News

2018OMF Tickets are available at The Harmony Hall!

2018OMF tickets are now on sale at each ticket agencies; Ticket Pia, Lawson ticket, and e+(e-plus). You can purchase OMF opera tickets at Matsumoto Performing Arts Centre. The Harmony Hall also started selling the three Chamber Concert tickets and OMF Chamber Music Study Group -Brass Ensemble- tickets at the counter. There are some sold out seats in a few programs. Don't miss out your tickets!

<Tickets are available at>
The Harmony Hall : Chamber Concert I, II, III and OMF Chamber Music Study Group -Brass Ensemble-
Matsumoto City Performing Arts Centre: OMF Opera by Seiji Ozawa Music Academy Orchestra Puccini: Gianni Schicchi
Ticket Agencies : All programs
Please see here for tickets information.

"Seiji Ozawa THE LIVING SPIRIT OF MUSIC" Special documentary screening on July 7

The special documentary featuring Seiji Ozawa and Seiji Ozawa International Academy Switzerland will be screened at Agatano Mori Bunka Kaikan class room 2-8 on July 7th.
Seiji Ozawa lead a masterclass at the Fondation Louis Vuitton from June 30th to July 3rd 2015. This documentary contains footage of the public rehearsals and the final showcase, as well as a short interview with Seiji Ozawa. The documentary is in English and French with Japanese subtitles. July 7th is the only chance we can show you this video on a large screen.

OMF Pre-event Afternoon Concert
Date: July 7 (Sat)
Time: 12:00 - 13:00 "Seiji Ozawa THE LIVING SPIRIT OF MUSIC" screening
   14:00 - 14:45  Afternoon Concert & Talk Session <Song & Harp>
Artists: Rena Fujii (soprano), Nanako Hirai (harp)
**Both programs admission free
Venue: Agatano Mori Bunka Kaikan class room: 2-8

Chamber Concert I Program & Artists Announcement

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We are happy to announce the program details and artists of Chamber Concert I -Robert Mann Memorial Concert-.
The late great Violinist Robert Mann, who passed away this past January, brought to Matsumoto not only exquisite chamber music and “WORD and MUSIC” performances, but also magnificent music as a conductor. He was deeply committed to educating young musicians as well, and dedicated himself to the Seiji Ozawa International Academy Switzerland since its founding. A string quartet and string orchestra from the Academy will hold a memorial concert in his honor.
Seiji Ozawa International Academy Switzerland, which was founded in 2005, is entering its 14th season this year. Talented young people come to the Academy for the group work, for the chamber music, for the tutors and for the quality of the teaching, but above all they are looking for the rigor that it provides. They enjoy the Academy’s very particular atmosphere, which combines listening, exchange and unique dialogue with one of the greatest conductors of our time.

Sadao Harada (cello), Nobuko Imai (viola) and Pamela Frank (violin) – three tutors chosen by Seiji Ozawa for their talent and for their high standards – have run the Academy since its inception. Mr. Mann was invited to this academy as a special tutor and had been in charge of master classes and had conducted String Orchestra together with Seiji Ozawa.
The Academy will take place at Rolle Castle on the shores of Lake Geneva from June 30th, and will perform at Victoria Hall (Geneva/July 8th), Fondation Louis Vuitton (Paris/July 11th) and come to Matsumoto as a final destination. They will perform one of Mr. Mann and Ozawa's favorite number, Beethoven: String Quartet No.16 in F major, Op. 135 - III. Lento assai, cantante e tranquillo (string orchestra ver.).


Chamber Concert I - Robert Mann Memorial Concert- Program

<Quartets> (Each group play 1 or 2 movement(s) from each number)
Beethoven: String Quartet No. 10 in E-flat major, Op. 74, "Harp"
Violin: Suyoen Kim, Julien Szulman Viola: Violaine Despeyroux Cello: Bumjun Kim

Brahms: String Quartet in A minor, Op. 51
Violin: Alena Baeva, Clémence de Forceville Viola: Tomoko Akasaka Cello: Maciej Kulakowski

Debussy: String Quartet in G minor, Op.10
Violin: Marie-Astrid Hulot, Yume Fujise Viola: Lara Albesano Cello: Hsing-Han Tsai

