Seiji Ozawa, the revered maestro who transformed the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) during his nearly three-decade tenure, has passed away at 88 at his home in Tokyo, as reported by CBC News. With a career spanning across the globe, his office, Veroza Japan, confirmed that Ozawa succumbed to heart failure this Tuesday.
The Boston Symphony Orchestra, where Ozawa's visionary leadership spanned from 1973 to 2002, hailed him as a "kind and thoughtful humanitarian; a musical genius," and recounted his "balletic grace" at the podium, according to their statement obtained by The Boston Globe, current BSO music director Andris Nelsons described Ozawa as “one of the warmest, kindest and most generous people” he had met, sharing sentiments and an image of them together on X platform.
Ozawa was remembered for his revolutionary work as music director at the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO), a position he held before joining the BSO. His dynamic tenure there from 1965 brought a new vibrancy, guiding the symphony to prominent performances such as the opening of City Hall in 1967 and the Commonwealth Arts Festival, as detailed by CBC News. Seiji Ozawa, who also held the prestigious position as music director of the Vienna State Opera post-BSO, retained a profound connection with his native Japan, particularly through the Saito Kinen Orchestra and the Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival, earning him a Grammy in 2016.
Celebrated for his impact on the classical music landscape, Ozawa's distinction extended beyond conducting. Where he left a mark on the Boston Symphony Orchestra's financial growth and international reputation, he devoted time to education and nurturing talent, teaching and conducting until the end - his commitment to music unwavering despite facing health challenges including esophageal cancer in 2010. His illustrious career earned him appearances on prestigious stages from Kennedy Center honors to Grammys powerful enough to win over audiences worldwide. Still, it was his return to Boston in 2006, four years after his departure, that he received a thunderous, near six-minute-long ovation.
Despite his illustrious international reputation, Ozawa maintained modesty, once telling a 2014 Tokyo news conference captured by CBC News, "I'm the complete opposite of a genius, I have always had to make an effort," His funeral was a private affair attended only by close relatives. He is survived by his two adult children, Seira, an author, and Yukiyoshi, an actor.
