Opera japonica/Archives/Past Events 2002

Past Events, from 2002 . . .

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

January 2002

The New Year begins in lively fashion with a series of operettas. The Hungarian State Budapest Operetta Theatre present Gräfin Mariza [4, 5 January, Tokyo Bunka Kaikan], Die Fledermaus with René Kollo as Eisenstein on 5, 11, 13 January [5 January, Kanagawa Kenmin Hall, Yokohama, 10 January, Musashino Shimin Bunka Kaikan, Tokyo, 11, 12, 13 January, Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, 14 January, Die Fledermaus Yokosuka Art Theatre] and Die Csárdásfürstin [7 8 January, Tokyo Bunka Kaikan].

The New National Theatre stages an opera for children: Humperdinck's Hänsel und Gretel, performed in Japanese [10, 11, 12 , 13 January NNTT Opera House].

Cast: HAYASHI Michiko / KAGA Hitomi (Hänsel), TAKAHASHI Nobuko / MORITA Hiroko (Gretel), KORI Aiko / MORIYAMA Kyoko (Gertrud), HIRANO Tadahiko / KAGA Kiyotaka (Peter), MORI Kumiko / KANO Satomi (Die Knusperhexe), IWAI Rika / IKEHATA Satomi (Sandmännchen), SAWAHATA Emi / KIKUCHI Mina (Taumännchen) First cast 10, 12 January Second cast 11, 13 January, The Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, Setagaya Junior Chorus, MISAWA Hirohumi (conductor), NISHIZAWA Keiichi (producer), HORIO Yukio (set Designer), KURAOKA Tomokazu (costume designer)

Following their tradition, the Fujiwara Opera present a New Year production of La traviata [11, 12, 13 January, Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Tokyo].

The Berlin Staatsoper give three cycles of Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen, the production is by Harry Kupfer and Daniel Barenboim conducts: Das Rheingold [16 January, Kanagawa Kenmin Hall, Yokohama, 27 January, 6 February, NHK Hall, Tokyo], Die Walküre [17 January, Kanagawa Kenmin Hall, Yokohama,30 January, 7 February, NHK Hall, Tokyo], Siegfried [19 January, Kanagawa Kenmin Hall, Yokohama, 1, 10 February, NHK Hall, Tokyo], Götterdämmerung [23 January, Kanagawa Kenmin Hall, Yokohama, 3, 13 February, NHK Hall, Tokyo].

Cast Das Rheingold: Falk Struckmann (Wotan), Andreas Schmidt (Donner), Robert Gambill (Froh), Graham Clark (Loge), Günter von Kannen (Alberich), Peter Menzel (Mime), René Pape (Fasolt), Duccio dal Monte (Fafner), Rosemarie Lang (Fricka), Margaret Jane Wray (Freia), Mette Ejsing (Erda), Carola Höhn (Woglinde), Katharina Kammerloher (Wellgunde), Andrea Bönig (Flosshilde),

Cast Die Walkure: Robert Gambill (Siegmund), René Pape (Hunding), Falk Struckmann (Wotan), Waltraud Meier (Sieglinde), Rosemarie Lang (Fricka), Deborah Polaski (Brünnhilde), Carola Höhn (Helmwige), Magdalena Hajossyova (Ortlinde), Rosemarie Lang (Waltraute), Borjana Maleewa (Siegrune), Simone Schröder (Rossweisse), Uta Priew (Grimgerde), Kaja Borris (Schwertleite)

Cast: Siegfried Christian Franz (Siegfried), Graham Clark (Mime), Falk Struckmann (Wotan/Wanderer), Günter von Kannen (Alberich), Duccio dal Monte (Fafner), Mette Ejsing (Erda), Deborah Polaski (Brünnhilde), Tina Schlenker (Waldvogel)

Cast Götterdämmerung;Christian Franz (Siegfried), Andreas Schmidt (Gunther), Günter von Kannen (Alberich), Duccio dal Monte (Hagen), Deborah Polaski (Brünnhilde), Margaret Jane Wray (Gutrune), Waltraud Meier 23 January, 3 February / Rosemarie Lang 13 February (Waltraute), Mette Ejsing (Erste Norn), Rosemarie Lang (Zweite Norn), Margaret Jane Wray (Dritte Norn), Carola Höhn (Woglinde), Katharina Kammerloher (Wellgunde), Andrea Bönig (Flosshilde)

(Complete cycle) Daniel Barenboim (conductor), Harry Kupfer (director), Hans Schavernoch (designer), Reinhard Heinrich (costumes), Mannfred Voss (lighting), Die Staatskapelle Berlin

At the New National Theatre, there is Saegusa Shigeaki's 1997 epic Chushingura based on a famous Kabuki play presented jointly by the NNTT and Nikikai Opera. The NNTT disconcertingly explain: 'In order to gather information . . . Okano Kin-emon keeps a relationship with Otsuya . . . And he is sure that their love will be over one day. Another of the samurai, Hashimoto Heizaemon, executes his love, Ayaginu, who begs her own death rejecting their break-up . . .' [25, 26, 27 January, NNTT Opera House].

