was a Japanese conductor known internationally for his work as music director of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the

San Francisco Symphony The San Francisco Symphony, founded in 1911, is an American orchestra based in San Francisco, California. Since 1980 the orchestra has been resident at the Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall in the city's Hayes Valley, San Francisco, Hayes Valley ne ...

, and especially the

Boston Symphony Orchestra The Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) is an American orchestra based in Boston. It is the second-oldest of the five major American symphony orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five (orchestras), Big Five". Founded by Henry Lee Higginson in ...

(BSO), where he served from 1973 for 29 years. After conducting the Vienna New Year's Concert in 2002, he was director of the

Vienna State Opera The Vienna State Opera (, ) is a historic opera house and opera company based in Vienna, Austria. The 1,709-seat Renaissance Revival venue was the first major building on the Vienna Ring Road. It was built from 1861 to 1869 following plans by ...

until 2010. In Japan, he founded the Saito Kinen Orchestra in 1984, their festival in 1992, and the Tokyo Opera Nomori in 2005. Ozawa rose to fame after he won the 1959 Besançon competition. He was invited by Charles Munch, then the music director of the BSO, for the following year to Tanglewood, the orchestra's summer home, where he studied with Munch and

Pierre Monteux Pierre Benjamin Monteux (; 4 April 18751 July 1964) was a French (later American) conductor. After violin and viola studies, and a decade as an orchestral player and occasional conductor, he began to receive regular conducting engagements in 1 ...

. Winning the festival's Koussevitzky Prize earned him a scholarship with Herbert von Karajan and the

Berlin Philharmonic The Berlin Philharmonic () is a German orchestra based in Berlin. It is one of the most popular, acclaimed and well-respected orchestras in the world. Throughout the 20th century, the orchestra was led by conductors Wilhelm Furtwängler (1922� ...

and brought him to the attention of

Leonard Bernstein Leonard Bernstein ( ; born Louis Bernstein; August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, pianist, music educator, author, and humanitarian. Considered to be one of the most important conductors of his time, he was th ...

, who made him his assistant with the

New York Philharmonic The New York Philharmonic is an American symphony orchestra based in New York City. Known officially as the ''Philharmonic-Symphony Society of New York, Inc.'', and globally known as the ''New York Philharmonic Orchestra'' (NYPO) or the ''New Yo ...

in 1961. He became artistic director of the festival and education program in Tanglewood in 1970, together with

Gunther Schuller Gunther Alexander Schuller (November 22, 1925June 21, 2015) was an American composer, conductor, horn player, author, historian, educator, publisher, and jazz musician. Biography and works Early years Schuller was born in Queens, New York City ...

. In 1994, the new main hall there was named after him. Ozawa conducted world premieres such as

György Ligeti György Sándor Ligeti (; ; 28 May 1923 – 12 June 2006) was a Hungarian-Austrian composer of contemporary classical music. He has been described as "one of the most important avant-garde music, avant-garde composers in the latter half of the ...

's ''San Francisco Polyphony'' in 1975 and

Olivier Messiaen Olivier Eugène Prosper Charles Messiaen (, ; ; 10 December 1908 – 27 April 1992) was a French composer, organist, and ornithology, ornithologist. One of the major composers of the 20th-century classical music, 20th century, he was also an ou ...

's opera '' Saint François d'Assise'' in Paris in 1983. He received numerous international awards. Ozawa was the first Japanese conductor recognized internationally and the only one of superstar status.

Life and career

Early years

Ozawa was born on September 1, 1935, to Japanese parents in the Japanese-occupied Manchurian city of Mukden, now known as

Shenyang Shenyang,; ; Mandarin pronunciation: ; formerly known as Fengtian formerly known by its Manchu language, Manchu name Mukden, is a sub-provincial city in China and the list of capitals in China#Province capitals, provincial capital of Liaonin ...

. He began piano lessons at age seven. When his family returned to Japan in 1944, he began studying piano with Noboru Toyomasu, with a focus on the works of

Johann Sebastian Bach Johann Sebastian Bach (German: Help:IPA/Standard German, �joːhan zeˈbasti̯an baχ ( – 28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the late Baroque music, Baroque period. He is known for his prolific output across a variety ...

. After graduating from the Seijo Junior High School in 1950, Ozawa broke two fingers in a rugby game. Hideo Saito, his teacher at the

Toho Gakuen School of Music is a private university, private music school in Chōfu, Tokyo, Japan. History Toho Gakuen was founded in 1948 in Ichigaya (Tokyo) as the Music School for Children, and two years later moved to Sengawa (current address at Wakabacyo, Chōfu-shi, ...

