Opera japonica/Archives/Past Events 2001

Past Events, from 2001 . . .

Information in this section first appeared in This Month in Tokyo and Tokyo Opera Calendar.

January 2001

The millennium starts quietly: this month has only 12 opera performances. Last year there were 31. This hardly indicates a decline in enthusiasm on the part of Tokyo audiences, rather just how haphazard the promoters are here!

The main attraction is Il Trovatore at the New National Theatre. In the first cast, Fiorenza Cedolins sings Leonora, while Vladimir Galouzine is Manrico and Ambrogio Maestri (seen in the La Scala Forza in Tokyo in September) is di Luna. Astonishingly the brilliant Argentine tenor Dario Volonte, recently chosen by Decca for their new Turandot recording, appears in the second cast. The Tokyo Symphony Orchestra is conducted by Daniel Oren [15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 24 January, NNTT Opera House].

Cast: Fiorenza Cedolins /Yoshimi Tatsuno 19, 23 (Leonora), Vladimir Galouzine / Dario Volonte 17, 23 (Manrico), Ambrogio Maestri /Yasuo Horiuchi 17, 23 (di Luna), Elizabetta Fiorillo / Masami Fujikawa 19, 24 (Azucena), Kang-Liang Peng / Tatsuya Tajima 17, 21, 24 (Ferrando), Kyoko Moriyama / Satomi Kano 17, 21, 23 (Ines), Kazuhiro Tsunoda / Satoshi Chubachi 17, 21, 23 (Ruiz), Shigeki Tani / Shigeki Mine 17, 21, 24 (vecchio zingaro), Kazunori Ikemoto / Toshiaki Murakami 17, 21, 24 (messo), Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, New National Theatre and Nikikai Choruses, Daniel Oren (conductor), Alberto Fassini (director) William Orlandi (design), Mutsumi Isono (lighting)

The NHK Symphony Orchestra conducted by Jun Märkl give the Japanese premiere of Henze's Venus and Adonis in concert style with dance. The soloists are Sharon Spinetti (Soprano), Chris Merritt (tenor) and Urban Malmberg (baritone) [11, 12 January, NHK Hall, Tokyo].

The Teatr Wielki Warszawa perform La traviata in Tokyo and Yokohama. No cast lists have been announced but Violetta will be sung by Lucia Alberti and Michie Nakamaru [9, 10 January Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, 12 January Green Hall Sagamiono, 13 January, Kanagawa Kenmin Hall, Yokohama]

At the Parco Theatre in Shibuya, Tokyo, there is a Japanese language production of The Soldiers Tale by Stravinsky. This work was written for actors and a chamber musicians [from 26 January to 11 February].

Call for Papers (Deadline 20 January 2001)

International Symposium on Japanese Theatre in the 21st Century, 2-7 July 2001,
The University of Edinburgh and the Royal Museum of Scotland

'Part of the series of Japan 2001 events promoting Japanese culture in the UK, this follows on from the international symposium on Japanese Theatre in the World, held in May 1998 at Edinburgh's twin city, Munich. Its aim is to bring together performers, scholars and members of the local community concerned with Japanese theatre [including opera]. Presentations and performances on the theme of Japanese Theatre in the Twenty-first Century should focus on traditional and modern genres and contemporary approaches to understanding them intellectually, expressing them on stage and appreciating them from the audience viewpoint.'

Papers in English or Japanese are invited by January 20, 2001

Postal address; Japanese Theatre in the 21st Century, Centre for Japanese Studies, School of Asian Studies, 8 Buccleuch Place, Edinburgh EH8 9LW, Scotland, UK. Fax: +44 131 651 1258 Email JapaneseTheatre@ed.ac.uk care of Carol Rennie

January

9 La traviata (Teatr Wielki Warszawa/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

10 La traviata (Teatr Wielki Warszawa/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

11 Venus and Adonis by Henze (NHK Symphony Orchestra/NHK Hall, Tokyo)

12 Venus and Adonis by Henze (NHK Symphony Orchestra/NHK Hall, Tokyo)

12 La traviata (Teatr Wielki Warszawa/Green Hall Sagamiono)

13 La traviata (Teatr Wielki Warszawa/Kanagawa Kenmin Hall, Yokohama)

15 La traviata (Teatr Wielki Warszawa/Biwako Hall, Shiga)

15 Il Trovatore (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

17 Il Trovatore (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

19 Il Trovatore (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

21 Il Trovatore (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

23 Il Trovatore (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

24 Il Trovatore (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

26 The Soldiers Tale by Stravinsky [in Japanese] (Parco Theatre, Tokyo) RUN LASTS UNTIL 11 FEBRUARY

February 2001

A busy month for the Nikikai Opera who have a co-production of Rigoletto at the New National Theatre, and a new production of Die Fledermaus at Tokyo Bunka Kaikan. Rigoletto stars Giancarlo Pasquetto as Rigoletto, Marcelo Alvarez as the Duke and Victoria Loukianetz as Gilda. The director is Alberto Fassini [5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14 February, New National Theatre Opera House].

Cast: Giancarlo Pasquetto 5, 7, 11, 14 / Masato Makino 9, 12 (Rigoletto), Marcelo Alvarez 5, 9, 11, 14 / Kosuke Taguchi 7, 12 (Duke), Victoria Loukianetz 5, 9, 11, 14 / Yuko Kamahora 7, 12 (Gilda), Akira Hasegawa / Tsutomu Wakabayashi (Sparafucile), Akemi Sakamoto / Keiko Nishi (Maddalena), Asako Yoda / Yukimi Akiyama (Giovanna), New National Theatre Chorus and Nikikai Chorus Group, Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, Antonio Pirolli (conductor), Alberto Fassini (director), Alessandro Ciammarughi (design), Second cast perform on 7, 11, 14 February, except when otherwise noted

The cast for Die Fledermaus includes many of the best local singers, some of them as 'guests'. WAKASUGI Hiroshi conducts and KATOU Tadashi directs. The same combination was responsible for the Nikikai's magical Midsummer Night's Dream in August last year. KATOU was also responsible for the brilliant production of Crime and Punishment at the New National Theatre two years ago. The operetta is sung in Japanese [16, 17, 18 February at Tokyo Bunka Kaikan].

