State Opera - Austria / II. Republic of Austria 2004 - 100 Euro Cent

In 2002, Seiji Ozawa directed the traditional New Year's Concert at the Wiener Musikverein. Born in China on September 1, 1935, he entered the Toho Gakuen School of Music in Tokyo in 1953, where he initially studied piano. When he injured both hands playing rugby, he had to give up his piano studies and began to study conducting and composition. After several engagements as a conductor in Japan, Seiji Ozawa decided to continue his studies in Europe. In 1959 he won the International Conducting Competition in Besançon, France. As a student with Herbert von Karajan in Berlin, Leonard Bernstein became aware of Seiji Ozawa and made him in 1961/62 his assistant to the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. Seiji Ozawa also collaborated with the Vienna Philharmonic, the Berlin Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra, the Orchester National de France, the Philharmonia Orchestra London. Seiji Ozawa made his debut at the Vienna State Opera on May 20, 1988 with a new production of "Eugene Onegin". , His first premiere at the Haus am Ring was "Ernani" (1998). Since the season 2002/2003 Seiji Ozawa is Music Director of the Vienna State Opera.