, brought him to a performance of Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5, ultimately shifting his musical focus from piano performance to conducting. He studied conducting and composition, achieving first prizes in both fields, and worked with the

NHK Symphony Orchestra The is a Japanese broadcast orchestra based in Tokyo. The orchestra gives concerts in several venues, including the NHK Hall, Suntory Hall, and the Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall. History The orchestra was founded as the ''New Symphony Orchestr ...

and the Japan Philharmonic while still a student. He graduated in 1957.

International success

Ozawa travelled to Europe for further studies; he supported himself by selling Japanese motor scooters. He achieved the first prize at the 1959 International Competition of Orchestra Conductors in

Besançon Besançon (, ; , ; archaic ; ) is the capital of the Departments of France, department of Doubs in the region of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté. The city is located in Eastern France, close to the Jura Mountains and the border with Switzerland. Capi ...

, France, which made him known internationally; Charles Munch, then the music director of the

, invited him to attend the Berkshire Music Center (now the Tanglewood Music Center) the following year to study with Munch and

. Shortly after his arrival there, Ozawa won the Koussevitzky Prize for outstanding student conductor, Tanglewood's highest honor, which earned him a scholarship to study conducting with Herbert von Karajan. Ozawa moved to

West Berlin West Berlin ( or , ) was a political enclave which comprised the western part of Berlin from 1948 until 1990, during the Cold War. Although West Berlin lacked any sovereignty and was under military occupation until German reunification in 1 ...

. Under the tutelage of Karajan, Ozawa caught the attention of

, who then appointed him as assistant conductor of the

, where Ozawa served during the 1961–1962 and 1964–1965 seasons. He first conducted at

Carnegie Hall Carnegie Hall ( ) is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. It is at 881 Seventh Avenue (Manhattan), Seventh Avenue, occupying the east side of Seventh Avenue between 56th Street (Manhattan), 56th and 57th Street (Manhattan), 57t ...

in 1961 and first conducted the

in 1962. Ozawa remains the only conductor to have studied under both Karajan and Bernstein. In December 1962 Ozawa was involved in a controversy with the NHK Symphony Orchestra when some players, unhappy with his style and personality, refused to play under him. Ozawa went on to conduct the rival Japan Philharmonic Orchestra instead. In July 1963, Ozawa was in New York to appear as a guest conductor, and while there appeared on the American television program ''

What's My Line? ''What's My Line?'' is a Panel show, panel game show that originally ran in the United States, between 1950 and 1967, on CBS, originally in black and white and later in color, with subsequent American revivals. The game uses celebrity panelists ...

''. From 1964 until 1968, Ozawa served as the first music director of the

Ravinia Festival Ravinia Festival is a primarily outdoor music venue in Highland Park, Illinois. It hosts a series of outdoor concerts and performances every summer from June to September in a wide variety of musical genres from classical to pop. The first orche ...

, the summer home of the

Chicago Symphony Orchestra The Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) is an American symphony orchestra based in Chicago, Illinois. Founded by Theodore Thomas in 1891, the ensemble has been based in the Symphony Center since 1904 and plays a summer season at the Ravinia F ...

. In 1969 he served as the festival's principal conductor. He conducted the Vienna Philharmonic first in 1966 at the

Salzburg Festival The Salzburg Festival () is a prominent festival of music and drama established in 1920. It is held each summer, for five weeks starting in late July, in Salzburg, Austria, the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Mozart's operas are a focus of ...

Toronto Symphony Orchestra

In his first post as music director, Ozawa led the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) from 1965 to 1969. Basically every work on the programs, such as the symphonies by

Beethoven Ludwig van Beethoven (baptised 17 December 177026 March 1827) was a German composer and pianist. He is one of the most revered figures in the history of Western music; his works rank among the most performed of the classical music repertoire ...

Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky ( ; 7 May 1840 – 6 November 1893) was a Russian composer during the Romantic period. He was the first Russian composer whose music made a lasting impression internationally. Tchaikovsky wrote some of the most popular ...

and

Mahler Gustav Mahler (; 7 July 1860 – 18 May 1911) was an Austro-Bohemian Romantic composer, and one of the leading conductors of his generation. As a composer he acted as a bridge between the 19th-century Austro-German tradition and the modernism ...

were new for him, and he described the audience as patient and supportive in a later interview. Concerts were held at the

Massey Hall Massey Hall is a performing arts auditorium in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Opened in 1894, it is known for its outstanding acoustics and was the long-time hall of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir. Although original ...