YAMAGUCHI Michiko / SASAKI Noriko (Rosalinde), SAWAHATA Emi / MORI Maki (Adele), SASAKI Nina / KIKUCHI Mina (Ida), YANAGIDA Takako / TESHIMA Masako (Orlovsky), ONO Tetsuya / FUKUI Kei (Eisenstein), FUKUSHIMA Akiya / KOMORI Teruhiko (Falke), INOUE Ryoji / KOBAYASHI Akihide (Alfred), MATSUMOTO Susumu / SHIKANO Yoshiyuki (Frank), IKEDA Naoki (Frosch), SHIMURA Fumihiko / SAKAI Nobuhiro (Dr Blind),

Japan Shinsei Symphony Orchestra and the Nikikai Chorus, WAKASUGI Hiroshi (conductor), KATOU Tadashi (director), Second cast perform on 17 February

The Fujiwara Opera present Macbeth as their contribution to the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the death of Verdi. This is a co-production with the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma. Design is by the veteran Josef Svoboda and the production was first shown in Rome in 1995. The leading roles are taken by two young Sardinian singers. Alberto Ghazali, who made a very successful debut here as Rigoletto with la Scala in September, sings Macbeth and Paoletta Marrocu sings the 'Lady'. Renato Palumbo conducts and the stage director is Henning Brockhaus. There is an English synopsis of Macbeth available on this site [2, 3, 4, February, Tokyo Bunka Kaikan].

Cast: Alberto Gazale / Tadamichi Orie (Macbeth), Paoletta Marrocu / Chieko Shimohara (Lady Macbeth), Taro Ichihara / Shigehiro Sano (Macduff), Yo-Han Kim / Masumi Kubota (Banco), Makoto Tashiro / Tetsuya Arime (Malcolm), Megumi Kono / Keiko Takemura (Dama), Yasushi Nakamura (Medico), Toshihiro Tachibana (Domestico), Nobumi Kakinuma (Sicario), Kazuhiro Ito (Araldo), Fujiwara Opera Chorus Group and the Japan Shinsei Symphony Orchestra, Renato Palumbo (conductor), Henning Brockhaus (director), Josef Svoboda (designer) First cast 2, 4 February, second cast 3 February

Taking over from Kazushi Ono, Ryusuke Numajiri conducts Number 21 in the Tokyo Philharmonic Opera Concertante series. This is a combined performance of Stravinsky's Le Rossignol and Zemlinsky's Der Geburtstag der Infantin. The latter is receiving its Japanese premiere [28 February, Bunkamura Orchard Hall]

Cast: Le Rossignol: Mieko Sato (Nightingale), Makiko Narumi (Death), Eiji Date (Fisherman), Akiya Fukushima (Emperor), Nobuko Takahashi (cook), Seiji Yoshikawa (chamberlain), Tatsuya Tajima (monk), Ikuo Mano, Koji Yamashita and Koichi Inoue (Japanese envoys), Mariko Hayashi, Takako Katsuyama. Yosuke Nikaitani Der Geburtstag der Infantin: Emiko Suga (Infantin), Kei Fukui (Dwarf), Nobuko Takahashi (Ghita), Makoto Narita (Don Estoban), Chie Saotome, Naomi Mitsuzuka, Rio Tobata, Mariko Hayashi, Takako Katsuyama. Tokyo Opera Singers, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Ryusuke Numajiri (conductor)

Prague National Theatre Opera bring Don Giovanni [6, 7 February, Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Tokyo] and Die Zauberflöte to Tokyo [3, 4 February, Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Tokyo]. As usual no cast lists have been published by the promoters.

In contrast to some of the grander operas listed above, the Japanese folk opera group Konyaku-za produce a version of Chekhov's Three Sisters by Hikaru Hayashi [14, 15, 16, 17, 18 February, Kinokuniya South Theatre, Tokyo]. At the Parco Theatre in Shibuya, Tokyo, the Japanese language production of The Soldiers Tale by Stravinsky (a work for actors and a chamber musicians) continues [1-11 February every day, except 7 February]. Other visitors include the distinguished Finnish baritone Jorma Hynninen [18 February, Musashino Shimin Kaikan, Tokyo].