Cast: NAONO Tasuku / OSHIMA Ikuo (Oishi Kuranosuke). YAMAGUCHI Michiko / KOSHIGOE Mami (Ayaginu), KOBAYASHI Kazuo / TANAKA Makoto (Hashimoto Heizaemon), SHIODA Minako / HAYASHI Masako (Otsuya), INOUE Ryoji / ONUKI Iwao (Okano Kinemon), AKIBA Kyoko / NISHI Keiko (Yugiri), MATSUURA Ken /MATSUNAGA Kunikazu (Hokan), MITSUYAMA Kazuyo / TESHIMA Masako (Oishi Chikara), KATSUBE Futoru / OGAWA Yuji (Kanzaki Yogoro), FUKUSHIMA Akiya / KURODA Hiroshi (Horibe Yasubei), KURATA Masayuki / KURODA Shinya (Kira Kozukenosuke), MITSUHASHI Chizuru / SUGINO Mami (Mistress) first cast 25. 27 January, second cast 26 January, The Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, New National Theatre and Nikikai Chorus Groups, OHTOMO Naoto (conductor), HIRAO Rikiya (producer), NAKAMURA Takeshi (production director), KOBAYASHI Yujin (set designer), WATANABE Sonoko (costume designer)

The tenor Giuseppe Sabbatini gives a concert [28 January, Suntory Hall, Tokyo].

January

4 Gräfin Mariza (Hungarian State Budapest Operetta Theatre/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

5 Gräfin Mariza (Hungarian State Budapest Operetta Theatre/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

5 Die Fledermaus (Hungarian State Opera/Kanagawa Kenmin Hall, Yokohama)

7 Die Csárdásfürstin (Hungarian State Budapest Operetta Theatre/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

8 Die Csárdásfürstin (Hungarian State Budapest Operetta Theatre/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

10 Die Fledermaus (Hungarian State Opera/Musashino Shimin Bunka Kaikan, Tokyo)

10 Hänsel und Gretel (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

11 Die Fledermaus (Hungarian State Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

11 Hänsel und Gretel (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

11 La traviata (Fujiwara Opera/Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Tokyo)

12 Die Fledermaus (Hungarian State Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

12 Hänsel und Gretel (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

12 La traviata (Fujiwara Opera/Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Tokyo)

13 Die Fledermaus (Hungarian State Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

13 Hänsel und Gretel (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

13 La traviata (Fujiwara Opera/Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Tokyo)

14 Die Fledermaus (Hungarian State Opera/Yokosuka Art Theatre)

16 Das Rheingold (Berlin Staatsoper/Kanagawa Kenmin Hall, Yokohama)

17 Die Walküre (Berlin Staatsoper/Kanagawa Kenmin Hall, Yokohama)

19 Siegfried (Berlin Staatsoper/Kanagawa Kenmin Hall, Yokohama)

23 Götterdämmerung (Berlin Staatsoper/Kanagawa Kenmin Hall, Yokohama)

25 Chushingura (Nikikai Opera and New National Theatre)

26 Chushingura (Nikikai Opera and New National Theatre)

27 Chushingura (Nikikai Opera and New National Theatre)

28 Concert Giuseppe Sabbatini (Suntory Hall, Tokyo)

27 Das Rheingold (Berlin Staatsoper/NHK Hall, Tokyo)

30 Die Walküre (Berlin Staatsoper/NHK Hall, Tokyo)

February 2002

The Berlin Staatsoper complete their series of three cycles of Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen, the production is by Harry Kupfer and Daniel Barenboim conducts: Das Rheingold [6 February, NHK Hall, Tokyo], Die Walküre [7 February, NHK Hall, Tokyo], Siegfried [1, 10 February, NHK Hall, Tokyo], Götterdämmerung [3, 13 February, NHK Hall, Tokyo].

Cast: Götterdämmerung;Christian Franz (Siegfried), Andreas Schmidt (Gunther), Günter von Kannen (Alberich), Duccio dal Monte (Hagen), Deborah Polaski (Brünnhilde), Margaret Jane Wray (Gutrune), Waltraud Meier 23 January, 3 February / Rosemarie Lang 13 February (Waltraute), Mette Ejsing (Erste Norn), Rosemarie Lang (Zweite Norn), Margaret Jane Wray (Dritte Norn), Carola Höhn (Woglinde), Katharina Kammerloher (Wellgunde), Andrea Bönig (Flosshilde)

(Complete cycle) Daniel Barenboim (conductor), Harry Kupfer (director), Hans Schavernoch (designer), Reinhard Heinrich (costumes), Mannfred Voss (lighting), Die Staatskapelle Berlin

The Japanese premiere of Doktor Faust by Busoni is Number 23 in the Opera Concertante Series of the Tokyo Philharmonic [8 February, Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Tokyo].