; they played for the opening of the new Toronto City Hall in 1965, for the Commonwealth Arts Festival in Glasgow and the

Expo 67 The 1967 International and Universal Exposition, commonly known as Expo 67, was a general exhibition from April 28 to October 29, 1967. It was a category one world's fair held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It is considered to be one of the most s ...

in Montreal. Ozawa made notable recordings with the TSO, including the '' Symphonie fantastique'' by Berlioz in 1966, a highly lauded recording by music critics. In 1967, Ozawa and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra recorded Messiaen's '' Turangalîla-Symphonie'' that Koussevitzky had commissioned and Bernstein first conducted with the BSO. In Ozawa's version, the first in North America, Yvonne Loriod was the pianist as in the premiere. The recording was nominated for a

Grammy Award The Grammy Awards, stylized as GRAMMY, and often referred to as The Grammys, are awards presented by The Recording Academy of the United States to recognize outstanding achievements in music. They are regarded by many as the most prestigious ...

. When it was reissued on CD in 2004, a reviewer noted: "The orgiastic fifth and 10th movements still pack quite a punch, and in a very real sense, while many more modern versions have come and gone this one still holds its own with the best of them." The composer would entrust Ozawa with the premiere of his opera '' Saint François d'Assise'' in Paris in 1983. In 1969 Ozawa and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra recorded an album of four works of Japanese composer

Toru Takemitsu TORU or Toru may refer to: *TORU, spacecraft system *Tōru (given name), Japanese male given name *Toru, Pakistan, village in Mardan District of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan *Tõru Tõru is a village in Saaremaa Parish, Saare County in western Es ...

, Asterism For Piano And Orchestra, Requiem For String Orchestra, Green For Orchestra (November Steps II), and The Dorian Horizon For 17 Strings.

San Francisco Symphony

Ozawa was music director of the

from 1970 to 1976. In San Francisco, he combined Bernstein's charismatic style with the flower power of the west coast, wearing long hair and flowery shirts, and sometimes conducting cross-over programs. In 1972, he led the San Francisco Symphony in its first commercial recordings in a decade, recording music inspired by Shakespeare's ''

Romeo and Juliet ''The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet'', often shortened to ''Romeo and Juliet'', is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare about the romance between two young Italians from feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's ...

''. In 1973, he took the San Francisco Symphony on a European tour, which included a Paris concert that was broadcast via satellite in stereo to San Francisco station KKHI. He was involved in a 1974 dispute with the San Francisco Symphony's players' committee that denied

tenure Tenure is a type of academic appointment that protects its holder from being fired or laid off except for cause, or under extraordinary circumstances such as financial exigency or program discontinuation. Academic tenure originated in the United ...

to the timpanist Elayne Jones and the bassoonist Ryohei Nakagawa, two young musicians Ozawa had selected. He was committed to contemporary music then, for example commissioning ''San Francisco Polyphony'' from

in 1975. During the time, he impressed by "the brilliance of his interpretations, with his supreme command of the most intimidatingly complex scores and as a graceful, even glamorous stage performer".

Boston Symphony Orchestra

In 1970, Ozawa and

became artistic directors of the Berkshire Music Festival in Tanglewood, the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO). Ozawa became music director of the BSO in 1973. He remained in that position for 29 years, the longest tenure of any music director there, surpassing the 25 years held by Serge Koussevitzky. He conducted more world premieres, including works by Ligeti and Tōru Takemitsu. Ozawa won his first

Emmy Award The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the year, each with their own set of rules and award categor ...

in 1976, for the BSO's PBS television series, ''Evening at Symphony''; in 1994, he was awarded his second Emmy for Individual Achievement in Cultural Programming for '' Dvořák in Prague: A Celebration''. He played a key role as a teacher and administrator at the Tanglewood Music Center, the Boston Symphony Orchestra's summer music home that has programs for young professionals and high school students. In 1994, the BSO dedicated its new Tanglewood concert hall " Seiji Ozawa Hall" in honor of his 20th season with the orchestra. In recognition of his impact on the BSO, Ozawa was named music director laureate. On October 24, 1974, Ozawa conducted a Japanese combined orchestra which included the

Orchestra and members of the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra with solo cello Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi and solo violist Nobuko Imai in a world-wide telecast (carried on the PBS television network in the United States) from the United Nations building in New York City. The concert included a work by Beethoven and Strauss's ''

Don Quixote , the full title being ''The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha'', is a Spanish novel by Miguel de Cervantes. Originally published in two parts in 1605 and 1615, the novel is considered a founding work of Western literature and is of ...

