World-renowned conductor Seiji Ozawa will make a comeback in August at the Saito Kinen Festival Matsumoto, conducting French composer Maurice Ravel's opera "The Child and the Spells," the festival's organizing committee said.
The 77-year-old maestro will conduct the Saito Kinen Orchestra on Aug. 23, 25, 28 and 31 at the Matsumoto Performing Arts Center, a concert hall in the city of Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, the board said Monday.
The festival will run from Aug. 12 through Sept. 7 and provide a total of 14 performances featuring four different programs, including the operas at which Ozawa will conduct the orchestra.
"The Spanish Hour," another Ravel opera, will also be performed. It will be conducted by French conductor Stephane Deneve.
Ozawa has been out of the public eye since last March to recover his strength and concentrate on rehabilitation after his health deteriorated.
He underwent surgery for cancer of the esophagus in 2010, and he was diagnosed with pneumonia three times after that.