Schumann: String Quartet in A minor, Op. 41
Violin: Rebecca Roozeman, Clara Mesplé Viola: Johannes Moehrle Cello: Jonathan Roozeman

Tchaikovsky: String Quartet No 3 in E-flat minor, Op. 30
Violin: Shuichi Okada, Alexandre Pascal Viola: Karolina Errera Cello: Darima Tcyrempilova

<String Orchestra>
Beethoven: String Quartet No.16 in F major, Op. 135 - III. Lento assai, cantante e tranquillo (string orchestra ver.)
and more


2018 Seiji Ozawa International Academy Switzerland Member

【Violin】
Alena BAEVA / 1985 / Russia
First prizes at Wieniawski (Poznan, Poland, 2001) and Sendai (2007) competitions. Alena participates to the Academy since 2007 and is now a senior member.

Clémence DE FORCEVILLE / 1991 / France
Prize-winner of Torùn and Vasco Abadjiev International Competition. The first violin of the Hieronymus Quartet. Performed at LA FOLLE JOURNÉE au Japon in 2014.

Yume FUJISE / 1995 / Japan
Student of Alina Ibragimova and Mark Messenger at the Royal College of Music, London. She participates to the Academy since 2017.

Marie-Astrid HULOT / 1997 / France
Awarded in Peccatte and Marteau International Competitions, she obtained her master’s degree at 19 at the CNSM de Paris, first named with congratulations. She participated in the Academy in 2013.

Suyoen KIM / 1987 / Korea
In 2006, she won the 1st prize at the International Joseph Joachin Violin Competition in Hanover. Deutsche Grammophon released her latest recording with Beethoven violin concerto and the two romances in March 2016. Suyoen participates to the Academy since 2005. She is now senior member.

Clara MESPLE / 1997 / France
Recently joined the Mahler Jugendorchester. In 2016, with the Confluence quartet, she won the 1st prize at the Philharmonie de Paris and two prizes at the Fnapec Competition in Paris.

Shuichi OKADA / 1995/ France
He is the winner of numerous competitions such as the Ginette Neveu, Mirecourt, Lipizer, Kreisler, Markneukirchen and Postacchini. He won the Prince of Hesse Award at the prestigious Kronberg Academy. He participates in the Academy since 2013.

Alexandre PASCAL / 1993/ France
He is very active as a chamber musician. Winning top awards at Paris Conservatoire in 2009. He has participated in the Academy since 2016.

Rebecca ROOZEMAN / 2001/ Finland
Student of Pekka Kauppinen at the Sibelius Academy Youth Department. She won several first prizes in competitions and regularly appears both as a soloist and as a chamber musician.

Julien SZULMAN / 1985 / France
Laureate of Geneva and Long-Thibaud competition, is concertmaster in Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire (France), regular member of Saito Kinen Orchestra and teacher in Seiji Ozawa Quartet Academy Okushiga. He participates to the Academy since 2007. He is senior member, in charge of the selection committee.

【Viola】
Lara ALBESANO / 1996 / Italy
She obtained her violin diploma with honorable mention at Turin Conservatorium. She was awarded in many competitions such as the 2nd prize at the Cecil Aronowitz International Viola Competition in Birmingham in 2017.

Tomoko AKASAKA / 1981 / Japan
As a soloist she has appeared with the Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, the Muenchener Kammerorchester, the Filarmonica Banatul Timisoara, the Venezuela Symphony Orchestra, the Ensemble Contrechamps and the Japan Chamber orchestra under the baton of conductors like Seiji Ozawa, Heiichiro Oyama, Rüdiger Bohn, Gheorghe Costin, Olivier Cuendet and Günther Herbig. She participated to the Academy in 2005.

Violaine DESPEYROUX / 1995 / France
In 2014, she won the 2nd prize of the Cecil Aronowitz International Viola Competition. She has been invited to perform as a soloist or chamber musician all over Europe. In 2017, she founded the Quatuor Daphnis.

Karolina ERRERA-PAVON / 1993 / Russia
She won the International Bashmet Competition, and is a frequent guest at chamber music courses and festivals. Karolina has participated in the Academy since 2015.

Johannes MOEHRLE / 2001 / Swiss
He is a member of the German youth orchestra and the Verbier festival junior orchestra. He was semi-finalist of the 2017 Brahms competition.