'' with the two Japanese soloists. In December 1979, Ozawa conducted a performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony with the Beijing Symphony Orchestra. This was the first time since 1961 that the symphony was performed live in the People's Republic of China due to a ban on Western music. Ozawa made his debut with the

Metropolitan Opera The Metropolitan Opera is an American opera company based in New York City, currently resident at the Metropolitan Opera House (Lincoln Center), Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center, situated on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Referred ...

in New York City in 1992, conducting Tchaikovsky's ''

Eugene Onegin (opera) ''Eugene Onegin'' (, ), Op. 24, is an opera (designated as "lyrical scenes") in 3 acts (7 scenes), composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The libretto, organised by the composer himself, very closely follows certain passages in Alexander Pushkin ...

'', in a cast with Mirella Freni as Tatyana. He returned to the house in 2008 with '' The Queen of Spades'', both productions described as passionate and electrifying. Ozawa created a controversy in 1996–1997 with sudden demands for change at the Tanglewood Music Center, which made Gilbert Kalish and Leon Fleisher resign in protest. Subsequent criticism by Greg Sandow generated controversy in the press. Ozawa used an unorthodox conducting wardrobe, wearing the traditional formal dress with a white turtleneck instead of the usual

starch Starch or amylum is a polymeric carbohydrate consisting of numerous glucose units joined by glycosidic bonds. This polysaccharide is produced by most green plants for energy storage. Worldwide, it is the most common carbohydrate in human diet ...

ed shirt, waistcoat, and white tie.

Saito Kinen Orchestra

In an effort to merge all-Japanese orchestras and performers with international artists, Ozawa, along with Kazuyoshi Akiyama, founded the Saito Kinen Orchestra in 1984, named after his teacher. Since its creation, the orchestra has gained a prominent position in the international music community, establishing a festival in Matsumoto in 1992, later named the Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival. A 2013 recording from the festival of Ravel's '' L'enfant et les sortilèges'' earned Ozawa his only

in 2016, for best opera recording. In 1998, Ozawa conducted a simultaneous international performance of Beethoven's ''Ode to Joy'' at the

opening ceremony An opening ceremony, grand opening, or ribbon-cutting ceremony marks the official opening of a newly constructed location or the start of an event.

of the

1998 Winter Olympics The 1998 Winter Olympics, officially known as the and commonly known as Nagano 1998 (), were a winter multi-sport event held from 7 to 22 February 1998, mainly in Nagano, Nagano, Nagano, Nagano Prefecture, Japan, with some events ...

in Nagano, Japan. Ozawa conducted an orchestra and singers in Nagano, and was joined by choruses singing from Beijing, Berlin, Cape Town, New York City, and Sydney – as well as the crowd in the Nagano Olympic Stadium. This was the first time a simultaneous international audio-visual performance had been achieved.

Vienna State Opera

On New Year's Day 2002, Ozawa conducted the Vienna New Year's Concert, the first Japanese in a long tradition. In 2002, he stepped down from the BSO music directorship to become principal conductor of the

. He had conducted at the house before, Verdi's ''

Ernani ''Ernani'' is an operatic ''dramma lirico'' in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Francesco Maria Piave, based on the 1830 play ''Hernani (drama), Hernani'' by Victor Hugo. Verdi was commissioned by the Teatro La Fenice in Ve ...

'' and Tchaikovsky's ''Eugene Onegin'' in 1988, ''Pique Dame'' in 1992 and Verdi's '' Falstaff'' in 1993, and began his tenure with productions of Janáček's Jenůfa and Krenek's '' Jonny spielt auf''. In 2005, he founded and conducted its production of Richard Strauss's '' Elektra''. On February 1, 2006, the Vienna State Opera announced that he had to cancel all his 2006 conducting engagements because of illness, including

pneumonia Pneumonia is an Inflammation, inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as Pulmonary alveolus, alveoli. Symptoms typically include some combination of Cough#Classification, productive or dry cough, ches ...

and

shingles Shingles, also known as herpes zoster or zona, is a viral disease characterized by a painful skin rash with blisters in a localized area. Typically the rash occurs in a single, wide mark either on the left or right side of the body or face. T ...

