Seiji Ozawa is a renowned Japanese conductor known for his charismatic performances and profound interpretations of a broad repertoire spanning the classical to the contemporary. Born on September 1, 1935, in Shenyang, China, Ozawa moved to Japan as a child, where he later studied at the Toho Gakuen School of Music. His talent quickly caught the attention of Hideo Saito, a significant figure in the development of Western classical music in Japan. Ozawa went on to win first prize at the International Competition of Orchestra Conductors in Besançon, France, and subsequently studied at the Berkshire Music Center (now Tanglewood Music Center), where he caught the eye of Charles Munch and Leonard Bernstein.

Ozawa's flourishing career has included tenures as the music director of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the San Francisco Symphony, and most notably, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, where he served for an impressive 29 years from 1973 to 2002. His tenure there was marked by numerous recordings and accolades, including multiple Grammy Awards. He has also maintained a long-standing relationship with the Vienna Philharmonic and the Berlin Philharmonic, among others, and was the music director of the Vienna State Opera. In his more recent efforts, he founded the Saito Kinen Festival in Matsumoto, Japan, and formed the Mito Chamber Orchestra. His dedication to music and cultural exchange has not only solidified his status as a legend in the world of classical music, but has also led to his promotion of young musicians and conductors from across the globe. Despite facing health challenges, Seiji Ozawa continues to inspire with his resilient spirit and dedication to his craft, as reflected in his recent recordings and live performances.

Genres

Classical Performance

Japanese Classical Performance

Orchestral Performance

Related Artists

Herbert von Karajan

Riccardo Muti

Claudio Abbado

Daniel Barenboim

Zubin Mehta

Leonard Bernstein

Lorin Maazel

Pierre Boulez

Bernard Haitink

Valery Gergiev

Sir Simon Rattle

André Previn

Latest Release

Tchaikovsky, Bizet, Ravel, Stravinsky, Lalo

Seiji Ozawa•

Georges Bizet•

Igor Stravinsky•

Maurice Ravel•

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Album - 49 Tracks - Released November 7, 2024