【Cello】
Bumjun KIM / 1994 / France
Winner of the Banque Populaire and Safran Foundations, he is now part of the Karajan Academy in the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. He is also co-founder and member of the Amano Quartet.

Maciej KULAKOWSKI / 1996 / Poland
He won the 1st and the special prize at the Xe Witold Lutosławski International Cello Competition in Warsaw and was laureate of the Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels.

Jonathan ROOZEMAN / 1997 / Finland
Student of Frans Helmerson at the Kronberg Academy. At 17, he reached the finals of the Tchaïkovsky Competition. He has performed in most European countries, in North America and in the Far East.

Darima TCYREMPILOVA / 1991 / Russia
Student of Marc Coppey at CNSM in Paris. In 2016, she won the Knushevitsky International Competition. She has participated in the Academy since 2016.

Hsing-Han TSAI / 1991 / Taïwan
Since September 2017, she is in residence at the Academy of the Opéra National de Paris. Participates at Ozawa International Chamber Music Academy Okushiga and Seiji Ozawa Music Academy. Joins Saito Kinen Orchestra for the first time this year.

OMF pre-event at Agatano Mori on July 7 !

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We are happy to announce that OMF special pre-event to take place at Agatano Mori Bunka Kaikan on July 7 (Sat)! Rena Fujii (soprano) and Nanako Hirai (harp) who are going to perform at Puccini: Gianni Schicchi, will give a mini concert and talk sessions. It is a free admission and we are happy to have this event before the festival opening in Matsumoto. Please enjoy mini-OMF at Agatano Mori on Tanabata day.


Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival pre-event Afternoon Concert

Date: July 7 (Sat)
Venue: Agatano Mori Bunka Kaikan class room: 2-8
Time: 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM
Artists: Rena Fujii (soprano), Nanako Hirai (harp)
Admission Free
(You can purchase 2018OMF tickets at this event. Programs/seats of tickets will be announced later)

OMF Special Event at Ginza NAGANO on July 8 !

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OMF special event to take place at Ginza NAGANO on July 8 (Sun)!
Rena Fujii (soprano), Nanako Hirai (harp), Kei Shirai (violin) and Rei Tsujimoto (cello) will give mini concerts and talk sessions. Glass service of OMF original wine will be served as present to all participants for paid programs. Special screenings of previous OMF concerts will be held free of charge in between programs. Purchases of 2018OMF tickets, festival goods and CD releases also available. We are looking forward to seeing you at Ginza NAGANO!


Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival comes to Ginza

Date: July 8 (sun)
Venue: Ginza NAGANO
Open: 10:30 AM - 5:00 PM

10:30 - 12:00 2018OMF Tickets Sales / OMF Goods / Previous OMF concerts screening

13:00 - 13:45 Salon Concert & Talk Session I <Song & Harp>
Artists: Rena Fujii, Nanako Hirai
Ticket: 2500 yen (with one glass of OMF original wine)
For more information & application click here

15:00 - 15:45 Salon Concert & Talk Session II <Violin & Cello>
Artists: Kei Shirai, Rei Tsujimoto
Ticket: 3500 yen (with one glass of OMF original wine)
For more information & application click here

16:00 - 17:00 2018OMF Tickets Sales / OMF Goods / Previous OMF Concerts Screening

Seiji Ozawa Music Academy Brass Ensemble performs at Randonnée Picnic 2018 in Matsumoto! 

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We are happy to announce that Seiji Ozawa Music Academy Brass Ensemble will be performing at outdoor event "Randonnée Picnic 2018 in Matsumoto"! Please drop by at OMF booth as well!

【Seiji Ozawa Music Academy Brass Ensemble Stage Performances】
June 2 (Sat) and June 3 (Sun) 15:00 - 15:30
Performed by: Lisa Mimura (Trumpet), Ken Yoshii (Trumpet), Haruna Horiguchi (Horn), Akari Minami (Trombone), Tsuyoshi Wakabayashi (Tuba)

5 young brass artists will perform popular brass numbers, Disney movie theme song and more. Please come and enjoy the performance with your family and kids.
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.