February

1 The Soldiers Tale by Stravinsky [in Japanese] (Parco Theatre, Tokyo) RUN LASTS UNTIL 11 FEBRUARY

2 Macbeth (Fujiwara Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

3 Macbeth (Fujiwara Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

3 Macbeth (The Citizenry of Tokyo Opera Society/Yupoto Kanihoken Hall, Tokyo)

3 Die Zauberflöte (Prague National Theatre Opera/Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Tokyo)

4 Macbeth (Fujiwara Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

4 Macbeth (The Citizenry of Tokyo Opera Society/Yupoto Kanihoken Hall, Tokyo)

4 Die Zauberflöte (Prague National Theatre Opera/Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Tokyo)

5 Rigoletto (Nikikai Opera and New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

6 Don Giovanni (Prague National Theatre Opera/Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Tokyo)

7 Rigoletto (Nikikai Opera and New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

7 Don Giovanni (Prague National Theatre Opera/Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Tokyo)

9 Rigoletto (Nikikai Opera and New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

11 Rigoletto (Nikikai Opera and New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

12 Rigoletto (Nikikai Opera and New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

14 Rigoletto (Nikikai Opera and New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

14 Three Sisters by Hikaru Hayashi (from Chekhov/Konyaku-za/Kinokuniya South Theatre, Tokyo)

15 Three Sisters by Hikaru Hayashi (from Chekhov/Konyaku-za/Kinokuniya South Theatre, Tokyo)

16 Three Sisters by Hikaru Hayashi (from Chekhov/Konyaku-za/Kinokuniya South Theatre, Tokyo)

16 Die Fledermaus (Nikikai Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

17 Three Sisters by Hikaru Hayashi two perfs (from Chekhov/Konyaku-za/Kinokuniya South Theatre, Tokyo)

17 Die Fledermaus (Nikikai Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

18 Three Sisters by Hikaru Hayashi (from Chekhov/Konyaku-za/Kinokuniya South Theatre, Tokyo)

18 Die Fledermaus (Nikikai Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

18 Recital Jorma Hynninen (Musashino Shimin Kaikan)

28 Le Rossignol/Der Geburtstag der Infantin (Tokyo Philharmonic/Bunkamura Orchard Hall)

March 2001

The month starts quietly with Japan's two main opera organizations offering revivals of Japanese operas. The Nihon Opera Kyokai (a section of the Japan Opera Foundation) present a double bill of works by Yutaka Makino derived from the traditional theatre. Kusabira is a comic Kyogen about mushroom infestation, whereas Kurotsuka in a No play about two priests struggle against a demon disguised as a village woman. These operas were first produced in 1961 and 1974 [3,4 March 2001 Tiara Koto, Tokyo].

Cast: Kusabira: Masanobu Shibayama / Ken Akimoto (yamabushi), Kyoko Moriyama/Naoko Sunaga (tsuma), Yasushi Nakamura / Koichi Higashi (otto). Kurotsuka: Taemi Kohama / Sadako Seki (kijyo). Kan Hasegawa / Michiharu Sawawaki (yukei), Zensaku Inoue/ Zenro Naya (nouriki), Hakuyo Inoue / Kazuhiro Ito (yamabushi). Nihon Opera Kyokai Chorus, Tokyo Festival Orchestra, Kazuhiko Sakamoto (conductor),Shasen Tachibana (director)

The Nikikai Opera revival is Prince Arima by BEKKU Sadao. This drama of court intrigues in 7th-century Japan was first performed in 1967 and is being revived in concert style [14 March, Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Tokyo].

Cast: FUKUI Kei, OSHIMA Yoko, NAGAI Kazuko, TATARA Michio, KATSUBE Futoru, SUZUKI Kanichi, IDANE Yasuhiko, KITAMURA Tetsuro, SHIMURA Fumihiko, KOTETSU Kazuhiro, OKUBO Mitsuya, WAKASUGI Hiroshi, Shin Nihon Philharmonic Orchestra

The opera season gets into full swing at the end of the month. Suntory Hall celebrates the Verdi centenary with three events at the end of March and the beginning of April, all conducted by Daniel Oren. On March 24th there is a Verdi Requiem with Fiorenza Cedolins, Marianne Cornetti, Neil Shicoff and Ferrucio Furlanetto, followed by a 'Verdi Gala' on March 27th in honour of the veteran baritone (and frequent visitor to Japan) Renato Bruson. There are performances of Don Carlo on 6, 9, 12 April.

The New National Theatre embarks on its first Ring project with Das Rheingold, conducted by Jun Märkl, directed by Keith Warner and designed by David Fielding. Wolfgang Wagner is credited as an adviser. Wotan is sung by Alan Titus, alternating with Harry Peeters [30 March 1, 3, 4, 6, 8 April NNT Opera House].

Cast: Alan Titus / Harry Peeters (Wotan) , Satoru Aoto / Ikuo Oshima (Donner), Mineo Nagata / Satoshi Mizuguchi (Froh), Wolfgang Müller-Lorenz / Yoji Hoshi (Loge), Hans Tschammer / Akira Hasegawa (Fasolt), Philip Kang / Yasuhiro Sato (Fafner), Oskar Hillebrandt / Takeo Shimamura (Alberich), Gerhard Siegel / Ken Matsuura (Mime), Yumi Koyama / Mihoko Fujimura (Fricka), Misayo Tanaka / Rika Iwai (Freia), Birgit Remmert / Kaori Kuroki (Erda), Claudia Barainsky / Yumi Morino (Woglinde), Ranko Kurano / Rika Shiratsuchi (Wellgunde), Tomoko Obayashi / Yumiko Kan (Flosshilde), Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Jun Märkl (conductor), Keith Warner (director), David Fielding (designer), Wolfgang Göbbel (lighting), Wolfgang Wagner (adviser). Second cast 3, 6

The Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, otherwise known as the Florence Opera, make their second visit to Japan (the first was in 1996) under conductor Zubin Mehta. Turandot is produced by the Chinese film director Zhang Yimou. Tokyo will see a scaled-down version of the production staged near the Forbidden Palace in Beijing in 1998 [30 March, 1, 5. 7 April, NHK Hall, Tokyo].

Cast: Audrey Stottler /Giovanna Cassolla (Turandot), Norah Amsellem / Veronica Cangemi (Liu), Tigran Martirossian (Timur), Lando Bartolini / Franco Farina (Calaf), José Fardilha / Fabio Prevarti (Ping), Francesco Piccori / Carlo Bosi (Pang), Sergio Bertocchi / Jorio Zannaro (Pong), Aldo Bottion (Altoum), Orchestra e Coro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Zubin Mehta (conductor), Zhang Yimou (producer)

Florence also present La traviata, direct and designed by Cristina and Paola Comencini, starring Edita Gruberova, Marcelo Alvarez and Carlo Guelfi [27, 31 March, 2, 4, 6 April, Tokyo Bunka Kaikan].

