Japan’s trailblazing conductor Seiji Ozawa dies from heart failure at 88
- Ozawa had two loves – piano and rugby – but a sporting accident led him on the path of conducting
- He led the Boston Symphony Orchestra for 29 years and received multiple accolades across his career, including an honorary doctorate from Harvard
Seiji Ozawa, the iconic Japanese conductor known for his work with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and other world-famous ensembles, died on Tuesday due to heart failure at his home in Tokyo, his management office said on Friday. He was 88.
A trailblazer of Japanese conductors active on the world stage, Ozawa in recent years had suffered a series of health problems that forced him to cancel some of his concert and music festival appearances.
In his teens, the future maestro seemed destined for a career as a pianist. But he also had another passion – rugby – which his piano teacher mother banned him from playing.
Naturally, he defied her, and one day he broke his two index fingers in a ruck during a game, abruptly ending all hope of ever becoming a concert pianist.
It was only then that the idea of conducting was floated.