Cast: Dalibor Jenis (Doktor Faust), Eva Jenis (Duchess of Parma), Kei Fukui, Hiroyuki Yoshida, Mitsuya Okubo, Ryusuke Numajiri (conductor), Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra

At the New National Theatre's smallest venue, The Pit, there is a production of Carl Orff's Die Kluge [7, 8, 9, 10 February].

Cast: MAIYA Takehiko / KOJIMA Kiyoshi (The King), UNO Tetsuya / TSUTSUI Shuhei (The Peasant), YAMAMOTO Miki / FUJITA Minako (The Peasant's daughter), ODAGAWA Tetsuya / MIYAMOTO Toshikazu (The Jailer), TAKANO Jiro / MOCHIZUKI Tetsuya (The Man with the Donkey), NARITA Hiroyuki / TSUCHIYA Kojiro (The Man with the Mule), YUKAWA Akira / TAKAHASHI Jun (First Vagabond), SASAKURA Naoya / SHINKODA Takeshi (Second Vagabond), KUROKI Jun / SHINOKI Junichi (Third Vagabond), First cast 7, 9 February, Second cast 8, 10 February, TOKITO Yasufumi (conductor), New National Theatre The Pit Opera Ensemble, ITO Akiko (production)

Later in the month, in the main Opera House there is a production of Massenet's Werther [21, 24, 27 February, 2 March] conducted by Alain Guingal and directed by Alberto Fassini with Giuseppe Sabbatini, Anna Caterina Antonacci and Natale De Carolis in the leading roles. Alain Guingal conducted excellent performances of Massenet's Don Quichotte and Manon at the New National Theatre in 2000-01.

Cast: Giuseppe Sabbatini (Werther), Anna Caterina Antonacci (Charlotte), Natale De Carolis (Albert), NAKAJIMA Akiko (Sophie), KUBOTA Masumi (Le Bailli), CHUBACHI Satoshi (Schmidt), TOYOSHIMA Yuichi (Johann), The Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, New National Theatre and Suginami Children's Choruses, Alain Guingal (conductor), Alberto Fassini (producer), William Orlandi (design)

The Nikikai Opera present Le nozze di Figaro with the Tokyo Philharmonic conducted by Pascal Verrot and directed by MIYAMOTO Amon [23, 24, 25, 27 February, Tokyo Bunka Kaikan].

February

1 Siegfried (Berlin Staatsoper/NHK Hall, Tokyo)

3 Götterdämmerung (Berlin Staatsoper/NHK Hall, Tokyo)

6 Das Rheingold (Berlin Staatsoper/NHK Hall, Tokyo)

7 Die Walküre (Berlin Staatsoper/NHK Hall, Tokyo)

7 Die Kluge (New National Theatre/The Pit)

8 Die Kluge (New National Theatre/The Pit)

8 Doktor Faust by Busoni (Tokyo Philharmonic/Bunkamura Orchard Hall)

9 Die Kluge (New National Theatre/The Pit)

10 Siegfried (Berlin Staatsoper/NHK Hall, Tokyo)

10 Die Kluge (New National Theatre/The Pit)

13 Götterdämmerung (Berlin Staatsoper/NHK Hall, Tokyo)

21 Werther (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

23 Le nozze di Figaro (Nikikai Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

24 Werther (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

24 Le nozze di Figaro (Nikikai Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

25 Le nozze di Figaro (Nikikai Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

27 Werther (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

27 Le nozze di Figaro (Nikikai Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

March 2002

At the New National Theatre there is a final performance of Massenet's Werther [2 March] conducted by Alain Guingal and directed by Alberto Fassini with Giuseppe Sabbatini, Anna Caterina Antonacci and Natale De Carolis in the leading roles.

The Fujiwara Opera presents I Capuleti e i Montecchi staring Mariella Devia and Sonia Ganassi as Romeo and Giulietta, with the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Daniele Callegari. There is a synopsis available here [15, 16, 17 March, Tokyo Bunka Kaikan].

Cast: Mariella Devia / Mieko Sato (Giulietta), Sonia Ganassi / Kyoko Moriyama (Romeo), Shigehiro Sano /Kazuo Kobayashi (Tebaldo), Hidekazu Tsumaya /Kang-Liang Peng (Capellio), Katsuji Miura / Masumi Kubota (Lorenzo), first cast 15, 17 / second cast 16, Fujiwara Opera Chorus Group, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Daniele Callegari (conductor), Pier Luigi Pizzi (producer)

At the end of the month the New National Theatre embark on the second stage of their Ring project with Die Walküre. The production team is the same as for last year's Das Rheingold: Jun Märkl as conductor, Keith Warner as director, and David Fielding as designer. Wolfgang Wagner is listed as an adviser [26, 29, 31 March, 1, 4, 6, 7 April].