Cast: Edita Gruberova / Svetla Vassileva (Violetta), Marcelo Alvarez (Alfredo), Carlo Guelfi (Giorgio Germont), Laura Brioli (Flora), Enrico Cossutta (Gastone), Armando Gabba(Douphol), Alessandro Guerzoni (D'Obigny), Carlo Cigni (Grenvil) Bernadette Lucarini (Annina), Orchestra e Coro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Zubin Mehta (conductor), Cristina Comencini (director) Paola Comencini (design)

March

3 Kusabira/Kurotsuka by Yutaka Makino (Nihon Opera Kyokai/Tiara Koto, Tokyo)

4 Kusabira/Kurotsuka by Yutaka Makino (Nihon Opera Kyokai/Tiara Koto, Tokyo)

14 Prince Arima by Sadao Bekku (Nikikai Opera/Bunkamura Orchard Hall)

24 Verdi Requiem, conducted by Daniel Oren (Suntory Hall)

27 La traviata (Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino (Florence)/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

29 Lucia di Lammermoor, with piano (Nanjo Toshiaki Kenkyushitsu/Tsuda Hall, Tokyo)

30 Turandot (Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino (Florence)/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

30 Das Rheingold (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

31 La traviata (Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino (Florence)/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

April 2001

Events during the early part of this month are largely a continuation of those that began at the close of last month. Suntory Hall continues its celebration of the Verdi centenary with three performances of Don Carlo [6, 9, 12 April].

Cast: Fiorenza Cedolins (Elisabetta), Marianne Cornetti (Eboli), Neil Shicoff (Don Carlo), Ferrucio Furlanetto (Philip II), Renato Bruson (Rodrigo), Julian Konstantinov (Grand Inquisitor), Ildar Abdrazakov (Monk), Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, Daniel Oren (conductor), Antonello Madau Diaz (director)

Das Rheingold continues at the The New National Theatre, conducted by Jun Märkl, directed by Keith Warner and designed by David Fielding. Wolfgang Wagner is credited as an adviser. Wotan is sung by Alan Titus, alternating with Harry Peeters [1, 3, 4, 6, 8 April NNT Opera House].

The Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, otherwise known as the Florence Opera, continue their visit under conductor Zubin Mehta. Turandot is produced by the Chinese film director Zhang Yimou [1, 5. 7 April, NHK Hall, Tokyo].

Florence also present La traviata, direct and designed by Cristina and Paola Comencini, starring Edita Gruberova, Marcelo Alvarez and Carlo Guelfi [2, 4, 6 April, Tokyo Bunka Kaikan].

Seiji Ozawa brings his Mozart Ongaku-juku Opera Project II to Japan under the banner of the Rohm Opera Theatre, named after the sponsor. This year the opera is Cosi fan tutte. Admirably the ensemble tour the country instead of staying in Tokyo, bringing music to three cities (Yokohama, Nagoya, and Kyoto) before coming to the capital [1 April Kanagawa Kenmin Hall, 4 April Aichi Prefectural Art Theatre, 7 April Biwako Hall, Shiga, 9, 11 April Tokyo Bunka Kaikan].

Cast: Anthony Dean Griffey (Ferrando), Mariusz Kwiecien (Guglielmo), William Shimell (Don Alfonso), Christine Goerke (Fiordiligi). Monica Groop (Dorabella). Stefania Bonfadelli (Despina), Seiji Ozawa (conductor), David Kneuss (director) Seiji Ozawa Ongaku-juku Orchestra and Choir

Bunkamura presents Turandot for the third consecutive year. The production, by the choreographer Saburo Teshigawara and noted for its powerful dancing and over-the-top set design, was seen at the Edinburgh Festival in 1999. The singers have been basically unchanged since the first year. There is a review of the premiere in 1999 on this site. [20, 21, 22 April Bunkamura Orchard Hall].

Cast: SHIMOHARA Chieko 20, 22 / SATO Motoku 21 (Turandot), SUZUKI Kanichi (Altoum), HASEGAWA (personal name unidentified) (Timur), Zhao Deng Feng 20, 22 FUKUI Kei 21 (Calaf), Sue Chen Panariello (Liu), MATSUMOTO Susumu (Ping), MATSUURA Ken (Pang), MAKIKAWA Shuichi (Pong), KUBO Kazunori (Mandarin) Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Tokyo Opera Singers, Tokyo FM Boys Choir, INOUE Michiyoshi (conductor), TESHIGAWARA Saburo (direction, set design, costumes and lighting)

In the intimate space of their smallest hall, the New National Theatre present Britten's The Turn of the Screw [19, 20, 21, 22 April NNTT The Pit].

Cast: Kumiko Endo / Miki Yamamoto (Governess), Mari Iwabuchi / Tomoko Oshimi (Mrs Groce), Eri Unoki / Hiroko Morita (Flora), Miki Sugita / Makiko Maeda (Miles), Yukari Inoue/ Hiroko Etsuda (Miss Jessel), Jiro Takano / Iwao Onuki (Prologue/Quint), New National Theatre The Pit Opera Ensemble, Hakaru Matsuoka (conductor), Rikiya Hirao (director) Yujin Kobayashi (scenery), Sonoko Watanabe (costumes) Frist cast 19, 21, second cast 20, 22

Recitalists include Edita Gruberova and Yoshikazu Mera [9, 12 April Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space], the Kirov Opera bass Ildar Abdrazakov [24 April Musashino Shimin Bunka Kaikan, Tokyo] the male sopranist Oleg Ryabets [26 April Casals Hall, Tokyo] and Carlo Bergonzi [30 April Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space].