. He returned to conducting in March 2007 at the Tokyo Opera Nomori. Ozawa stepped down from his post at the Vienna State Opera in 2010, to be succeeded by Franz Welser-Möst. He was named an honorary member of the Vienna Philharmonic then. In 2021, he conducted the orchestra a last time, on a Japan tour featuring the slow movement from Mozart's Divertimento, K. 136.

Personal life

Ozawa had three brothers, Katsumi, Toshio, and Mikio, the latter becoming a music writer and radio host in Tokyo. Ozawa's first wife was the pianist . His second wife was ("Vera"), a Russian-Japanese former model and actress (born in 1944 in

Yokohama is the List of cities in Japan, second-largest city in Japan by population as well as by area, and the country's most populous Municipalities of Japan, municipality. It is the capital and most populous city in Kanagawa Prefecture, with a popu ...

). He was married to her from 1968 until his death in 2024. The couple had two children, a daughter named Seira and a son named Yukiyoshi. During his tenure with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Ozawa opted to divide his time between Boston and Tokyo rather than move his family to the United States as he and his wife wanted their children to grow up aware of their Japanese heritage. Ozawa and the cellist and conductor

Mstislav Rostropovich Mstislav Leopoldovich Rostropovich (27 March 192727 April 2007) was a Russian Cello, cellist and conducting, conductor. In addition to his interpretations and technique, he was well known for both inspiring and commissioning new works, which enl ...

formed a traveling musical group during the later stages of Rostropovich's life, with the goal of giving free concerts and mentoring students across Japan.

Illness and death

On January 7, 2010, Ozawa announced that he was canceling all engagements for six months in order to undergo treatments for

esophageal cancer Esophageal cancer (American English) or oesophageal cancer (British English) is cancer arising from the esophagus—the food pipe that runs between the throat and the stomach. Symptoms often include dysphagia, difficulty in swallowing and weigh ...

. The doctor with Ozawa at the time of the announcement said it was detected at an early stage. Ozawa's other health problems included pneumonia and lower back problems requiring surgery in 2011. Following his cancer diagnosis, Ozawa and the novelist

Haruki Murakami is a Japanese writer. His novels, essays, and short stories have been best-sellers in Japan and internationally, with his work translated into 50 languages and having sold millions of copies outside Japan. He has received numerous awards for hi ...

embarked on a series of six conversations about classical music that form the basis for the book '' Absolutely on Music''. His last concert took place on November 22, 2022, with the Saito Kinen Orchestra where he conducted, in a wheelchair, Beethoven's 'Egmont' Overture, which was broadcast live to Koichi Wakata, an astronaut onboard the

International Space Station The International Space Station (ISS) is a large space station that was Assembly of the International Space Station, assembled and is maintained in low Earth orbit by a collaboration of five space agencies and their contractors: NASA (United ...

. Ozawa died of heart failure at his home in Tokyo, on February 6, 2024, at the age of 88. Daniel Froschauer, speaking for the Vienna Philharmonic, wrote: "We are happy to have experienced so many artistic highlights with Seiji Ozawa. It was a gift to be able to go on a long journey with this artist, who was characterized by the highest musical standards and at the same time humility towards the treasures of musical culture as well as his loving interaction with his colleagues and his charisma, which was also felt by the audience." His obituary in ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'' noted: "In the waning years of his life, Mr. Ozawa came to recognize the wisdom that comes from years of music making. 'A musician's special flavor comes out with age,' he told Murakami in the 2016 book of conversations. 'His playing at that stage may have more interesting qualities than at the height of his career.

Honorary degrees

Ozawa held honorary doctorate degrees from the

Sorbonne University Sorbonne University () is a public research university located in Paris, France. The institution's legacy reaches back to the Middle Ages in 1257 when Sorbonne College was established by Robert de Sorbon as a constituent college of the Unive ...

Harvard University Harvard University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1636 and named for its first benefactor, the History of the Puritans in North America, Puritan clergyma ...

, the New England Conservatory of Music, the

University of Massachusetts Amherst The University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst) is a public land-grant research university in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Massachusetts system and was founded in 1863 as the ...

, National University of Music Bucharest, and Wheaton College. He was a Member of Honour of the

International Music Council The International Music Council (IMC) was created in 1949 as UNESCO's advisory body on matters of music. The original request of the foundation of the IMC was under the Director of the UNESCO. It is based at UNESCO's headquarters in Paris, France, ...

