MAKOTO OZONE
thrilling, virtuosic and unabashedly personal
The New York Times
小 曾 根 真 MAKOTO OZONE
Makoto Ozone is a unique force in both jazz and classical music, blending sound worlds and a host of influences into his performances. He first came to public attention through his solo recital at Carnegie Hall in 1983 following his graduation from Berklee College of Music. Ozone then became the first Japanese artist to sign an exclusive contract with CBS and released his first album, Ozone, a year after his Carnegie debut.
His stellar career in jazz, which earned him a Grammy nomination in 2003, has brought him to the forefront of the international jazz scene, recording and touring with musicians such as Gary Burton, Chick Corea, Paquito D'Rivera, Anna Maria Jopek, Branford Marsalis, and others. In 2004, he formed his own big band, No Name Horses, which has regularly toured to Europe, North America, and Asia.
In more recent years, Ozone has expanded into classical repertoire, alongside his jazz engagements. Having first performed Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue in 1996, he now performs concertos by Mozart, Bernstein, Prokofiev, Shostakovich and Rachmaninov with major
orchestras. Ozone has collaborated with a prestigious list of conductors including Marin Alsop, Alan Gilbert, Jun Märkl, Bertie Baigent, Jader Bignamini, and performed with major orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester, Rotterdam Philharmonic, and the NHK Symphony Orchestra.
Alongside his performing schedule, Ozone has composed over 300 pieces, including a symphony and piano concerto. His discography spans over 30 albums as a composer in solo, duo, and trio settings.
Ozone's many awards include the Kinokuniya Theatre Award (2000), Kobe City Culture Award (2005), Fumio Nanri Prize (2007), Hyogo Prefecture Culture Award (2009), and Art Encouragement of Education, Culture, Sports, Science Minister's Prize (2014). In 2018, Ozone received the Medal of Honour with Purple Ribbon from the Government of Japan. This is Japan's highest award to individuals who have made significant contributions to the nation's academic or cultural life.
PROGRAMME TO INCLUDE
RAVEL Adagio assai from Piano Concerto in G major
PROKOFIEV Precipitato from Piano Sonata No. 7 in B-flat major, Op. 83
MOSZKOWSKI 20 Petites Études, Op. 91, No. 8
MOSZKOWSKI 20 Petites Études, Op. 91, No. 20
CHOPIN Waltz in C-sharp minor, Op. 64, No. 2
RAVEL Prélude from Le Tombeau de Couperin
SCARLATTI Sonata in E major, K. 20
GERSHWIN Allegro agitato from Piano Concerto in F major
OZONE Mirror Circle
OZONE Lullaby for Rabbit
OZONE O'berek
OZONE Something's Happening!
OZONE Pandora
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