April

1 Turandot (Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino (Florence)/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

1 Das Rheingold (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

1 Cosi fan tutte (Rohm Opera Theater/Kanagawa Kenmin Hall)

2 La traviata (Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino (Florence)/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

3 Das Rheingold (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

4 La traviata (Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino (Florence)/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

4 Das Rheingold (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

4 Cosi fan tutte (Rohm Opera Theater/Aichi Prefectural Art Theatre)

5 Turandot (Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino (Florence)/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

6 La traviata (Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino (Florence)/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

6 Das Rheingold (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

6 Don Carlo (Hall Opera/Suntory Hall)

7 Turandot (Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino (Florence)/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

7 Cosi fan tutte (Rohm Opera Theater/Biwako Hall, Shiga)

8 Das Rheingold (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

9 Cosi fan tutte (Rohm Opera Theater/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

9 Don Carlo (Hall Opera/Suntory Hall)

9 Recital Edita Gruberova and Yoshikazu Mera (Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space)

11 Cosi fan tutte (Rohm Opera Theater/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

12 Don Carlo (Hall Opera/Suntory Hall)

12 Recital Edita Gruberova and Yoshikazu Mera (Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space)

19 The Turn of the Screw (New National Theatre/NNTT The Pit)

20 The Turn of the Screw (New National Theatre/NNTT The Pit)

20 Turandot (Tokyu Bunkamura/Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Tokyo)

21 The Turn of the Screw (New National Theatre/NNTT The Pit)

21 Turandot (Tokyu Bunkamura/Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Tokyo)

22 The Turn of the Screw (New National Theatre/NNTT The Pit)

22 Turandot (Tokyu Bunkamura/Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Tokyo)

24 Recital Ildar Abdrazakov (Musashino Shimin Bunka Kaikan, Tokyo)

26 Verdi Requiem, conducted by Kazushi Ono (Tokyo Philharmonic /Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Tokyo)

26 Recital Oleg Ryabets (Casals Hall, Tokyo)

30 Recital Carlo Bergonzi (Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space)

May 2001

This month the Metropolitan Opera of New York begin their 5th visit to Japan. Previous visits were in 1975, 1988, 1993 and 1997 (see archive). As in the past, the programme appears to be a compromise between what the visiting company might like to perform and what the commercialism of the local promoters will accept.

On the more adventurous side, there is the French opera Samson et Dalila by Saint-Saëns, not seen in Tokyo since the Royal Opera production in 1986, and a concert performance of Schoenberg's Gurrelieder. Less exciting are the prospect of yet another Verdi Reqiuem and another production of Rigoletto, close on the heels of last September's very successful La Scala/Muti production with the same star tenor (Ramón Vargas) and a rather stronger production team (Gilbert Deflo/Ezio Frigerio) and cast (Alberto Gazale/Andrea Rost) - not to mention the New National Theatre production in June by Fassini with Agache, Rost, and Ballo.

The Carlos Kleiber/Otto Schenk Vienna Opera production of Der Rosenkavalier was seen here in 1994, and the Götz Friedrich/ Deutsche Oper Berlin one in 1998, nevertheless Tokyo opera-goers will be excited at the prospect of hearing the finest of contemporary American singers in a show-case production of Richard Strauss's opera. All performances will be conducted by James Levine, except Rosenkavalier which will be under Andrew Davis.

Plácido Domingo and Olga Borodina are the Biblical protagonists in Samson et Dalila. The production is by Elijah Moshinsky with sets and costumes by Richard Hudson {19 May, Biwako Hall, Otsu, 22 May, Aichi Prefectural Art Theatre, Nagoya, 26 May, Kanagawa Kenmin Hall, Yokohama, 31 May, 3, 6, and 9 June, NHK Hall in Tokyo}.

Cast: Plácido Domingo (Samson), Olga Borodina / Irina Mishura 9 June (Dalila), Richard Paul Fink (Abimélech), Bernard Fitch (1st Philistine), Alfred Walker (2nd Philistine), Sergei Leiferkus (High Priest of Dagon), Matthew Polenzani (Messenger), Robert Lloyd / René Pape 9 June (Ancient Hebrew), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera, James Levine (conductor), Elijah Moshinsky (producer), Peter McClintock (director), Richard Hudson (sets and costumes)

The production of Rigoletto is by Otto Schenk with Ruth Ann Swenson as Gilda and Juan Pons as Rigoletto, and Ramón Vargas as the libertine Duke {20 May, Biwako Hall, Otsu, 25, 28 May, 1, 4 June, Tokyo Bunka Kaikan}.

Cast: Ramón Vargas (Duke), Ruth Ann Swenson (Gilda), Irina Mishura / Wendy White 4 June (Maddalena), Juan Pons (Rigoletto), Robert Lloyd (Sparafucile), Jane Shaulis /Diane Elias 1, 4 June (Giovanna), Maria Zifchak (Countess Ceprano), James Courtney / Richard Paul Fink 1, 4 June (Monterone), Eduardo Valdes (Borsa), Troy Cook (Marullo), Alfred Walker (Count Ceprano), Patricia Steiner (Page), and Joseph Pariso (Guard),Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera, James Levine (conductor), Otto Schenk (producer), Sharon Thomas (director), Zack Brown (sets and costumes)

The production of Der Rosenkavalier is by Nathaniel Merrill with sets by Robert O'Hearn. Renée Fleming, singing her first major role in Tokyo, is the Marschallin. Susan Graham is Oktavian, Heidi Grant Murphy is Sophie and Franz Hawlata is Baron Ochs [24 May, Aichi Prefectural Art Theatre, Nagoya, 27 May, Kanagawa Kenmin Hall, Yokohama, 30 May, 2 June, NHK Hall, Tokyo].

