Celebrity File Japan by Lint


英文		重要語句
■ When people think of Seiji Ozawa, the first word that often comes to mind is "different." It is Ozawa's unique perspective that has made him not only the greatest Asian musician but also one of the world's greatest musicians. He has traveled a long road to get there.		extraordinaire　非凡な come to mind　思い浮かぶ perspective　（ものの）見方
■■ Ozawa did not seem destined for greatness as he stood in Boston's airport in 1960 speaking almost no English and holding in his hand a sign reading "Lennox, Massachusetts." Lennox is home to Tanglewood Music Center where the world's top conductors spend time teaching young musicians. Leonard Bernstein, one of the top classical figures of the 20th century, was there when Ozawa first arrived. That summer, Ozawa won the award for 'Outstanding Student Conductor.' Bernstein recognized Ozawa's talent and together with Aaron Copland worked to develop the young man's talent. "I first met Seiji in 1961," said Vic Firth of the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO). "He spoke little or no English at all. Immediately apparent was his great talent, his enthusiasm and dedication to music."		destined for ...　 …することになっている sign　表示；掲示 conductor　指揮者 classical　クラシック音楽の figure　大人物 outstanding　傑出した recognize　…を認める talent　才能 apparent　明らかな enthusiasm　熱意 dedication to ...　 …への専念
■■■ Bernstein was so impressed by the young Japanese musician that he made Ozawa an assistant conductor of the New York Philharmonic. Like Bernstein, Ozawa soon grew his hair longer and began wearing mod clothes and love beads. Also like Bernstein, Ozawa became know for his enthusiastic style of conducting. According to Michael Steinberg, music critic of the Boston Globe, "There was an incredible current of energy … it was a beautiful thing to watch." Even today, Ozawa often works without a baton and never reads the score while conducting.		impress　…に感銘を与える Philharmonic　交響楽団 mod　流行の最先端の beads　ビーズのネックレス critic　評論家 current　流れ baton　指揮棒 score　楽譜
■■■■ Named the director of the BSO in 1973, Ozawa held that position for 29 years and still found time to guest conduct symphonies around the world (including the prestigious Berlin Philharmonic and the Vienna Philharmonic) and make numerous recordings. He was an obvious choice to participate in the opening ceremonies of the Nagano Olympics where he delivered an inspiring performance of Beethoven's 9th Symphony.		director　指揮者 guest conduct ...　 …を客演指揮する prestigious　一流の numerous　ひじょうに多くの recording　レコード inspiring　感動させる
■■■■■ 1992 was a big year for Ozawa as he conducted the Metropolitan Opera in New York for the first time and also founded the Saito Kinen Festival Matsumoto in Nagano Prefecture. He has won many awards all around the world. John Williams, the famed composer of such film scores as Star Wars and E.T. is also a conductor and composed For Seiji to honor Ozawa's first 25 years with the BSO. He also has words of praise for Ozawa: "We know that the people in Japan are extraordinarily proud of him. (He came) all the way from Japan with no money (or connections) … and to rise to the very top of the international musical scene is an extraordinary achievement. Others will follow and stand on his shoulders." Those "others" such as Yo-Yo Ma, Midori or other Asian and Asian-American musicians, all owe Ozawa a debt of gratitude.		famed　有名な composer　作曲家 film score　映画音楽 praise　称賛 extraordinarily　並外れて all the way　はるばる proud of ...　 …を誇りに思う achievement　偉業 stand on ...　 …に依存する owe X Y　XにYを抱いている debt of gratitude　恩義
■■■■■■ In the fall of 2002, Ozawa took one of the most difficult jobs in all of classical music, music director of the Vienna State Opera. It is a position that has been held by Gustav Mahler and other greats. It is a difficult job because the ensemble is known to treat conductors badly. But meeting a great challenge is something Seiji Ozawa never seems to mind.		ensemble　合奏団 mind　気にする

－written by Brock Spore

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