Cast: Robert Dean Smith / Alan Woodrow (Siegmund), Donald McIntyre / Hasegawa Akira (Hunding), James Johnson / Donnie Ray Albert (Wotan), Susan Anthony / KURANO Ranko (Sieglinde), FUJIMURA Mihoko /KOYAMA Yumi (Fricka), Linda Watson / Susan Bullock (Brünnhilde), HIRAI Kaori (Helmwige), MORINO Yumi (Ortlinde), OBAYASHI Tomoko (Waltraute), SHIRATSUCHI Rika (Siegrune), IWAMORI Misato (Rossweisse), KAN Yumiko (Grimgerde), KUROKI Kaori (Schwertleite) IKEHATA Satomi (Gerhilde), first cast 26, 29, 1, 4, 7 / second cast 31, 6, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Jun Märkl (conductor), Keith Warner (producer), David Fielding (designer), Wolfgang Göbbel (lighting), Wolfgang Wagner (adviser)

March

1 Die Zauberflöte (Young Artists Training Programme NNTT/ NNTT Playhouse)

3 Recital Mariella Devia and Sonia Ganassi (Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Tokyo)

2 Werther (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

6 Die Zauberflöte (Young Artists Training Programme NNTT/ NNTT Playhouse)

7 Die Zauberflöte (Young Artists Training Programme NNTT/ NNTT Playhouse)

8 Die Zauberflöte (Young Artists Training Programme NNTT/ NNTT Playhouse)

15 I Capuleti e i Montecchi (Fujiwara Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

16 I Capuleti e i Montecchi (Fujiwara Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

17 I Capuleti e i Montecchi (Fujiwara Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

26 Die Walküre (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

29 Die Walküre (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

31 Die Walküre (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

April 2002

The New National Theatre give four more performances of Die Walküre, the second stage of their Ring project. The production team is the same as for last year's Das Rheingold: Jun Märkl as conductor, Keith Warner as director, and David Fielding as designer. Wolfgang Wagner is listed as an adviser [1, 4, 6, 7 April].

April

1 Die Walküre (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

4 Die Walküre (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

6 Die Walküre (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

7 Die Walküre (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

9 Yuzuru by Dan Ikuma (Nihon Opera Kyokai/New National Theatre Play House)

10 Yuzuru by Dan Ikuma (Nihon Opera Kyokai/New National Theatre Play House)

May 2002

The Bologna Opera make their third visit to Japan in May and June. (For details of their previous tours see: Teatro Communale di Bologna in Japan, 1993 and 1998.) On this occasion they present three operas: I Puritani, Il barbiere di Siviglia and Tosca (which will be seen in June). As always, the operas are impressively cast. I Puritani stars Edita Gruberova as Elvira and Giuseppe Sabbatini as Arturo [25 May Biwako Hall, Shiga, 29 May, 4, 8, 11 June Tokyo Bunka Kaikan].

Cast: Edita Gruberova (Elvira), Raul Hernandez 25 May / Giuseppe Sabbatini (Arturo), Carlos Alvarez 25, 29 May / Leo Nucci (Riccardo), Giacomo Prestia 25, 29 May / Ildebrando D'Arcangelo (Giorgio), Elena Belfiore (Enrichetta), Francesco Piccoli (Bruno), Chorus and Orchestra of the Teatro Comunale di Bologna, Friedrich Haider (conductor), Emilio Sagi (director)

Il barbiere di Siviglia includes Leo Nucci as Figaro, Vasselina Kasarova as Rosina, and Juan Diego Florez as Almaviva [26 May Biwako Hall, Shiga, 31 May, 2, 6, 12 June Tokyo Bunka Kaikan].

Cast: Leo Nucci (Figaro), Vasselina Kasarova (Rosina), Juan Diego Florez (Almaviva), Bruno Pratico (Bartolo), Giovanni Battista Parodi 25 May /Giovanni Furlanetto (Don Basilio), Roberto Accurso (Fiorello), Patrizia Bicciré (Berta), Simon Holledge (Ambrogio), Sandro Pucci / Marco Danieli 6, 12 June (Officer), Chorus and Orchestra of the Teatro Comunale di Bologna, Daniele Gatti (conductor), Luigi Squarzina/ Giovanni Scandella (director)

The New National Theatre stage a revival of their production of Puccini's Tosca [2, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11 May, NNTT Opera House].

