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2013SKF Opera Ravel: L' enfant et les sortilèges CD Grammy winning Special Exhibition at Matsumoto City Museum of Art! Unveiling Grammy trophy!

In 2016 February, the recording of 2013SKF Opera Ravel: L' enfant et les sortilèges, conducted by Seiji Ozawa and performed by the Saito Kinen Orchestra, has won the 58th Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording. Celebrating its winning, Grammy winning Special Exhibition will take place at Matsumoto City Museum of Art from Aug 22 (Mon) to Aug 26 (Fri).

Seiji Ozawa, the Director of OMF, has been nominated for the Grammy at various times in the past. His past nominated albums were all international recordings. It is the first time for the Saito Kinen Orchestra to be nominated for the Grammy award and the first time both for Seiji Ozawa and the Saito Kinen Orchestra to win the Grammy.Along with the conductor and Saito Kinen Orchestra, SKF Matsumoto Choir and SKF Matsumoto Children Choir won the award.　

At this Special Exhibition, along with the Grammy Trophy, 2013SKF opera production performance photos, recorded footage, backstage photos will be also exhibited.

We are looking forward to welcoming you at the exhibition!

2013SKF Ravel: L' enfant et les sortilèges Grammy winning Special Exhibition

Date：Aug 22 (Mon) – Aug 26 (Fri)
Time：9:00 -17:00　（Last entry 16:30)
Venue：Matsumoto City Museum of Art Multipurpose Hall
Admission Free

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2016OMF Opens TODAY!

2016Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival opens Today!

Along with OMF artistic director Seiji Ozawa and Saito Kinen Orchestra, numerous guest artists will give tremendous boost to the festival. Fabio Luisi comes back to Matsumoto as the first guest conductor who has been invited for the third year in a row. We also welcome Michelangelo String Quartet, 2013SKF “L’enfant et les sortiléges” Grammy winning singers Marie Lenormand, Anna Christy, Jean-Paul Fouchecourt, and Marcus Roberts Trio with a world premiere performance. Seiji Ozawa Academy Orchestra shall this year again present the results of their one week study in Okushiga highlands.

The opening program is OMF Chamber Music Study Group -Brass Ensemble- concert held tonight 7pm at Agata no Mori Bunka Kaikan. Strong and clear sound of brass instruments will announce the beginning of the festival beautifully.
Ticket purchase on the day still available!

We are looking forward to seeing all of you in Matsumoto!

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2016OMF Chamber Music Study Group -Brass Ensemble- Ticket on day purchase and numbered ticket distribution

OMF Chamber Music Study Group -Brass Ensemble-

Date	Aug. 9 (Tue) 18:00
Place	Agata no Mori Bunka Kaikan

OMF office would like to announce that ticket on day for OMF Chamber Music Study Group -Brass Ensemble- concert can be purchased from 18:00 on the day of performance. Ticket price per one ticket per person is 1,000 yen.

Numbered ticket distribution
We will be distributing the numbered ticket for entry to the concert from 17:00.
The door will open at 18:30. The guests will be asked to line up in front of the main entrance 10 minutes before the door open. Please note that due to the stage setting preparations, the door open time may be delayed.

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2016OMF Orchestra Concert Program B Soloist Change Announcement

Christine Goerke, the soloist of the 2016OMF Orchestra Concert Program B - Mahler: Symphony No.2 scheduled for Aug 19 and 21, due to health reasons has cancelled her appearance. She will be replaced by a Japanese soloist Mihoko Fujimura.
We sincerely apologize for all the trouble this change may cause and truly appreciate your understanding.

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Orchestra Concert Program B Mahler: Symphony No.2 in C minor "The Resurrection"
Aug 19 (Fri) 19:00
Aug 21 (Sun) 16:00
Kissei Bunka Hall (Nagano-ken Matsumoto Bunka Kaikan)

Scheduled Soloist: Alto: Christine Goerke
Soloist change: Alto: Mihoko Fujimura

Saito Kinen Orchestra
Conductor: Fabio Luisi

※Please note that no ticket refunds or exchanges will be made due to this program change.
※Please be aware of the above program change before purchasing your tickets.

Mihoko Fujimura Profile

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2016OMF Orchestra Concert Program A - Program Change Announcement 

The original program of the 2016OMF Orchestra Concert Program A - Brahms: Symphony No.4 scheduled for Aug 18 and 22, has been changed due to the physical precautions of the conductor.

The OMF director Seiji Ozawa, encountering the weight loss in late April this year, has been working on regaining his physical strength over past few months. Since he is still working on his full recovery, following advice from his doctors, the OMF has decided to change the program of this year's Orchestra Concert. Instead of Brahms: Symphony No.4, Seiji Ozawa will be conducting Beethoven: Symphony No.7.

We sincerely apologize for all the trouble this change may cause and truly appreciate your understanding regarding this matter.