Cast: Renée Fleming (Marschallin), Susan Graham (Oktavian), Heidi Grant Murphy (Sophie). Julia Faulkner (Marianne), Wendy White (Annina). Franz Hawlata (Ochs), Hans-Joachim Ketelsen (Faninal). Anthony Laciura (Valzacchi), Ramón Vargas / Matthew Polenzani 2 June (Singer), Bernard Fitch (Majordomo to Marschallin), Mark Schowalter (Majordomo to Faninal), Stephen West (Police Commissioner), Jonathan Welch (Landlord), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera, Andrew Davis (conductor), Nathaniel Merrill (producer), Bruce Donnell (director), Robert O'Hearn (sets and costumes)

Levine and the Met Orchestra and Chorus perform Schoenberg's Gurrelieder with soloists Andrea Gruber, Yvonne Naef, Ben Heppner, Matthew Polenzani, Richard Paul Fink, and Ernst Haefliger [7 June, Tokyo Bunka Kaikan]. The singers for the Verdi Requiem will be Renée Fleming, Olga Borodina, Ramón Vargas, and René Pape [8 June, Suntory Hall, Tokyo].

There is more Verdi at the the New National Theatre, where the production of Un ballo in maschera first shown in 1999 is being revived. The first cast includes Franco Farina as Riccardo, Paolo Gavanelli as Renato, Norma Fantini as Amelia, and Nina Terentieva as Ulrica. Yoshinori Kikuchi conducts [13, 15, 17, 19, 20 May, NNT Opera House].

Cast: Franco Farina / Taro Ichihara (Riccardo), Paolo Gavanelli / Yasuo Horiuchi (Renato), Norma Fantini / Yoshimi Tatsuno (Amelia), Mina Tasca-Yamazaki / Akie Amou 15, 19 May (Oscar), Nina Terentieva / Misato Iwamori (Ulrica), Yuichi Toyoshima / Kazuhiro Yatabe 15, 19 May (Silvano), Ikuo Oho / Seiji Ishikawa (Justice), Seiji Ishikawa /Ikuo Oho 15, 19 May (Amelia's servant), Kang-Liang Peng / Akira Hasegawa 15, 19 May (Tom), Masumi Kubota / Tatsuya Tajima 15, 19 May (Samuel), New National Theatre and Fujiwara Opera Chorus groups and the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Yoshinori Kikuchi (conductor), Alberto Fassini (director), Pasquale Grossi (designer) second cast perform on 19 May unless otherwise noted.

Recitalists include Jessye Norman [9, 15 May, Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, 25 May, Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Tokyo], and Antonino Siragusa [14 May, Suntory Hall, 20 May, Minato Mirai Hall, Yokohama].

May

9 Recital Jessye Norman (Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

13 Un ballo in maschera (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

14 Recital Antonino Siragusa (Suntory Hall)

15 Un ballo in maschera (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

15 Recital Jessye Norman (Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

17 Un ballo in maschera (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

19 Un ballo in maschera (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

19 Samson et Dalila (Metropolitan Opera/Biwako Hall, Shiga)

20 Un ballo in maschera (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

20 Recital Antonino Siragusa (Minato Mirai Hall, Yokohama)

20 Rigoletto (Metropolitan Opera/Biwako Hall, Shiga)

22 Samson et Dalila (Metropolitan Opera/ Aichi Prefectural Arts Theatre, Nagoya )

24 Der Rosenkavalier (Metropolitan Opera/ Aichi Prefectural Arts Theatre, Nagoya )

25 Rigoletto (Metropolitan Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

25 Recital Jessye Norman (Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Tokyo)

26 Samson et Dalila (Metropolitan Opera/Kanagawa Kenmin Hall)

27 Der Rosenkavalier (Metropolitan Opera/Kanagawa Kenmin Hall)

28 Rigoletto (Metropolitan Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

30 Der Rosenkavalier (Metropolitan Opera/NHK Hall, Tokyo)

31 Samson et Dalila (Metropolitan Opera/NHK Hall, Tokyo)

June 2001

The Metropolitan Opera of New York continue their 5th visit to Japan (for more details see the May This Month in Tokyo). Plácido Domingo and Olga Borodina are the Biblical protagonists in Samson et Dalila. The production is by Elijah Moshinsky with sets and costumes by Richard Hudson {3, 6, and 9 June, NHK Hall in Tokyo}.

The Met production of Rigoletto is by Otto Schenk with Ruth Ann Swenson as Gilda and Juan Pons as Rigoletto, and Ramón Vargas as the libertine Duke {1, 4 June, Tokyo Bunka Kaikan}.

The Met production of Der Rosenkavalier is by Nathaniel Merrill with sets by Robert O'Hearn. Renée Fleming, singing her first major role in Tokyo, is the Marschallin. Susan Graham is Oktavian, Heidi Grant Murphy is Sophie and Franz Hawlata is Baron Ochs [2 June, NHK Hall, Tokyo].

The opera company of Venice's ill-fated La Fenice ('the Phoenix') operahouse. burnt down in 1996 and still not re-built, come to Japan at the end of the month to present La traviata and Simon Boccanegra. Both operas are conducted by Isaac Karabtchevsky and feature a number of up-and-coming singers.

In La traviata Dimitra Theodossiu sings Violetta, José Ferrero is Alfredo, and Ambrogio Maestri, previously seen in Tokyo for La Scala and the New National Theatre, is Germont [23 June, Biwako Hall, 27, 30 June, 2 July Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Tokyo].