Cast: Norma Fantini / Amarilli Nizza (Tosca), Vincenzo La Scola / ICHIHARA Taro (Cavaradossi), Carlo Guelfi / Francesco Ellero d'Artegna (Scarpia), IKEDA Naoki/ HASEGAWA Akira (Angelotti), MATSUURA Ken / ICHIKAWA Kazuhiko (Spoletta), FUJIMURA Mihoko / KOYAMA Yumi (Sciarrone), SHINPO Takashi / TSUKIJI Fumio (sacristan), Kang-Liang Peng / NAKAMURA Yasushi (gaoler), HIRAI Kaori / OKAYAMA Miyuki (shepherd boy), New National Theatre Chorus and Tama Family Singers, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Alberto Veronesi (conductor), Antonello Madau Diaz (producer), KAWAGUCHI Naoji (design)

There is also a production of Salome at the New National Theatre [1, 4, 7, 9, May, NNTT Opera House]. This is the August Everding production, originally from the Bavarian State Opera in Munich.

Cast: Janice Baird (Salome), Wolfgang Schmidt (Herodes), KOYAMA Yumi (Herodias), AOTO Satoru (Jochanaan), MIZUGUCHI Satoshi (Narraboth), MORIYAMAKyoko (Page to Herodias), IDANE Yasuhiko (first Jew), HAYAMA Kosei (second Jew), KUNUKI Tatsuya (third Jew), ONO Mitsuhiko (fourth Jew), OKUBO Mitsuya (fifth Jew), KUDO Hiroshi (first Nazarene), ONUKI Iwao (second Nazarene), SHIMURA Fumihiko (first soldier), SHIKANO Yoshiyuki (second soldier), IMAO Shigeru (Cappadocian), KOBAYASHI Nami (slave), Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, KODAMA Hiroshi (conductor), August Everding (original production), Jörg Zimmermann (design)

The performances of Tosca and Salome alternate, a sign that the New National Theatre is gradually moving towards offering a full repertory system of the kind that their impressive state-of-the-art facilities were designed to meet.

May

1 Salome (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

2 Tosca (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

4 Salome (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

5 Tosca (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

6 Tosca (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

7 Salome (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

8 Tosca (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

9 Salome (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

10 Tosca (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

11 Tosca (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

16 Maria de Buenos Aires (operita) (Opera Unisys Special/Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Tokyo)

17 Maria de Buenos Aires (operita) (Opera Unisys Special/Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Tokyo)

18 Maria de Buenos Aires (operita) (Opera Unisys Special/Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Tokyo)

19 Maria de Buenos Aires (operita) (Opera Unisys Special/Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Tokyo)

25 I Puritani (Bologna/Biwako Hall, Shiga)

26 Il barbiere di Siviglia (Bologna/Biwako Hall, Shiga)

29 I Puritani (Bologna/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

31 Il barbiere di Siviglia (Bologna/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

June 2002

The Bologna Opera continue their third visit to Japan. (For details of their previous tours see: Teatro Communale di Bologna in Japan, 1993 and 1998.) On this occasion they present three operas: I Puritani, Il barbiere di Siviglia and Tosca. As always, the operas are impressively cast. I Puritani stars Edita Gruberova as Elvira and Giuseppe Sabbatini as Arturo [4, 8, 11 June Tokyo Bunka Kaikan].

Il barbiere di Siviglia includes Leo Nucci as Figaro, Vasselina Kasarova as Rosina, and Juan Diego Florez as Almaviva [2, 6, 12 June Tokyo Bunka Kaikan].

Tosca features Ines Salazar in the title role, José Cura as Cavaradossi, and Ruggero Raimondi as Scarpia [1 June Kanagawa Kenmin Hall, 5, 7, 9 June NHK Hall, Tokyo].

Cast: Ines Salazar (Tosca), José Cura (Cavaradossi), Ruggero Raimondi (Scarpia), Carlo Di Cristoforo (Angelotti), Chorus and Orchestra of the Teatro Comunale di Bologna, Daniele Gatti (conductor), Alberto Fassini (director)

The New National Theatre, together with the Japan Opera Foundation (Fujiwara Opera), present six performances of Carmen, Japan's most performed work, with Ildiko Komlosi and Anna Maria Chiuri in the title role [7, 9, 12, 13, 15, 16 June, NNTT Opera House].

Cast: Ildiko Komlosi / Anna Maria Chiuri 12, 15 (Carmen), Kristjan Johannsson / Vladimir Bogachov 9, 13, 15 (Don José), Gino Quilico / Gianfranco Montresor 12, 15 (Escamillo), Deguchi Masako /Sunakawa Ryoko (Micaëla), Kubota Masumi /Kang-Liang Peng (Zuniga), Tachibana Toshihiro / Shimizu Ryoichi (Moralès), Sakurai Naoki / Toyoshima Yuichi (Le Dancaïre), Matsuura Ken / Ichikawa Kazuhiko (Le Remendado), Ieda Noriko / Adachi Saori (Frasquita), Moriyama Kyoko / Takao Kayo (Mercédès), New National Theatre Chorus, Fujiwara Opera Chorus Group, Suginami Children's Chorus, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra,Jacques Delacote (conductor), Maurizio Di Mattia (prodcer), Giuseppe Crisolini Malatesta (designer), Mariano Brancaccio (choreographer) second cast 9, 13, 16 unless otherwise stated

