Ozawa's opera company debuts in Tokyo

TOKYO, March 14 (UPI) -- Japanese-born conductor Seiji Ozawa conducted the Richard Strauss opera "Elektra" Sunday as the first performance of a new opera company he founded in Tokyo.

Tokyo Opera Nomori co-produced the performance with the Maggio Musicale festival of Florence, Italy, The Boston Globe reported.

"Elektra" will be performed March 16, 19, and 22 as part of a 10-day all-Strauss event, which includes a concert by the Tokyo Opera Nomori Orchestra with the Alpine Chorus and soprano Ricarda Merberh, and chamber concerts by mezzo-soprano Mitsuko Shirai and pianist Hartmut Holl.

In 2006 the company plans to feature the works of Giuseppe Verdi, producing his "Otello" together with the Vienna State Opera. In 2007 the company will feature works by Richard Wagner, producing his "Tannhaeuser" with the Paris Opera, Playbill reported.

Ozawa, 69, was music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra for nearly 30 years and has been music director of the Vienna State Opera since 2002.

"For a long time it's been my dream to establish an opera company in Japan. My goal with Tokyo Opera Nomori is to create a company comprised of Japanese musicians, together with world-class singers, where the productions would originate in Japan," Ozawa said.