Cast: Dimitra Theodossiu (Violetta), José Ferrero (Alfredo), Ambrogio Maestri (Germont), Cecilia Diaz (Flora), Orchestra e Coro del Teatro La Fenice, Isaac Karabtchevsky (conductor), Alberto Fassini (stage director), Pierluigi Samaritani (designer)

La Fenice perform the 1881 version of Simon Boccanegra. Antonio Salvadori is Simon Boccanegra, Lucia Mazzaria is Maria/Amelia, Fabio Sartori (who replaced an ailing Giuseppe Sabbatini for last year's La Scala Verdi Requiem) is Gabriele, and Ayk Martirossian is Fiesco [24 June, Biwako Hall, 29 June, 1 July Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Tokyo].

Cast: Antonio Salvadori (Simon Boccanegra), Lucia Mazzaria (Maria Boccanegra/Amelia), Fabio Sartori (Gabriele Adorno), Ayk Martirossian (Jacopo Fiesco), Marco Vratogna (Paolo Albiani), Paolo Rumetz (Pietro), Dario Bolzanelli (Capitano di balestrieri), Gisella Pasino (Un'ancella di Amelia), Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Isaac Karabtchevsky (conductor), Elio De Capitani (director) Carlo Sala (design)

Recitalists include Regina Renzowa [16 June, Kioi Hall, Tokyo], and Jochen Kowalski [23 June, Suntory Hall, Tokyo].

June

1 Rigoletto (Metropolitan Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

2 Der Rosenkavalier (Metropolitan Opera/NHK Hall, Tokyo)

2 Monsieur Choufleuri restera chez lui le . . by Offenbach (Mozart Theatre / Mubu Machiya Hall, Tokyo)

3 Samson et Dalila (Metropolitan Opera/NHK Hall, Tokyo)

3 Monsieur Choufleuri restera chez lui le . . by Offenbach (Mozart Theatre / Mubu Machiya Hall, Tokyo)

4 Rigoletto (Metropolitan Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

6 Samson et Dalila (Metropolitan Opera/NHK Hall, Tokyo)

7 Concert Gurrelieder (Metropolitan Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

7 Madama Butterfly (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

8 Verdi Requiem, conducted by James Levine (Metropolitan Opera/Suntory Hall)

9 Samson et Dalila (Metropolitan Opera/NHK Hall, Tokyo)

9 Madama Butterfly (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

10 Madama Butterfly (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

12 Madama Butterfly (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

13 Madama Butterfly (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

16 Die Zauberflöte (Brno National Czech Opera/Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Tokyo)

16 Recital Regina Renzowa (Kioi Hall, Tokyo)

22 Candide by Leonard Bernstein (Tokyo International Forum) RUN LASTS UNTIL 8 JULY

23 La traviata (La Fenice/Biwako Hall, Shiga)

23 Recital Jochen Kowalski (Suntory Hall, Tokyo)

24 Simon Boccanegra (La Fenice/Biwako Hall, Shiga)

25 Die Zauberflöte (Brno National Czech Opera/Musashino Shimin Bunka Kaikan, Tokyo)

27 La traviata (La Fenice/Bunkamura Orchard Hall)

29 Simon Boccanegra (La Fenice/Bunkamura Orchard Hall)

30 La traviata (La Fenice/Bunkamura Orchard Hall)

July 2001

La Fenice of Venice conclude their visit to Japan with two performance, both conducted by Isaac Karabtchevsky. In La traviata Dimitra Theodossiu sings Violetta, José Ferrero is Alfredo, and Ambrogio Maestri, previously seen in Tokyo for La Scala and the New National Theatre, is Germont [2 July, Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Tokyo]. In the 1881 version of Simon Boccanegra, Antonio Salvadori is Simon Boccanegra, Lucia Mazzaria is Maria/Amelia, Fabio Sartori (who replaced an ailing Giuseppe Sabbatini for last year's La Scala Verdi Requiem) is Gabriele, and Ayk Martirossian is Fiesco [1 July, Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Tokyo]. Further details were given in last month's This Month in Tokyo.

The New National Theatre present Manon with Leontina Vaduva, Giuseppe Sabbatini and Natale De Carolis as Manon, Des Grieux) and Lescaut. Alain Guingal, who gave a fine account of Massenet's Don Quichotte here in May 2000, returns to conduct. The classic production is by Jean-Pierre Ponnelle [5, 8, 11, 14 July, NNTT Opera House]

Cast: Leontina Vaduva (Manon), Giuseppe Sabbatini (Des Grieux), Natale De Carolis (Lescaut), Naoki Ikeda (Le Comte Des Grieux), Kan-ichi Suzuki (Guillot de Morfontaine), Rentaro Kurosaki (De Brétigny), Mami Koshigoe (Pousette), Naomi Nagata (Javotte), Masako Teshima (Rosette), Fumio Tsukiji (L'Hôtelier), New National Theatre and Fujiwara Opera Choruses, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Alain Guingal (conductor), Jean-Pierre Ponnelle (production)

This year's opera for high schools at the New National Theatre is Tosca [10, 13, 16, 17, 18 July, NNTT Opera House].

Cast: Hisara Sato / Chieko Shimohara (Tosca), Kei Fukui /Kazuhiro Tsunoda (Cavaradossi), Tadamichi Orie / Yuichi Toyoshima (Scarpia), Katsuji Miura / Akira Hasegawa (Angelotti), Ken Matsuura / Kazunori Ikemoto (Spoletta), Makoto Ohkubo / Shigeki Mine (Sciarrone), Sachio Yamada / Takashi Shinpo (Il Sagrestano), Yasushi Nakamura (Carceriere), Kaori Hirai / Miyuki Okayama (Un Pastore)

The Nikikai Opera present Falstaff in honour of the 100th anniversatry of the composer's death. [13, 14, 15 July, Tokyo Bunka Kaikan].