June

1 Tosca (Bologna/Kanagawa Kenmin Hall, Yokohama)

2 Il barbiere di Siviglia (Bologna/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

4 I Puritani (Bologna/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

6 Il barbiere di Siviglia (Bologna/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

5 Tosca (Bologna/NHK Hall, Tokyo)

7 Tosca (Bologna/NHK Hall, Tokyo)

7 Carmen (Fujiwara Opera and New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

8 I Puritani (Bologna/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

9 Tosca (Bologna/NHK Hall, Tokyo)

9 Carmen (Fujiwara Opera and New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

11 I Puritani (Bologna/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

12 Il barbiere di Siviglia (Bologna/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

12 Fidelio (Saitama Arts Theatre)

12 Carmen (Fujiwara Opera and New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

13 Carmen (Fujiwara Opera and New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

15 Carmen (Fujiwara Opera and New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

16 Fidelio (Saitama Arts Theatre)

16 Carmen (Fujiwara Opera and New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

21 Fidelio (Saitama Arts Theatre)

23 Fidelio (Saitama Arts Theatre)

29 Ariadne auf Naxos (Japanisch-Deutscher Opera/NNTT Play House)

July 2002

The Washington Opera under artistic director Plácido Domingo, make their first visit to Japan, bringing three productions. The seldom-performed Sly by Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari stars Jose Carreras [6, 12 July, NHK Hall, Tokyo, 9 July, Tokyo Bunka Kaikan].

Cast: José Carreras (Sly), Elizabete Matos (Dolly), Sherrill Milnes (Westmoreland), William Parcher (John Plake), John Marcus Bindel (Snare), Elizabeth Bishop (hostess). Linda Kirk (Rosalinda), Chorus and Orchestra of the Washingon Opera, David Gimenez (conductor), Marta Domingo (director) Michael Scott (designer), Joan Sullivan-Genthe (lighting), Baayork Lee (choreographer)

Otello features the artistic director in the title role, Verónica Villarroel as Desdemona and Sergei Leiferkus as Iago [7 July, Kanagawa Kenmin Hall, Yokohama, 10, 14, 17 July, NHK Hall, Tokyo]

Cast: Plácido Domingo (Otello), Verónica Villarroel (Desdemona), Sergei Leiferkus (Iago), Corey Evan Rotz (Cassio), Elizabeth Bishop (Emilia), Robert Baker (Roderigo), Daniel Sumegi (Lodovico) James Shaffran (Montano), Chorus and Orchestra of the Washingon Opera, Heinz Fricke /Valery Gergiev July 10 (conductor) Sonja Frisell (director) Zack Brown (designer), Joan Sullivan-Genthe (lighting)

In another masterpiece of Tokyo scheduling, one of three back-to-back Tosca productions (Bologna/Washingon/NNTT) stars Maria Guleghina, Marcello Giordani and Juan Pons [13 July, Kanagawa Kenmin Hall, Yokohama, 16 July, Tokyo Bunka Kaikan].

Cast: Maria Guleghina (Tosca), Marcello Giordani (Cavaradossi), Juan Pons (Scarpia), Daniel Sumegi (Angelotti), Rod Nelman (sacristan), Robert Baker (Spoletta), John Marcus Bindel (Sciarrone). Chorus and Orchestra of the Washingon Opera, Heinz Fricke (conductor), Frank Corsaro (director) Alexander Beliaev (designer), Lena Rivkina (costumes) Joan Sullivan-Genthe (lighting)

The New National Theatre's revival of Tosca is this year's Opera for High School Students [12, 15, 16, 17, 18, NNTT Opera House].

Cast: SATO Hisara / KOHAMA Taemi (Tosca), INOUE Ryoji / CHUBACHI Satoshi (Cavaradossi), ORIE Tadamichi /, TOYOSHIMA Yuichi (Scarpia), MIURA Katsuji/ Kang-Liang Peng (Angelotti), ICHIKAWA Kazuhiko / IKEMOTO Kazunori (Spoletta), MINE Shigeki / OHKUBO Makoto (Sciarrone), SHINPO Takashi /TSUKIJI Fumio (sacristan), NAKAMURA Yasushi / TAJIMA Tatsuya (gaoler), OOMORI Satoko/ OKAYAMA Miyuki (shepherd), first cast 12, 16, 18 July, second cast 15, 17 July, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, New National Theatre Chorus, Tama Family Singers, IZAKI Masahiro (conductor), Antonello Madau Diaz (director), KAWAGUCHI Naoji (design), Pier Luciano Cavalloti (costumes)

The Nikikai Opera present four performances of Die Meisersinger [27, 28 July, 3, 4 August, Tokyo Bunka Kaikan].