Awards and honors

* 1959: International Competition of Orchestra Conductors, Besançon, France * 1960: Koussevitzky Prize for Outstanding Student Conductor, Tanglewood * 1976:

for ''Evening at Symphony'' * 1992: Hans von Bülow Medal (given by the

) * 1994: Emmy for ''Dvořák in Prague'' * 1994: Inouye Award, Japan * 1994: Inauguration of Seiji Ozawa Hall at Tanglewood, the BSO's summer home in Massachusetts, where he also taught for the International Academy of Young Musicians * 1997: Musician of the Year (Musical America) * 1998: Chevalier of the

Légion d'honneur The National Order of the Legion of Honour ( ), formerly the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour (), is the highest and most prestigious French national order of merit, both military and Civil society, civil. Currently consisting of five cl ...

(France), for the promotion of French composers * 2001: Member of the

Académie des Beaux-Arts The (; ) is a French learned society based in Paris. It is one of the five academies of the . The current president of the academy (2021) is Alain-Charles Perrot, a French architect. Background The academy was created in 1816 in Paris as a me ...

of the

Institut de France The ; ) is a French learned society, grouping five , including the . It was established in 1795 at the direction of the National Convention. Located on the Quai de Conti in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, the institute manages approximately ...

(Given by French President

Jacques Chirac Jacques René Chirac (, ; ; 29 November 193226 September 2019) was a French politician who served as President of France from 1995 to 2007. He was previously Prime Minister of France from 1974 to 1976 and 1986 to 1988, as well as Mayor of Pari ...

) * 2001: Person of Cultural Merit, Japan * 2002: Doctor honoris causa, National University of Music Bucharest, Romania * 2002: Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art, 1st class (Given by Austrian President Thomas Klestil) * 2002: Les Victoires de la Musique Classique (French CD prize) * 2002: 34th Suntory Music Award (2002) * 2003: Mainichi Art Award and Suntory Music Prize * 2008: Order of Culture, Japan * 2009: Grand Decoration of Honour in Silver for Services to the Republic of Austria * 2011: Praemium Imperiale, Japan * 2012: Tanglewood Medal awarded, In Honor Of Tanglewood 75th Season, BSO begins new tradition with first-ever medal awarded to Seiji Ozawa, BSO Music Director Laureate, Tanglewood * 2015: Kennedy Center Honoree * 2016:

Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording The Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording has been awarded since 1961. The award was originally titled Best Classical Opera Production. The current title has been used since 1962. Prior to 1961 the awards for operatic and choral performances wer ...

* 2016: Honorary Member of the

Discography

Source: * Bartók: ** ''

The Miraculous Mandarin ''The Miraculous Mandarin'' (, ; ) Op. 19, Sz. 73 (BB 82), is a one act pantomime ballet composed by Béla Bartók between 1918 and 1924, and based on the 1916 story by Melchior Lengyel. Premiered on 27 November 1926 conducted by Eugen Szenka ...

'', Op. 19, Sz. 73 (suite); '' Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta''. BSO, 1977 – DG ** ''The Miraculous Mandarin'', Concerto for Orchestra. BSO, 1994 – Philips ** ''Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta''; Viola Concerto. Berlin Philharmonic, 1992, 1989 – DG * Berlioz: ** '' Symphonie fantastique''. Toronto Symphony Orchestra, 1966 – RCA / Boston Symphony Orchestra, 1973 – DG ** '' Roméo et Juliette''. BSO, 1976 – DG ** '' Grande Messe des Morts''. BSO, 1993 – RCA ** '' La damnation de Faust''. Tanglewood Festival Chorus, BSO,

Edith Mathis Edith Mathis (; 11 February 19389 February 2025) was a Swiss soprano known for her roles in List of operas by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Mozart's operas. Early in her career, Cherubino in ''Le nozze di Figaro'' was her signature role that she perf ...

, Stuart Burrows, Donald McIntyre, 1974 – DG ** '' Nuits d'été''. BSO,

Frederica von Stade Frederica von Stade (born 1 June 1945) is a semi-retired American classical singer. Best known for her work in opera, she was also a recitalist and concert artist, and she recorded more than a hundred albums and videos. She is especially associa ...

, 1984 – Sony * Brahms: Symphony No. 1. BSO, 1977 – DG * Debussy: '' La damoiselle élue'', Tanglewood Festival Chorus, BSO, Susanne Mentzer, Frederica von Stade, 1984 – Sony * Dutilleux: ''The Shadows of Time''. BSO, 1998 – Erato * Dvořák: ** Dvořák in Prague: A Celebration. Prague Philharmonic Chorus, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Rudolf Firkušný, Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, Frederica von Stade, 1994 – Sony, and 2007 – Kultur Video ** Cello Concerto in B minor.