Orchestra Concert Program A
Aug 18 (Thur), 22 (Mon) 19:00
Kissei Bunka Hall (Nagano-ken Matsumoto Bunka Kaikan)

Scheduled Program: Brahms: Symphony No.4 in E minor Op.98
Program change: Beethoven: Symphony No.7 in A major Op.92

Saito Kinen Orchestra
Conductor: Seiji Ozawa

Additional note: The OMF Director Seiji Ozawa and Saito Kinen Orchestra has performed Beethoven: Symphony No.7 for the first time in 1993. This will be their second performance after 23 years（※The Saito Kinen Orchestra performed the same piece with the conductor Kazuki Yamada in 2010).

※Please note that no ticket refunds or exchanges will be made due to this program change.
※Please be aware of the program change before purchasing your tickets.

【Contact Details】
Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival Executive Committee
Press: Silvana Petkovic (080-4110-9403 / pr@ozawa-festival.com)

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July 9 & 10 2016OMF tickets on sale at Ginza NAGANO!

We are happy to announce that tickets of 2016OMF ALL programs will be out on sale at July 9 (Sat) & 10 (Sun) OMF Special Event held at Ginza NAGANO, Tokyo. Orchestra Concert A program and Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival Gig tickets will be also available for purchase. This will be the first window tickets sales in Tokyo this year.

This OMF special event, held just a month prior to the opening of 2016OMF, features saloon concerts and talk sessions by SKO members Ribon Aida (violin), Ryutaro Hei (contrabass) and Kazuko Shinozaki (harp) along with Music Lecture for Children, OMF special talk sessions and 2015OMF concert digest screenings. Venue just two minutes walk from Wako and Mitsukoshi Department store in Ginza. If you happen to be nearby this weekend, please do drop by to see us.

We look forward to welcoming you at Ginza NAGANO this weekend.

＜＜2016OMF Ticket Sale＞＞
July 9 (Sat) & 10 (Sun) Window Open 11:00 - 18:00 at Ginza NAGANO 2F Event Space

●Aug 18 (Thu) Orchestra Concert Program A (Seats: S / A)
●Aug 22 (Mon) Orchestra Concert Program A (Seats: S / A)

●Aug 19 (Fri) Orchestra Concert Program B (Seats: S / A)
●Aug 21 (Sun) Orchestra Concert Program B (Seats: S / A / B)

●Aug 28 (Sun) Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival Gig (Seats: S / A)

●Aug 20 (Sat) Chamber Concert I
●Aug 27 (Sat) Chamber Concert II

●Aug 9 (Tue) OMF Chamber Music Study Group --Brass Ensemble--

●Sep 6 (Tue) OMF Opera by Seiji Ozawa Music Academy Orchestra Ravel: "L'enfant et les sortilèges" (Seats: S / A)
●Sep 9 (Fri) OMF Opera by Seiji Ozawa Music Academy Orchestra Ravel: "L'enfant et les sortilèges" (Seats: S / A)

※Purchases closed once tickets are sold out. ※Limited to 2 tickets per performance per person. ※Tickets on photo are examples.

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Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival Gig Program Announcement

2016OMF is happy to announce the program details of Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival Gig concert scheduled for Aug 28, 2016 (Sun).

Marcus Roberts who visited us in Matsumoto for 4 times so far, will this year perform a new piece as world premiere at 2016OMF Gig. The title of the new number is Rhapsody in D. According to Marcus, he composed this piece as a kind of celebration of Gershwin's two most influential works for piano and orchestra — Rhapsody in Blue and the Concerto in F.

Marcus Roberts and Seiji Ozawa performed for the first time in 1996 at Tanglewood Music Festival. The Rhapsody in Blue they performed together with Boston Symphony Orchestra received a great public response. A year later with Seiji Ozawa's strong wish, Marcus Roberts visits Matsumoto for the first time to hold a first jazz concert at the Festival. Since then, Marcus Roberts and Seiji Ozawa performed together for three times - each time insipiring each other in different way. “Classic music has a great impact on jazz musicians” says Marcus Roberts, who dedicates this piece to Seiji Ozawa and his dedication to bringing classical music and jazz together.

A new piece - Rhapsody in D - will be conducted by Toshiaki Murakami, a conductor who conducted 1999 & 2002SKF Takemitsu Memorial Concerts, 2015OMF Celebrating Seiji at 80! Special Outdoor Performance and has performed together with Artistic Director Seiji Ozawa at Seiji Ozawa Music Academy.

Seiji Ozawa, Marcus Roberts Trio and Saito Kinen Orchestra will perform together Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue.