Cast: TATARA Michio / KURODA Hiroshi (Hans Sachs), FUKUI Kei /, TANAKA Makoto (Walter), IDANE Yasuhiko / ONUKI Iwao (David), SASAKI Noriko / HAYASHI Masako (Eva), NISHIKAWA Yuko / KATSUYAMA Takako (Magdalena), WAKABAYASHI Tsutomu / KAI Eijiro (Nightwatchman), IKEDA Naoki / HASEGAWA Akira (Pogner), MAIYA Takehiko /KITAMURA Tetsuro (Nachtigall), OSHIMA Ikuo / HAGIWARA Jun (Beckmesser), ON0 Mitsuhiko /NIKAITANI Yusuke (Vogelgesang), SHIMAMURA Takeo / AOTO Satoru (Kothner), MATSUNAGA Kunikazu /KATAYOSE Junya (Zorn), MAKIKAWA Syuichi /OKAMOTO Yasuhiro (Eisslinger), YUKAWA Akira / TAKAHASHI Jun (Moser), OTA Naoki /SAKAI Nobuhiro (Ortel), SHIKANO Yoshiyuki /HATAKEYAMA Shigeru (Schwarz), TANI Shigeki /UNO Tetsuya (Foltz), first cast 27 July, 4 August, second cast 28 July, 3 August, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Nikikai Chorus, Claus Peter Flor (conductor), Kurt Horres (director)

Other visitors include the Karlin Music Theatre Prague touring with Die Fledermaus and Fiorenza Cossotto [28 July, Oji Hall, Tokyo].

July

6 Sly (Washington Opera/NHK Hall, Tokyo)

7 Otello (Washington Opera/Kanagawa Kenmin Hall, Yokohama))

9 Sly (Washington Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

10 Otello (Washington Opera/NHK Hall, Tokyo)

11 Die Fledermaus (Karlin Music Theatre Prague/Chiba Prefectural Bunka Kaikan)

12 Sly (Washington Opera/NHK Hall, Tokyo)

12 Tosca (New National Theatre Opera for High School Students/NNTT Opera House)

12 Die Fledermaus (Karlin Music Theatre Prague/Saitama-shi Bunka Centre, Urawa)

13 Tosca (Washington Opera/Kanagawa Kenmin Hall, Yokohama)

13 Die Fledermaus (Karlin Music Theatre Prague/Shinjuku Bunka Centre)

13 Pelléas et Mélisande (Mozart Theatre/NNTT Play House)

14 Otello (Washington Opera/NHK Hall, Tokyo)

14 Die Fledermaus (Karlin Music Theatre Prague/Shinjuku Bunka Centre)

14 Pelléas et Mélisande (Mozart Theatre/NNTT Playhouse)

15 Tosca (New National Theatre Opera for High School Students /NNTT Opera House)

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

16 Tosca (Washington Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

17 Otello (Washington Opera/NHK Hall, Tokyo)

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

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

27 Die Meisersinger (Nikikai Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

28 Die Meisersinger (Nikikai Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

28 Recital Fiorenza Cossotto (Oji Hall, Tokyo)

28 Madama Butterfly (Fujiwara Opera and Korean Opera/NNTT Opera House)

29 Madama Butterfly (Fujiwara Opera and Korean Opera/NNTT Opera House)

30 Madama Butterfly (Fujiwara Opera and Korean Opera/NNTT Opera House)

31 Madama Butterfly (Fujiwara Opera and Korean Opera/NNTT Opera House)

August 2002

The hot month of August is the least active period of the year for opera, in marked contrast to July and September.

The Nikikai Opera present two final performances of Die Meisersinger [3, 4 August, Tokyo Bunka Kaikan].

Cast: TATARA Michio / KURODA Hiroshi (Hans Sachs), FUKUI Kei /, TANAKA Makoto (Walter), IDANE Yasuhiko / ONUKI Iwao (David), SASAKI Noriko / HAYASHI Masako (Eva), NISHIKAWA Yuko / KATSUYAMA Takako (Magdalena), WAKABAYASHI Tsutomu / KAI Eijiro (Nightwatchman), IKEDA Naoki / HASEGAWA Akira (Pogner), MAIYA Takehiko /KITAMURA Tetsuro (Nachtigall), OSHIMA Ikuo / HAGIWARA Jun (Beckmesser), ON0 Mitsuhiko /NIKAITANI Yusuke (Vogelgesang), SHIMAMURA Takeo / AOTO Satoru (Kothner), MATSUNAGA Kunikazu /KATAYOSE Junya (Zorn), MAKIKAWA Syuichi /OKAMOTO Yasuhiro (Eisslinger), YUKAWA Akira / TAKAHASHI Jun (Moser), OTA Naoki /SAKAI Nobuhiro (Ortel), SHIKANO Yoshiyuki /HATAKEYAMA Shigeru (Schwarz), TANI Shigeki /UNO Tetsuya (Foltz), first cast 4 August, second cast 3 August, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Nikikai Chorus, Claus Peter Flor (conductor), Kurt Horres (director)

