and they went to 4 cities; Tokyo, Matsumoto, Mito and Hiroshma.
Their reputation goes through the nation, and the 3 performance of 4 were all sold out. They reached to the young generations who don't know OMF or SKO yet. We are proud to announce that SKO Brass Ensemble again goes on Japan tour and this time they perform at 7 cities; Matsumoto, Tokai, Osaka, Hiroshima, Mito, Iwaki and Tokyo! Don't miss out the great performance.

For more details of each performances and ticket information, please see Program Page.

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2019OMF Seiji Ozawa, Fabio Luisi and Mitsuko Uchida!

We are happy to announce 2019 Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival programs.

Fabio Luisi, who made a fantastic performance in 2017OMF, is coming back to Matsumoto and this time he will conduct Opera and Orchestra Concert. It will be his 5th time to join the festival, and this is the highest number among all the guest conductors. Fabio and Saito Kinen Orchestra always make a great harmony and it is already promised that 2019OMF Opera will be one of the greatest performances of all time. Fabio made his debut in Saito Kinen Festival Matsumoto in 2014, conducting Verdi: Opera Falstaff.

Next year, Fabio will conduct Tchaikovsky: Eugene Onegen in Robert Carsen production. It would be the first time for Saito Kinen Orchestra to perform at opera production since 2015. This is going to one of the must-see programs next year.

Along with Fabio Luisi, Mitsuko Uchida, the world-famous piano player who also made a terrific performance in 2017OMF will be back in Matsumoto. Audience will never forget the wonderful performance of 2017OMF Orchestra Concert Program C Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.3 in C minor, Op. 37 with Maestro Seiji Ozawa. Next year we will witness another historic performance.

Program details will be announced later. Ticket sales are scheduled in June 2019. Please look forward to 2019OMF!

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2018OMF close with 9543 audience!

2018 Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival closed its curtain on Sep. 7 (fri). This year we had in total 8 official programs / 8 performances and 9543 audience came to enjoy the festival.

The last but not the least program was Concert for Children. This is one of Director Ozawa's passion projects, and intended for Nagano Prefecture elementary school sixth grade students, delivered by Seiji Ozawa Music Academy Orchestra. The concert took place in Matsumoto and Nagano cities, and about 10,000 students from 174 schools joined.

The program was Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67 by Seiji Ozawa Music Academy Orchestra under the baton of Tatsuya Shimono. Introduction of Instruments were also performed, to explain which instrument make what kind of sound.
After Symphony No.5, they all played "Shinano no Kuni" with the students. This song was performed many times during 2018OMF. Please watch a short clip featuring "Shinano no Kuni" performed during the festival.

Sep.6 (thu) Concert for Children was open to the public for the first time. About 600 Nagano prefecture residents came to listen to the concert at Matsumoto City Gymnasium.
With Concert for Children on Sep.7 (fri), all the programs in 2018OMF finished. We would like to express all the gratitude for the audience, volunteer staffs and people in Matsumoto and Nagano prefecture. Thank you all for your support!

---

Message from Director Seiji Ozawa

I am deeply disappointed that I was unable to be in Matsumoto this year.
But my heart was always in Matsumoto.
I will surely go next year!

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OMF Opera by Seiji Ozawa Music Academy Orchestra Puccinni: Gianni Schicchi & Chamber Concert III all finished!

2018OMF one of the main programs; OMF Opera by Seiji Ozawa Music Academy Orchestra Puccini: "Gianni Schicchi" was performed on Sep. 1 (Sat) at Matsumoto Performing Arts Centre. International casts wonderfully portraited characters from 13th century Italy, under the direction of Derrick Inouye (conductor) and David Kneuss (Director) . In total 1504 audience enjoyed the 50 min performance with Introduction of Instruments.

2018OMF main programs are finished last night. On Sep. 6 (thu) and Sep. 7 (fri), we have Concert for Children at Matsumoto City Gymnasium and Nagano Hokuto Hall. Seiji Ozawa Music Academy Orchestra plays Beethoven: Symphony No.5 in C minor, Op. 67 with conductor Tatsuya Shimono.

The final program of Chamber Concert took place at The Harmony Hall in Matsumoto city on Sep. 1 (sat). In total 11 artists played Mozart, Debussy, Respighi and Brahms. Masaharu Yamamoto, Yuki Hamasaki (clarinet) and Masaru Yoshida (bassoon) performed Mozart: 5 Divertimento in B-flat major, K439b, No. 2 in soft but great harmony.

Kazuko Shinozaki (harp) played beautiful Debussy: Danse sacrée et Danse profane with strings quartet.
Kei Shirai, Takumi Komoriya (violin), Ryo Oshima (viola) and Rei Tsujimoto (cello) made a perfect unity when they performed Respighi: Quartetto dorico, P144.
Brahms: Piano Trio No. 1 in B major, Op. 8 (arranged by Jacques Zoon for flute, cello and piano) by Jacques Zoon (flute), Iseut Chuat (cello) and Momo Kodama (piano) closed the perfect night. The golden trio gave audience spectacular experience and received the big applause.

　　　

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2018OMF Orchestra Concert Programs Finale!

2018OMF Orchestra Concert Programs came to an end last weekend with Orchestra Concert Program C "OMF Gig". In total 5695 audience came to Matsumoto to enjoy the concerts.