, Boston Symphony Orchestra, 1987 – Erato * Falla: '' El sombrero de tres picos''. BSO, Teresa Berganza, 1977 – DG * Franck: Symphony in D minor. BSO, 1993 – DG * Gounod:

Faust Faust ( , ) is the protagonist of a classic German folklore, German legend based on the historical Johann Georg Faust (). The erudite Faust is highly successful yet dissatisfied with his life, which leads him to make a deal with the Devil at a ...

. Alberto Cupido, Rosalind Plowright, Simon Estes, Juan Pons, Chœurs de Radio France, Orchestre National de France, 1989 - DG * Ives: Symphony No. 4; Central Park in the Dark. BSO, 1976 – DG * Lalo: '' Symphonie espagnole''. Anne-Sophie Mutter, violin,

Orchestre National de France The Orchestre National de France (; ; abbr. ONF) is a French symphony orchestra based in Paris, founded in 1934. Placed under the administration of the French national radio (named Radio France since 1975), the ONF performs mainly in the Grand ...

, 1984 – EMI * Liszt: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2, '' Totentanz''. Krystian Zimerman, piano. BSO, 1987 – DG * Mahler: ** Symphony No. 1; Blumine. BSO, 1977 – DG ** Symphony No. 8. BSO, Tanglewood Festival Chorus, 1981 – Philips ** Symphony No. 9. Saito Kinen Orchestra. Recorded in Tokyo January 2–4, 2001. Sony. * Mendelssohn: ''

A Midsummer Night's Dream ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' is a Comedy (drama), comedy play written by William Shakespeare in about 1595 or 1596. The play is set in Athens, and consists of several subplots that revolve around the marriage of Theseus and Hippolyta. One s ...

''. Tanglewood Festival Chorus, BSO,

Kathleen Battle Kathleen Deanna Battle (born August 13, 1948) is an American operatic soprano known for her distinctive vocal range and tone. Born in Portsmouth, Ohio, Battle initially became known for her work within the concert repertoire through performances ...

, Judi Dench, Frederica von Stade, 1994 – DG * Messiaen: '' Turangalîla-Symphonie''. Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Yvonne Loriod, 1967 – RCA * Orff: '' Carmina Burana''. New England Conservatory Chorus, BSO, Evelyn Mandac, Stanley Kolk, Sherrill Milnes, 1970 – RCA * Panufnik: Sinfonia Votiva (Symphony No. 8). Boston Symphony Orchestra, 1982 – Hyperion * Poulenc ** Concerto for Organ, Strings and Timpani. BSO, Simon Preston, 1993 – DG ** Gloria; Stabat Mater. Kathleen Battle, BSO, 1987 – DG * Prokofiev: ** Piano Concerto No. 2, Yundi, piano. Berlin Philharmonic, 2007 – DG ** ''Symphonie Concertante''.

, London Symphony Orchestra, 1987 – Erato ** Symphonies. Berlin Philharmonic, 1989–1992 – DG * Ravel: ** '' Shéhérazade''. BSO, Frederica von Stade, 1981 – Sony ** ''

Boléro ''Boléro'' is a 1928 work for large orchestra by French composer Maurice Ravel. It is one of Ravel's most famous compositions. It was also one of his last completed works before illness diminished his ability to write music. Composition T ...

''; ''Rhapsodie espagnole''; '' Valses nobles et sentimentales''; '' Ma mère l'Oye''; '' Menuet antique''; ''

Le Tombeau de Couperin ''Le Tombeau de Couperin'' (''The Tomb of Couperin'') is a suite (music), suite for solo piano by Maurice Ravel, composed between 1914 and 1917. The piece is in six movements, based on those of a traditional Baroque music, Baroque suite. Each ...

''; '' La valse''; ''

Alborada del gracioso ''Alborada del gracioso (The Jester's Aubade)'' is the fourth of the five movements of Maurice Ravel, Maurice Ravel's piano suite ''Miroirs'', written in 1905. It is about seven minutes long and, as part of the suite, has always been regularly ...

''; ''

Miroirs file:Ravel Pierre Petit.jpg, upRavel in 1907 ''Miroirs'' (, ) is a five-movement suite (music), suite for solo piano written by French composer Maurice Ravel between 1904 and 1905."Miroirs". Maurice Ravel Frontispice. First performed by Ricardo V ...