Cast: Tsuku NAONO / Gudo HASUI (Falstaff), Yuji OGAWA / Masakazu SANO (Ford), Ryoji INOUE / Masatoshi UEHARA (Fenton), Yasuhiro OKAMOTO / Yoshiyuki TANIGAWA (Dr Caius), Yasuhiko IDANE / Iwao ONUKI (Bardolfo), Fumihiko SHIMURA / Tsutomu WAKABAYASHI (Pistola), Atsuko KAWAHARA / Michiko DEKITA (Alice), Maki MORI / Miwako HANDA (Nannetta), Yayoi TAMASHIKI / Keiko NISHI (Meg), Asoka Yoda / Tomoko KURIBAYASHI (Mrs Quickly), Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Pier Giorgio Morandi (conductor) Kuniaki IDA (director), Maria Elena Mexia (design)

Perhaps most interesting event in July comes at the end of the month. The Fujiwara Opera perform Wolf-Ferrari's Il Campiello [27, 28, 29, 30 NNTT Play House]. The Japanese premiere of this rarely-performed opera was given in July 1978, also by the Fujiwara opera, and it has not been seen since then. First performed in Milan in 1936, the text is after a comedy by Carlo Goldoni (1707-92). An ensemble opera, it is concerned with the public lives of the volatile inhabitants of a small square (campiello) in Venice. There is a synopsis available here.

Cast: Nobuko Takahashi / Ryoko Sunakawa (Gasparina), Max Rene Cosotti / Kazuhiko Ichikawa (Dona Cate), Marie Igarashi / Keiko Takemura (Luçieta), Hiroshi Mochiki / Luiji Petroni (Dona Pasqua), Miho Kuzunuki / Tomoko Omori (Gnese), Cinzia De Mola / Kyoko Moriyama (Orsola), Toshiro Gorobe / Satoshi Chubachi (Zorzeto), Masumi Kubota / Alessandro Svab (Anzoleto), Yasuo Horiuchi / Kiyotaka Kaga (Astolfi), Donato di Stefano / Kang Liang Peng (Fabrizio), Fujiwara Opera Chorus Group, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Marco Titotto (conductor) Jun Aguni (director) Pasquale Grossi (design)

Two visiting companies bring operetta to Japan. The 'Soloists of the Vienna Volksoper and Budapest Operetta' perform Die Fledermaus [13 July, Tokyo Opera City, 14 July, Chigasaki Shimin Bunka Kaikan). The Sofia State Operetta Theater present Die lustige Witwe [20 July, Green Hall Sagamiono, Tokyo, 21, 22 July Tokyo Bunka Kaikan]. Other visitors include the veteran Italian mezzo Fiorenza Cossotto [27 July Oji Hall, Tokyo].

July

1 Simon B,occanegra (La Fenice/Bunkamura Orchard Hall)

2 La traviata (La Fenice/Bunkamura Orchard Hall)

5 Manon (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

8 Manon (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

10 Tosca (New National Theatre for High Schools/NNTT Opera House)

11 Manon (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

12 Yamato Takeru by Shigeaki Saegusa (Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Tokyo)

13 Tosca (New National Theatre for High Schools /NNTT Opera House)

13 Yamato Takeru by Shigeaki Saegusa (Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Tokyo)

13 Falstaff (Nikikai Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

13 Die Fledermaus ('Soloists of the Vienna Volksoper and Budapest Operetta'/Tokyo Opera City)

14 Manon (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

14 Die Fledermaus ('Soloists of the Vienna Volksoper and Budapest Operetta'/Chigasaki Shimin Bunka Kaikan)

14 Falstaff (Nikikai Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

15 Falstaff (Nikikai Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

16 Tosca (New National Theatre for High Schools /NNTT Opera House)

17 Tosca (New National Theatre for High Schools /NNTT Opera House)

18 Tosca (New National Theatre for High Schools /NNTT Opera House)

20 Die lustige Witwe (Sofia State Operetta Theater /Green Hall Sagamiono, Tokyo)

21 Die lustige Witwe (Sofia State Operetta Theater / Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

22 Die lustige Witwe (Sofia State Operetta Theater / Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

27 Il Campiello by Wolf-Ferrari (Fujiwara opera/NNTT Play House)

27 Recital Fiorenza Cossotto (Oji Hall, Tokyo)

28 Il Campiello by Wolf-Ferrari (Fujiwara opera/NNTT Play House)

29 Il Campiello by Wolf-Ferrari (Fujiwara opera/NNTT Play House)

30 Il Campiello by Wolf-Ferrari (Fujiwara opera/NNTT Play House)

August 2001

August is off-season, the height of the summer, a time when no sane traveller should think of setting foot here. While last month was a full one (opera-wise) with 23 Tokyo performances, this month there are only two. This is down from last year when there were seven. Global warming?

The Puccini Festival of Torre del Lago presents Madama Butterfly with Daniela Dessi, Vincenzo La Scola as Pinkerton and Paolo Gavanelli as Sharpless, conducted by Stefano Ranzani [10 August, Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, 13 August, Nagasaki Brick Hall, 16 August, Kobe Kokusai Kaikan].

Cast: Daniela Dessi (Cio-cio-san), Vincenzo La Scola (Pinkerton), Paolo Gavanelli (Sharpless), Fulvia Bertoli (Suzuki), Paolo Barbacini (Goro), Manrico Signorini (Bonzo), Franco Boscolo (Yamadori), Patrizia Gentile (Kate), Puccini Festival Chorus, The Tokyo Symphony, Stefano Ranzani (conductor), Vivien Hewitt (director), Kan Yasuda (design), Regina Schrecker (costumes)

The Tokyo Philharmonic present Der Freischütz, Number 22 in their Opera Concertante series, this time conducted by Myung-Whun Chung. Peter Seiffert sings Max, Albert Domen is Kaspar and Maria Schnitzer is Agathe. This is (apparently) the first Tokyo performance of this opera since the Deutsche Oper Berlin presented it in 1970 [