＜Program＞
●Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet, excerpts
Saito Kinen Orchestra
Conductor: Toshiaki Murakami

●Marcus Roberts : Rhapsody in D World Premiere
Marcus Roberts Trio
Saito Kinen Orchestra
Conductor: Toshiaki Murakami

●Trio Performance
Marcus Roberts Trio
　Piano: Marcus Roberts
　Bass：Rodney Jordan
　Drums：Jason Marsalis　

●Ibert: Divertissement pour orchestre de chambre
Saito Kinen Orchetra
Conductor: Toshiaki Murakami

●Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue
Marcus Roberts Trio
Saito Kinen Orchestra
Conductor: Seiji Ozawa

Toshiaki Muakami and Marcus Roberts Trio Profile

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July 9 & 10 OMF Special Event at Ginza NAGANO! 【Program Announcement】

OMF special event to take place at Ginza NAGANO on July 9(Sat) & 10(Sun)!
SKF members Ribon Aida (violin), Ryutaro Hei (contrabass) and Kazuko Shinozaki (harp) will give mini concerts and talk sessions.
For more information please see Ginza NAGANO website. (Japanese only)

July 9(Sat)　11:00 - 18:00 Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival comes to Ginza! Day 1
11:00 - 12:00　Talk session
(Price: 2,000 yen /30 people）
【Guest:Hiroki Miyajima (OMF Welcome Street Live Producer, Naomi Nishimori (Shin Matsumoto Monogatari Editor) and more】

16:00 - 17:00　Salon Concert & Talk Session by Saito Kinen Orchestra MembersＩ　
（Price：5,000 yen/30 people/with Nagano wine）
【Guests：Ribon Aida（Violin) , Ryutaro Hei (Contrabass)】
●J.S Bach : “Prelude” “Gavotte” from Partita No.3 BWV1006
●F.Kreisler : Recitative and Scherzo-Caprice, op. 6
●H-A Teppo : Cadenza
●R. Glier (arr. F. Proto) : Suite for Violin and Double Bass

For more information on July 9(Sat) Events & Application

July 10(Sun)　11:00 - 18:00 Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival comes to Ginza! Day 2
11:00 - 11:45　Classic Music Seminar for Children
(Price: Adult 2,500 yen, Elementry School Student 500 yen, Child under 6 years old free/50 people)
【Guest：Ribon Aida(Violin) 】

15:00 - 16:00　Salon Concert & Talk Session by Saito Kinen Orchestra MemberII　
(Price：5,000円/30 people/with coffee or tea)
【Guest：Kazuko Shinozaki (Harp)】
●G.F.Händel : 1^st Movement from Harp Concerto in B-Flat Major, HWV294
●C.Debussy : No.1 Arabesque from The Two Arabesques, / “La fille aux cheveux de lin”from First book of Pleludes
●M. Tournier : Etude de concert “Au matin”
●C. Salzedo : “Tango” “Rumba” from Suite of Eight Dances, / “Chanson dans la nuit” from Five Preludes
●G.Pierné : Impromptu-Caprice, op. 9

For more information on July 10(Sun) Events & Application

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2016OMF Tickets on sale now!

2016OMF tickets for all programs are on sale now!

For further information, please see Ticket page.

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OMF Opera by Seiji Ozawa Music Academy Orchestra Conductor Change Announcement

The conducting schedule of the Artistic Director Seiji Ozawa for 2016OMF season has been revised due to lack of physical strength of the conductor. Seiji Ozawa initially scheduled for conducting OMF Opera by Seiji Ozawa Music Academy Orchestra performance on Sep.6 and Sep.9, 2016, will be replaced by Eric Melear, the conductor of Opera for Children performance.

At the end of his one-month stay in Europe (where Ozawa performed with Berlin Philharmonic in Berlin and Seiji Ozawa International Academy Switzerland in Paris) this past April, due to overwork Ozawa developed a fever which resulted in weight loss. Upon his return to Japan, Ozawa continued with another demanding period of work, which further weakened his immune system. After thorough discussions with his doctors, family and all concerned, Ozawa has decided to follow his doctors’ advice and during the next few months to primarily focus on recovery of his physical strength. Ozawa, therefore, has unfortunately had to reschedule his performance activities for this summer. His schedule for Matsumoto has been revised accordingly, resulting in the following program change.

OMF Opera by Seiji Ozawa Music Academy Ravel: L'enfant et les sortilèges

Sep. 6 (Tue), Sep 9 (Fri) Matsumoto Performing Arts Centre Main Hall

[Original program] Conductor: Seiji Ozawa
[Program Change] Conductor: Eric Melear

*Ticket prices remain unchanged.

NOTE: Orchestra Concert Program A scheduled for Aug 18(Thu) and Aug 22(Mon) and Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival Gig scheduled for Aug. 28(Sun), will be conducted by Seiji Ozawa as initially planned.

Tickets sales for 2016OMF will start on June 4, 2016. Please be aware of the above change prior to ticket purchase.

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

For any further inquires regarding this announcement, please contact:
Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival Executive Office / Tokyo Office, Press
Silvana Petkovic (pr@ozawa-festival.com; Tel: 080-4110-9403 / +81-80-4110-9403)