profile

Born in 1935 in Shanyang (formerly Mukden), China. He learned piano from an early age, and after studying at Seijo Gakuen Junior High School, he studied conducting under Hideo Saito at Toho Gakuen.

In the fall of 1959, he won first prize at the Besançon Conducting Competition. The following summer, he was invited to Tanglewood by Charles Munch, who was the Music Director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and a judge of the same competition, and won the Koussevitzky Prize.

After studying under Karajan and Bernstein, he successively served as Music Director of the Music Director Festival of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Music Director of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and San Francisco Symphony Orchestra. Since 1970), he served as one of the best orchestras in the world for 29 years, an exceptionally long term in the history of American orchestras. From autumn 2002 to spring 2010, he was Music Director of the Vienna State Opera.

Evaluation and popularity in Europe appeared enormously and regularly appeared at world orchestra · opera such as Berlin Philharmonic, Vienna Philharmonic, Paris · opera, etc. Since China's official invitation by the Chinese government in 1978, he has frequently played meaningful music and cultural exchanges.

In Japan, he founded the New Japan Philharmonic in 1972 with Hideo Saito, Naozumi Yamamoto Rostropovich and members who left the former Japan Philharmonic Orchestra. I made an encounter with the artists. Since 1985, the concert-opera style performance has become the prototype of the concert-opera conducted by former Music Director Arming. Since 1990, the Ozawa Opera Series has been held regularly for a total of 10 performances. He also recorded the national anthems of the world for the 1998 Nagano Olympics (PHCP-11033). Overseas performances include performances in Hong Kong (1973), performances at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on "United Nations Day" followed by performances in the United States and Europe (1974), performances in Europe (1985), Japan-Russia friendship performances with the late Rostropovich in Russia (1998), Performed in China (2002) to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Japan-China friendship. Since 1999, he has been Conductor Laureate / Emeritus the same company, and has continued to perform regularly since.

In addition, the Saito Kinen Orchestra was established in 1984 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Hideo Saito 's death, and in 1992 it developed into the international music festival "Saito Kinen Festival Matsumoto." Participated in the activities of the Mito Chamber Orchestra, which was established in 1990. Since April 2013, he has served as director of Art Tower Mito and general director of the orchestra. In 2000, he started the Seiji Ozawa Music Academy Opera Project with the aim of educating young musicians.

The main awards were selected for honorary members of the Vienna State Opera in 2007, the French government awarded Legion · Donuel Medal Officier, elected to the French Academy of Fine Arts (regular members), received the Order of Culture in Japan etc. . In 2011 he received the Takamatsu-shrine's Honorable World Cultural Award.