Seiji Ozawa, one of the founders and Conductor Laureate / Emeritus of New Japan Philharmonic, passed away on February 6, 2024. He passed away at the age of 88.
Born in Shenyang City (formerly Mukden City) in northeastern China, Mr. Ozawa studied conducting under Hideo Saito, the founder of Toho Gakuen, and won the Besançon International Conducting Competition in 1959. His talent was recognized by Herbert von Karajan and Leonard Bernstein, and he began to perform on the world stage. He became Music Director Music Director the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in 1964, the Tanglewood Music Festival in 1970, and the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra in the same year. At the end of June 1972, the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra (Foundation) was disbanded, and on July 1 of the same year, Mr. Ozawa and Mr. Naozumi Yamamoto called for the establishment of New Japan Philharmonic, an independently managed organization, with Mr. Ozawa Chief as chief conductor. He led the band.
In 1973, he became Music Director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and was regularly invited to the Berlin Philharmonic and the Vienna Philharmonic. Despite his busy schedule, he devoted himself to the development and development of New Japan Philharmonic, and in October 1974, he moved to Carnegie Hall. The group toured the United States and Europe, including a concert at the United Nations General Assembly, and performed 22 concerts in five countries until November 16th. (Including conductor Kazuyoshi Akiyama)
He has served as Honorary Artistic Director of New Japan Philharmonic since 1991 and Conductor Laureate / Emeritus since 1999, taking the podium a total of 624 times. This is the highest record among New Japan Philharmonic conductors.
During this time, in addition to subscription concert, the orchestra has also performed in numerous regional concerts, public recordings for the TV program "The Orchestra Has Arrived," and, starting with the Hong Kong Music Festival in 1973, toured the United States and Europe in 1974, toured London, Munich, Rome, Paris, and Dusseldorf (conducted by Michiyoshi Inoue) in February 1985, performed in Russia in 1998, and performed an opera in China in 2002. It was also thanks to Mr. Ozawa that New Japan Philharmonic was blessed with the opportunity to collaborate with world-class soloists such as Rudolf Serkin, Martha Mstislav Rostropovich, Jessye Norman, Yo-Yo Ma, and Krystian Zimerman.
Mr. Ozawa, who has been appointed Music Director of the Vienna State Opera since 2002, has also worked hard on opera performances with New Japan Philharmonic since the late 1970s, including the Hennessy Opera Series, the May 1985 performance of "Wozzeck", and especially the March 1986 performance. The Japanese premiere of St. Francis of Assisi (an excerpted version in oratorio format), held in April in the presence of composer Olivier Messiaen, received a great response worldwide.
When Sumida Triphony Hall, the home of New Japan Philharmonic, opened in 1997, Mr. Ozawa conducted Mahler's Symphony No. 3 at the opening ceremony. It was my greatest joy to be able to celebrate our 50th anniversary in 2022 with Mr. Ozawa, who has continued to be the spiritual pillar of New Japan Philharmonic.
"Ozawa-san" -- that's what the orchestra members who knew him when he was alive called him. The orchestra members have many unforgettable memories, such as his strict but loving guidance and the way he always held banquets during concert tours. I remember that even though he was a world-class conductor, he spoke to me in a very friendly manner.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude and deep condolences to Mr. Ozawa for his tremendous contributions to New Japan Philharmonic and to the world of classical music during his lifetime.
Related notice
We will set up a corner in memory of Seiji Ozawa at Sumida Triphony Hall.