''; '' Pavane pour une infante défunte''; '' Daphnis et Chloé''. BSO, 1974–1975 – DG ** Piano Concerto in G. Yundi, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, 2007 – DG * Respighi: ** ''

Ancient Airs and Dances ''Ancient Airs and Dances'' () is a set of three orchestral suites by Italian composer Ottorino Respighi, freely transcribed from original pieces for lute. In addition to being a renowned composer and conductor, Respighi was also a notable musico ...

'', 1979 – DG ** ''

Roman Festivals Festivals in ancient Rome were a very important part of Roman religious life during both the Republican and Imperial eras, and one of the primary features of the Roman calendar. ''Feriae'' ("holidays" in the sense of "holy days"; singular ...

''; '' Fountains of Rome''; '' Pines of Rome''. BSO, 1978 – DG * Russo: '' Three Pieces for Blues Band and Symphony Orchestra''; San Francisco Symphony, 1972 – DG * Saint-Saens: Symphony No. 3; '' Phaeton''; '' Le Rouet d'Omphale''. Philippe Lefebvre, organ. National Orchestra of France, 1986 – EMI * Sarasate: '' Zigeunerweisen''. Anne-Sophie Mutter, National Orchestra of France, 1984 – EMI * Sessions: Concerto for Orchestra. BSO, 1982 – Hyperion * Shostakovich: Cello Concerto No. 1. Rostropovich, London Symphony Orchestra, 1987 – Erato * Stravinsky: **

Oedipus rex ''Oedipus Rex'', also known by its Greek title, ''Oedipus Tyrannus'' (, ), or ''Oedipus the King'', is an Athenian tragedy by Sophocles. While some scholars have argued that the play was first performed , this is highly uncertain. Originally, to ...

. Peter Schreier, Jessye Norman, Jocasta. Saito Kinen Orchestra, 1992 – Philips ** Suite from ''

The Firebird ''The Firebird'' (; ) is a ballet and orchestral concert work by the Russian composer Igor Stravinsky. It was written for the 1910 Paris season of Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes company; the original choreography was by Michel Fokine, who c ...

''; '' Petrouchka''. BSO, 1970 – RCA ** ''The Firebird'' (1910 version). Orchestre de Paris, 1973 – EMI ** ''

The Rite of Spring ''The Rite of Spring'' () is a ballet and orchestral concert work by the Russian composer Igor Stravinsky. It was written for the 1913 Paris season of Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes company; the original choreography was by Vaslav Nijinsky ...

''. Chicago Symphony Orchestra, 1968 – RCA * Takemitsu: ** Quatrain (with Tashi); A Flock Descends into the Pentagonal Garden. BSO, 1980 – DG ** Asterism For Piano And Orchestra, Requiem For String Orchestra, Green For Orchestra (November Steps II), and The Dorian Horizon For 17 Strings. Toronto Symphony Orchestra, 1969 – RCA * Tchaikovsky: ** Symphony No. 4, Berlin Philharmonic, 1989 – DG 427 354–4 (cassette) ** Symphony No. 5. BSO, 1977 – DG ** Symphonie No. 6. BSO, 1986 – Erato ** Variations on a Rococo Theme. BSO, 1987 – Erato * Vivaldi: '' The Four Seasons''. BSO, 1982 – Telarc

Bibliography

''Seiji: An Intimate Portrait of Seiji Ozawa''
(Hardcover) by Lincoln Russell (photographer), Caroline Smedvig (editor), 1998, * ''Ozawa''. Mayseles brothers film. CBS/Sony, 1989. A documentary film co-produced by Peter Gelb.
''Absolutely on Music: Conversations with Seiji Ozawa''
by Haruki Murakami (New York: Knopf, 2016)

References

External links

* * * *
Seiji Ozawa – Photographs and video interviews on gettyimages.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ozawa, Seiji 1935 births 2024 deaths 20th-century Japanese conductors (music) 21st-century Japanese conductors (music) Music directors of the Boston Symphony Orchestra Music directors of the San Francisco Symphony Music directors of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra Deaths from congestive heart failure in Japan Deutsche Grammophon artists Grammy Award winners Japanese expatriates in Austria Japanese expatriates in the United States Japanese male conductors (music) Japanese people from Manchukuo Kennedy Center honorees Knights of the Legion of Honour Members of the Académie des beaux-arts Music directors (opera) Music directors of the Vienna State Opera Persons of Cultural Merit Primetime Emmy Award winners Prize-winners of the International Besançon Competition for Young Conductors Recipients of the Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art, 1st class Recipients of the Grand Decoration for Services to the Republic of Austria Recipients of the Order of Culture Recipients of the Praemium Imperiale Toho Gakuen School of Music alumni