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| The Saito Kinen Orchestra was founded in September
of 1984 when Seiji Ozawa and Kazuyoshi Akiyama organized
a special concert series to commemorate the 10th anniversary
of Hideo Saito's death. Mentor to both these well-known
conductors, Professor Saito is best remembered as co-founder
of the Toho Gakuen School, one of Japan's leading music
institutions. Under the leadership of Ozawa and Akiyama,
more than 100 of Professor Saito's former students assembled
in Japan for that series of performances. |
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| 1984 |
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The Memorial Concerts on the 10th anniversary of Hideo Saito’s
death in Tokyo and Osaka were acclaimed as being of the
highest caliber. Those concerts became the beginning of
the career of the Saito Kinen Orchestra. |
| 1987 |
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The Saito Kinen Orchestra made their first official tour
of Europe. Their concerts in Vienna, Berlin, London, Paris,
and Frankfurt won the highest of praise. |
| 1989 |
| During
the second tour, the Orchestra recorded Brahms' Symphony
No.4 as well as Toru Takemitsu's November Steps for Philips
Classics. |
| 1990 |
| Under
Seiji Ozawa, the Orchestra was invited to many prestigious
European festivals such as the Salzburg Festival. During
the tour, the Orchestra recorded Brahms' Symphony No.1 and
Takemitsu's Viola Concert. |
| 1991 |
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The Saito Kinen Orchestra performed in London, Düsseldorf,
Amsterdam and New York. They made their U.S. debut at the
opening concert of Carnegie Hall's 101st season. |
| 1992 |
| The
Saito Kinen Orchestra became the centerpiece to Seiji Ozawa's
first annual, world-class Saito Kinen Festival Matsumoto,
located in the Japan Alps. The overwhelmingly successful
event included a production of Stravinsky's Oedipus Rex. |
| 1993 |
| The
second Festival featured a full production of Honegger's
Jeanne d' Arc au bücher (Joan of Arc), a concert version
of Schoenberg's Verklärte Nacht (Transfigured Night). |
| 1994 |
| Another
tour of Europe (Salzburg, Athens and Cologne). The Saito
Kinen Festival Matsumoto offered memorable performances
of Verdi's Requiem. |
| 1995 |
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The centerpiece consisted of a staged production of Stravinsky's
The Rake's Progress. |
| 1996 |
| The
Festival included a special commemorative performance of
My Way of Life in tribute to the recently departed Toru
Takemitsu, spiritual pillar of the Festival. |
| 1997 |
| The
Saito Kinen Orchestra made their sixth tour to Europe in
April. For the Festival, the ensemble performed the St.
Matthew-Passion by J.S.Bach. |
| 1998 |
| The
Festival had their first co-production with l'Opera National
de Paris in highway acclaimed performance of Dialogues des
Carmélites by Poulenc. |
| 1999 |
| The
Saito Kinen Orchestra again jointly produced La Damnation
de Faust, by Berlioz, with l'Opera National de Paris. The
Festival's program included guest appearances by pianist
Mitsuko Uchida and an all-Beethoven performance. |
| 2000 |
| The
Saito Kinen Orchestra presented Special Winter Concert.
The Orchestra performed Mahler's Symphony No.2, "Resurrection"
in Matsumoto as well as Tokyo. |
| 2001 |
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During the 10th anniversary Festival, the performances with
The Boys Choir of Harlem added further to the highlights
such as the production of the opera Jenufa. |
| 2002 |
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The Saito Kinen Orchestra wrapped up their Beethoven series
with the 9th Symphony and they again welcomed Rostropovich.
Benjamin Britten’s opera, Peter Grimes, was co-produced
with Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino. |
| 2003 |
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In 2003, Verdi’s opera Falstaff was performed. The
Orchestra program included Bruckner’s Symphony No.
7 in E major. |
| 2004 |
| In
May, the Orchestra embarked on a third European Tour. The
Festival welcomed Kazushi Ono as a guest conductor. For
the opera, Alban Berg’s Wozzeck was presented. |
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