Seiji Ozawa was one of the world's most celebrated orchestra conductors with a
long career as musical director in major cities around the world including San
Francisco, Chicago, New York, and Boston, where he was in charge of the Boston
Symphony Orchestra for 29 years. Born in Mukden, Fengtian, Manchukuo (in
Northeast China) on September 1, 1935, to Japanese parents who returned to their
home country in 1944, he studied piano until a rugby injury forced him to study
conducting. After capturing first prize in the International Competition of
Orchestra Conductors in France, he was ...