Annual Saito Kinen Festival Matsumoto, Founded by World-Renowned Conductor Seiji Ozawa, Set for
August 17 — September 9 in Charming City of Matsumoto in the Picturesque Foothills of the Japanese
Alps
NEW YORK, May 13 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ --
POPULAR CLASSICAL MUSIC FESTIVAL CELEBRATES ITS 18th ANNIVERSARY WITH FOUR
PERFORMANCES OF BRITTEN’S WAR REQUIEM PERFORMED BY THE LEGENDARY SAITO KINEN
ORCHESTRA AND CONDUCTED BY SEIJI OZAWA
The 2009 Saito Kinen Festival Matsumoto, a popular classical music festival created by world-famous Japanese
conductor Seiji Ozawa, will take place from August 17–September 9 in Matsumoto, Japan. Set in the foothills of the
Japanese Alps, this charming city is known for hosting the festival and for its picturesque views, hot springs, calm
climate, and historical attractions such as Matsumoto Castle.
Each year, thousands of classical music lovers are drawn to Matsumoto for the festival, which Mr. Ozawa
established in 1992 to pay tribute to his teacher and mentor, the late Hideo Saito, and to acknowledge the influence
Professor Saito continues to have on classical music today. The festival grew naturally from the success of the
Saito Kinen Orchestra (SKO), which Mr. Ozawa founded in 1984 on the 10th anniversary of Professor Saito’s death
as a way to carry on his legacy and teachings. The SKO recently appeared at No. 19 on Gramophone magazine’s
list of “Best Orchestras in the World,” the only orchestra in Asia to do so.
This year, the Saito Kinen Festival Matsumoto will celebrate its 18th anniversary with an exciting program of
concerts, the centerpiece of which is four performances of Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem, performed by the Saito
Kinen Orchestra, led by Mr. Ozawa, and featuring soprano Christine Goerke and tenor Anthony Dean Griffey. Other
highlights include the 14th Toru Takemitsu Memorial Concert on August 22 and the SKO’s performances of Ravel
and Brahms, conducted by Mr. Ozawa, on September 4, 6, and 7, featuring mezzo-soprano Susan Graham.
Mr. Ozawa, who is currently the music director of the Vienna State Opera, has devoted his life to continuing the
practice and philosophies of Professor Saito, whom he credits for his own artistic development and for fostering
classical music training in Japan. To that end, Mr. Ozawa has founded several teaching institutions including the
International Music Academy - Switzerland, the Saito Kinen Chamber Music Study Group for Young People, and
the Seiji Ozawa Ongaku-juku, comprised of promising young musicians who are given the unique opportunity to
perform and learn with world-class professionals. Students from the Chamber Music Study Group will perform
during this year’s Saito Kinen Festival during the first half of a program on August 29, followed by a performance by
the Saito Kinen Orchestra, all led by noted violinist and conductor Robert Mann.
For more about Seiji Ozawa, Hideo Saito, and the 2009 Saito Kinen Festival Matsumoto, please visit www.saito-
kinen.com/e/.
For more information, please contact:
Pamela Murphy at Align Entertainment Group
Office +1.646.596.8700
pamela@aligneg.com
SOURCE: Saito Kinen Festival Matsumoto
CONTACT: Pamela Murphy, Align Entertainment Group
Office +1-646-596-8700
pamela@aligneg.com
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