OMF Booth Brass Instruments Touch and Play
June 2 (Sat) and June 3 (Sun)
11:00 - 13:00 Taught by Matsumoto City Marching Band Member
13:00 - 14:30 Taught by Seiji Ozawa Music Academy Brass Ensemble Members
After the stage - 17:00  Taught by Seiji Ozawa Music Academy Brass Ensemble Members
(*Until 16:00 on June 3)


Randonnée Picnic 2018 in Matsumoto (Japanese only)
Date: June 2 (Sat) - June 3 (Sun), 2018
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

Orchestra Concert Program C "OMF Gig" Program Announcement

We are happy to announce the Orchestra Concert Program C "OMF Gig" program details.

Welcoming Marcus Roberts Trio as a special guest, "OMF Gig" will present you an American & jazzy program featuring Leonard Bernstein and George Gershwin numbers.
To celebrate Bernstein's 100th year anniversary, we will have his famous "Candide Overture" and "On the Town : 3 Dance Episodes". Gershwin's "An American in Paris" and "I Got Rhythm Variation" are also must to listen to. Saito Kinen Orchestra and Marcus Roberts Trio will bring you great up-beat numbers with fresh conductors, Diego Matheuz and Kensho Watanabe.


We look forward to welcoming you again in Matsumoto this summer.


Orchestra Concert Program C "OMF Gig"
Sep. 2 (Sun) 15:00
Kissei Bunka Hall (Nagano-ken Matsumoto Bunka Kaikan)


Saito Kinen Orchestra
Conductor: Diego Matheuz (Gershwin)
Kensho Watanabe (Bernstein)
Special Guest: Marcus Roberts Trio
(Piano: Marcus Roberts, Bass: Rodney Jordan, Drums: Jason Marsalis)
Duration: 1 hour 45 min (with intermission)

Bernstein: Candide Overture
Bernstein: On the Town : 3 Dance Episodes
Gershwin: An American in Paris
Gershwin: I Got Rhythm Variation
and Trio performance by Marcus Roberts Trio (program will be announced on the day)


Ticket Price: S ¥18,000 A ¥15,000 B ¥12,000 C ¥7,000

2018OMF Official Leaflet out online!

2018OMF Official Leaflet is available on the OMF website for free download.
Details of each programs, message from OMF artistic director Seiji Ozawa, and Siato Kinen Orchestra member list (as of May, 2018) are available.
Please take a look at the leaflet at music/event halls in Kanto area, 2018OMF venues and Matsumoto City Tourist Information Center.

2018OMF Official Leaflet

Change of Conductor and Orchestra Programs Announcement

The conducting schedule of the Artistic Director Seiji Ozawa for 2018OMF Orchestra Programs has been revised due to lack of physical strength of the conductor. Seiji Ozawa initially scheduled for conducting Orchestra Program A, B and C on Aug. 26, 31 and Sep. 2, 2018, however, all programs and ticket prices are revised due to change of conductor.
Seiji Ozawa has been hospitalized due to being diagnosed with aortic stenosis in March. He is now out of the hospital and working hard to rehabilitate to regain physical strength and the muscles. The rehabilitation is going well, however, after giving a lot of consideration to the progress of recovery and the time remaining until summer, the conductor decided not to conduct at this year's festival. Although he will not conduct, he stays at Matsumoto as has happened in the past years, and attend rehearsals of each programs as OMF Artistic Director.

Diego Matheuz who conducted Tchaikovsky: Symphony No.4 in 2011SKF, will conduct much-awaited Symphony No.5 at Orchestra Concert Program A. One of the highlights of the Program A is solo performances by 4 great members of Saito Kinen Orchestra (SKO) in Haydn's Sinfonia Concertante. Program B features popular french programs conducted by Ozawa's fellow disciples Kazuyoshi Akiyama. He had given a great help starting up of SKO. In Program C, OMF favorite Marcus Roberts Trio decided to come and play at Matsumoto on very short notice saying "for Seiji". They will present American and Jazzy programs with Leonard Bernstein and George Gershwin as "OMF Gig".

Please see below for more program change details.
Due to this change, the ticket price of all Orchestra Cocncerts are below.
S ¥18,000 A ¥15,000 B ¥12,000 C ¥7,000

We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this change may cause and look forward to welcoming you again in Matsumoto this summer.


