Ludwig van Beethoven; Richard Strauss - Symphony No. 5; Ein Heldenleben (Seiji Ozawa)

Information

Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven; Richard Strauss

• Beethoven - Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67
• Strauss - Ein Heldenleben, Op. 40, TrV 190

Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra

Seiji Ozawa, conductor

Date: 2026

Label: BR-Klassik

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Japanese conductor Seiji Ozawa made history during his only two appearances with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra in Munich. His debut in July 1983 at the Herkulessaal featured Stravinsky’s Le sacre du printemps, Beethoven’s Egmont Overture, and Beethoven’s First Piano Concerto alongside soloist Martha Argerich. Returning in January 1990 at the Philharmonie im Gasteig, Ozawa delivered striking interpretations of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony and Strauss’s Ein Heldenleben, a landmark concert now presented here on CD for the very first time.

Seiji Ozawa (1935–2024) was a pioneering conductor known for his energetic style and interpretations of 19th-century Western symphonic music. Born in Manchukuo to Japanese parents, he shifted from piano to conducting after a hand injury and studied under Hideo Saito. After early success in Japan, he won major competitions in Europe and trained at Tanglewood. He held leadership posts with the Ravinia Festival, Toronto and San Francisco symphonies, and served as music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra from 1973 to 2002. Ozawa also founded the Saito Kinen Orchestra and Festival, led the Vienna State Opera, overcame health setbacks, published Absolutely on Music, and received major international honors.

High Resolution 24-bit / 48 kHz