Kazuyoshi Akiyama, who were taught by late Hideo Saito, conducted Saito Kinen Orchestra for the first time in 14 years. Director Ozawa asked Mo. Akiyama when he was thinking the program, saying "please choose something we've never done at the festival". So Akiyama made all French programs, and it paid off greatly.
The first half was consisted of Ibert: Ouverture de fête, Debussy: Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune and Ravel: Boléro. After the intermission, 89 SKO members and Mo. Akiyama performed Saint-Saens: Symphony No.3 in C minor, Op. 78 "Organ". 1852 audience sent passionate and long applause to the great artists.

　　

On Sep. 2 (Sat), Orchestra Concert Program C "OMF Gig" closed the whole Orchestra Concert. The Philadelphia Orchestra assistant conductor Kensho Watanabe made his Japan debut in this program, with 2 Bernstein music; Overture to Candide and Three Dance Episodes from On the Town. Kensho conducted the orchestra with sharp and energetic instructions, and the audience welcomed his first and memorable performance.
The last piece of the first half was Gershwin: An American in Paris under the baton of Diego Matheuz. Strong bond between SKO and Diego made the performance excellent and described the scenery of Paris in early 20th Century completely.
After the intermission, Marcus Roberts Trio performed 4 songs from《West Side Story》. The concert hall transformed to a comfortable Jazz hall with great performance of the three.
Gershwin: I Got Rhythm Variation was the last number to close the night. SKO, Marcus Roberts Trio and Diego Matheuz performed memorable performance that told us the joy of life.
1865 audience gave them great applause, and artists said goodbye to the audience with Gentian flowers in their hands, saying "Until next year!".

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Orchestra Concert Program A Thunder of applause to SKO X Diego Matheuz!

＜Aug. 26 (Sun) Orchestra Concert Progam A>

The first 2018OMF Orchestra Concert took place at the Kissei Bunka Hall on Aug. 26 (Sun). The conductor was Diego Matheuz who had performed at the festival twice before. Despite his young age, he superbly conducted the war-horse Saito Kinen Orchestra and played Tchaikovsky: Symphony No.5 in E minor, Op. 64. The full-house audience gave a thunder of applause to the great artists.

The concert started with Prokofiev: Symphony No.1 in D major, Op. 25 “Classical”. During the 4 years absent from the festival, Diego gained additional force and conducted SKO beautifully. Then move to Haydn: Sinfonia Concertante in B-flat major, Hob.I: 105 (without conductor) with great soloists from SKO; Kyoko Takezawa (violin), Dai Miyata (cello), Philippe Tondre (oboe), and Marc Goldberg (bassoon). The harmony of 4 soloists and SKO mesmerized the 2000 audience. They played unscheduled encore to reply non-stop applause.

After the break, 80 SKO artists and Matheuz started Tchaikovsky. Matheuz conducted Tchaikovsky: Symphony No.4 when he came to the festival for the first time in 2011 and made a great success. The audience loved the 50 min performance and gave Matheuz and SKO enthusiastic and big applause. Matheuz will conduct SKO on Sep. 2nd (Sun) at the Orchestra Concert Program C again.

On the day before Orchestra Concert, Chamber Concert II took place at The Harmony Hall in Matsumoto city. The great piano duo Mari Kodama and Momo Kodama played Messiaen, Debussy and Tchaikovsky beautifully . It was their first time to perform at OMF as a duo. After the duo session, SKO members joined and performed Poulenc and Saint-Saëns: Le carnaval des animaux. Audience enjoyed the great harmony of two pianos and orchestra.

＜Aug. 25 (Sat) Chamber Concert II>

2018OMF one of the main programs; OMF Opera by Seiji Ozawa Music Academy Orchestra Puccini: "Gianni Schicchi" rehearsals has also begun. International casts are rehearsing everyday under the direction of Derrick Inouye (conductor) , David Kneuss (Director) and Denis Giauque (Vocal coach) . Today, the stage rehearsal has started and the casts and orchestra rehearsed together for the first time at Matsumoto Performing Arts Centre Maiin Hal. Don't miss the greatest comedy of all time!

＜Aug 23 (Thu) OMF Opera by Seiji Ozawa Music Academy Orchestra Puccinni: Gianni Schicchi Rehearsal＞

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Orchestra Concert Program A Ticket SOLD OUT & Shuttle Bus to Matsumoto Station

After a year, the Saito Kinen Orchestra members have gathered once again in a powerful harmony delivered under the baton of Diego Matheuz!

The first concert of SKO Orchestra Concert Program will be held tomorrow, on Aug. 26 (Sun).
SKO under the baton of Diego Matheuz will deliver the Prokofiev: Symphony No.1 in D major, “Classical” and the Tchaikovsky: Symphony No.5 in E minor.

The tickets are SOLD OUT!

Shuttle bus to Matsumoto station is also available after the concert.

■Bus Schedule
①　Aug. 26 (Sun) After Orchestra Concert Program A　
②　Aug. 31 (Fri) After Orchestra Concert Program B
③　Sep. 2 (Sun) After Orchestra Concert Program C

■Bus Ticket
Sales start 1 hour before the opening time at Kissei Bunka Hall Lobby. Please come to "Shuttle Bus Ticket Counter".
Also you can pay cash at the entracne of the bus.

■Price
Adult / 250 yen
Child / 130 yen