Beijing concert to honor conductor and cultural ambassador

The Forbidden City Concert Hall in Beijing will host a commemoration of renowned conductor Seiji Ozawa (1935-2024) on Sunday.

This special concert will be led by Chinese conductors Chen Lin and Huang Yi, and will feature a selection of some of the most iconic classical music, including Beethoven's Symphony No 7, the third movement of Beethoven's String Quartet No 16, and the beloved Chinese piece Erquan Yingyue (Reflection of the Moon on the Two Springs).

These works had been performed by musicians who had either collaborated with Ozawa or had been trained at the Seiji Ozawa Music Academy.

Ozawa was more than just a renowned conductor; he was a cultural ambassador.

He visited China many times throughout his career, especially during the pivotal years of China's reform and opening-up. Between 1976 and 2009, Ozawa visited China 14 times, fostering relationships with prominent Chinese musicians and playing a key role in the development of Chinese classical music.

One of the most significant milestones in Ozawa's legacy was his collaboration with the China National Symphony Orchestra. His deep respect for Chinese music and culture led him to forge lasting friendships with Chinese musicians.

In 1979, he led the Boston Symphony Orchestra on a groundbreaking tour in China. It was the first symphony from the United States to visit China after the establishment of diplomatic relations earlier that year.

His commitment to cultural exchange bridged the gap between the East and the West, and his influence on the international classical music community was profound.

Perhaps one of Ozawa's most heartfelt connections to Chinese music was his encounter with Jiang Jianhua, a renowned erhu (Chinese two-stringed fiddle) virtuoso.

Ozawa was deeply moved by Jiang's performance of Erquan Yingyue and expressed a profound admiration for the piece. Jiang will play the music piece during the upcoming concert.

The concert will also include performances by celebrated horn player Han Xiaoming, another artist whose career was shaped by Ozawa's mentorship. Han was offered the opportunity to study in the US in the 1980s, thanks to Ozawa's support, and they collaborated numerous times on international stages.

In 2000, Ozawa founded the Seiji Ozawa Music Academy in Tokyo, which aimed to provide young Asian musicians with the opportunity to study and perform. The academy frequently toured China, offering training to over 200 Chinese students in a variety of disciplines including vocals, strings and brass. Many of these students went on to make their own mark in the classical music world.

Yang Yichen, a cellist and associate professor at the Central Conservatory of Music, recalled his experience at the academy with great fondness: "Ozawa's passion for music planted a seed in us. He not only shaped us as musicians but also set a high standard for both our artistic and personal growth. As a former student of the academy, I feel a deep sense of respect and gratitude toward him."

Chen Lin, one of Ozawa's students and the initiator of this memorial concert, said: "The musicians performing in the concert represent various generations of artists who have either studied under Ozawa or benefited from his mentorship. This concert is a collective tribute to him, and through it, we want to showcase what we have achieved in our careers, as a way to honor our beloved teacher."