Seiji Ozawa Complete Deutsche Grammohpon Recordings CD

Seiji Ozawa has long possessed that rare quality of being able to cross boundaries: being the first Asian conductor to rise to the level of an international star – not least being the first Japanese conductor to preside over Vienna's New Year's Concert. 

As Deutsche Grammophon celebrates its rich 120 year history, this seems the opportune moment to celebrate one of its most-loved and legendary conductors.   For the first time collected in one Edition, DG presents Seiji Ozawa’s complete recordings on the Yellow Label in an original jacket, 50-CD collection.

It wasn’t until Seiji Ozawa sprained his finger in a rugby match at a young age that his passion and ambition shifted from performing classical piano to conducting. After being introduced to a life-changing performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 it was clear to Seiji that this was his path of destiny.

A decade later Ozawa won the first prize at the International Competition of Orchestra Conductors in Besançon, France. After his Koussivitzky Prize at Tanglewood, he honed his skills as assistant to Leonard Bernstein in New York and Herbert von Karajan in Berlin. Directorships of the Nissei Theatre in Tokyo, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Tanglewood Festival, the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Vienna State Opera followed.

In 2016 he withdrew from the international scene to Japan, dedicating his time to the Mito Chamber Orchestra and to teaching. His defining qualities have always been esprit at the rostrum, a deep respect for the works he conducts, precision in rehearsal and friendliness and modesty in deportment.

Now, for the first time, his complete recordings on Deutsche Grammophon are collected together in one set.