Message from Seiji Ozawa

 Much to my regret, I am stepping down from conducting Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony in Matsumoto this summer. I am deeply sorry to all who were looking forward to these concerts.
 I apologize for causing concern, but I have actually completed treatments, commenced rehabilitation, and am now feeling quite well. Unfortunately, it seems that it will take some more time for my stamina and muscular strength to properly recover. After discussions with my attending physician and family, I decided to entrust conducting duties to Diego and Akiyama this summer. Of course, I intend to be in Matsumoto in my capacity as festival director, attending rehearsals and concerts to create the festival together with my Saito Kinen Orchestra colleagues.
 As I faced this predicament, my long-time associate Marcus made plans to bring his trio, and arrangements were made to change the program. I am very grateful to the many people who assisted us in making it possible to hold the festival this year.
 This was an agonizing decision because I am always so excited about making music with my dear colleagues and delivering it to you all in Matsumoto every summer. However, I have a bad habit of pushing myself too hard, which ends up causing difficulties for everyone. I decided instead to focus on rehabilitation for now so that I can properly conduct again, participate in the festival, and see everyone in Matsumoto under the best possible conditions.

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Message from Akio Tsubota, Executive Officer of OMF Executive Committee

 In view of his physical condition, OMF Director Seiji Ozawa will be stepping down from conducting the orchestra programs in which he had originally been scheduled to appear. We would like to offer our sincerest apologies to any inconvenience caused to all those who had been looking forward to his performances.

 Although Seiji Ozawa will not be conducting, he is still scheduled to be in Matsumoto as OMF Artistic Director, and to participate in rehearsals for concerts throughout the festival. We wish him the speediest possible recovery and eagerly anticipate seeing his return to full health. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as our performers and staff work together to prepare a festival for your greatest enjoyment.

Akio Tsubota
Executive Officer of Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival Executive Committee

【Orchestra Concert Programs】

Orchestra Concert Program A
Aug. 26 (Sun) 15:00 Kissei Bunka Hall (Nagano-ken Matsumoto Bunka Kaikan)

Saito Kinen Orchestra
Conductor: Diego Matheuz
Duration: About 2 hours (with intermission)

Prokofiev: Symphony No.1 in D major, Op. 25 “Classical
Haydn: Sinfonia Concertante in B-flat major, Hob. I: 105
Violin: Kyoko Takezawa Cello: Dai Miyata Oboe: Philippe Tondre Bassoon: Marc Goldberg
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No.5 in E minor, Op. 64

Orchestra Concert Program B
Aug. 31 (Fri) 19:00 Kissei Bunka Hall (Nagano-ken Matsumoto Bunka Kaikan)

Saito Kinen Orchestra
Conductor: Kazuyoshi Akiyama
Duration: About 2 hours (with intermission)

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

Orchestra Concert Program C "OMF Gig"
Sep. 2 (Sun) 15:00 Kissei Bunka Hall (Nagano-ken Matsumoto Bunka Kaikan)

Saito Kinen Orchestra
Conductor: Diego Matheuz, Kensho Watanabe (Japan Debut)
Special Guest: Marcus Roberts Trio
Duration: TBA

With a great American Jazz gruop Marcus Roberts Trio who had played 5 times at Matsumoto, we will present jazzy numbers of Bernstein and Gershwin. Also, Japanese-American up and coming young conductor Kensho Watanabe will make his Japanese debut with Saito Kinen Orchestra. The program details will be announced shortly.

Please see here for Kensho Watanabe and Marcus Roberts Trio Profile


Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival Executive Committee
Phone: +81-(0)263-39-0001 (Weekday 8:30AM - 5:15PM)

2018OMF OMF Opera and Chamber Concerts Program Details!

We are happy to announce OMF Opera by Seiji Ozawa Music Academy Orchestra and Chamber Concerts program details.
The great Baritone Roberto de Candia, who excited the audience at this year's Seiji Ozawa Music Academy Opera Project XVI, comes back as hilarious Gianni Schicchi in Puccini's comic masterpiece "Gianni Schicchi". Anna Christy will join us as Lauretta and sing beautiful "O Mio Babbino".
Chamber Concerts will take place with distinguished programs. In Chamber Concert I, the Switzerland Academy will come to Matsumoto to perform a memorial concert in remembrance of Robert Mann, the great violinist and conductor, who had given us the wonderful performances at the festival. Chamber Concert II will feature French composers with Mari & Momo Kodama piano duo. Chamber Concert III is proud to present the best of the best performers. For more details, please see each program pages.