August

3 Die Meisersinger (Nikikai Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

4 Die Meisersinger (Nikikai Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

25 L'elisir d'amore (Fujiwara Opera/ NNTT Playhouse)

28 L'elisir d'amore (Fujiwara Opera/ NNTT Playhouse)

30 L'elisir d'amore (Fujiwara Opera/ NNTT Playhouse)

31 Macbeth (Shuto Opera/Kanagawa Kenmin Hall)

September 2002

The season begins or continues (for opera seasons, like everything else in Japan, are undetermined) with a busy month in the Tokyo area: some 41 opera performances, including five double bills.

The most exciting event is the production of Le nozze di Figaro from the Aix-en-Province Festival, even if Tokyu Bunkamura have still failed to list several members of the cast even in Japanese! [3, 5, 7, 8 September, Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Tokyo].

Cast: Marco Vinco (Figaro), Camilla Tilling (Susanna), Brian Bannatyne-Scott (Bartolo), Laurent Naouri (Count), Véronique Gens (Countess), Stephanie d'Oustrac (Cherubino), Magali Léger (Barbarina), Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Mark Minkowski (conductor)

The New National Theatre present Japan's second most popular opera, La traviata, in a cooperation with the Japan Opera Group Conference. Conducted by Bruno Campanella, the first cast includes Andrea Rost, Massimo Giordano and Anthony Michales-Moore [5, 7, 8, 10, 12, 14, 15 September 2002 New National Theatre, Opera House].

Cast: Andrea Rost / Inva Mula (Violetta), Massimo Giordano / Valter Borin (Alfredo), Anthony Michales-Moore / MAKINO Masato (Germont), NAGATA Naomi / ISAKA Megumi (Flora), CHUBACHI Satoshi / HIGUCHI Tatsuya (Gastone), Kang-Liang Peng / MIURA Katsuji (Douphol), TAJIMA Tatsuya / OSAWa Ken (D'Obigny), IKEDA Naoki/ YATABE Kazuhiro (Grenvil), IEDA Noriko/ YODA Asako (Annina), OHO Ikuo / KOMIYA Kazuhiro (Giuseppe), TACHIBANA Toshihiro / SAKAMOTO Shinji (Commissionario), KURODA Satoshi (servant), first cast 5, 8, 12, 15 September, second cast 7, 10, 14 September, New National Theatre Chorus, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Bruno Campanella (conductor), Luca Ronconi (producer), Margherita Palli (set designer), Carlo Diappi (costume designer)

Opera number 8 in the Pit Opera workshop series at The New National Theatre is Gioachino Rossini: L'Occasione fa il Ladro [12, 13, 14, 15 September 2002 New National Theatre, The Pit]

Cast: MOCHIKI Hiroshi / OONO Mitsuhiko (Don Eusebio), HIRAI Kaori / OOKAWA Mayu (Berenice), ONUKI Iwao / UEHARA Masatoshi (Conte Alberto), SHIBAYAMA Masanobu / TANABE Toru (Don Parmenione), OBATA Akemi / HASHIMOTO Keiko (Ernestina), NARITA Hiroyuki / HABUCHI Hiroki (Martino) New National Theatre The Pit Opera Ensemble, SATO Hiroshi (conductor), EGAWA Tomomi (stage director), ARATA Ryo (set designer), HANDA Etsuko (costume designer)

September

1 Macbeth (Shuto Opera/Kanagawa Kenmin Hall)

1 La voix humaine/La pauvre Matelot by Milhaud (Tokyo Chamber Opera House/NNTT Opera House, The Pit)

2 La voix humaine/La pauvre Matelot by Milhaud (Tokyo Chamber Opera House/NNTT Opera House, The Pit)

3 La voix humaine/La pauvre Matelot by Milhaud (Tokyo Chamber Opera House/NNTT Opera House, The Pit)

3 Le nozze di Figaro (Aix-en-Provence Festival/Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Tokyo)

5 Le nozze di Figaro (Aix-en-Provence Festival/Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Tokyo)

5 La traviata (New National Theatre /NNTT Opera House)

6 King Roger by Szymanowski (NHK Symphony Orchestra/NHK Hall)

7 Le nozze di Figaro (Aix-en-Provence Festival/Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Tokyo)

7 La traviata (New National Theatre /NNTT Opera House)

7 King Roger by Szymanowski (NHK Symphony Orchestra/NHK Hall)

7 Turandot (Kanagawa Philharmonic/Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall)

7 Les mamelles de Tirésias/La voix humaine (Mozart Theatre/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

8 Le nozze di Figaro (Aix-en-Provence Festival/Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Tokyo)

8 La traviata (New National Theatre /NNTT Opera House)

8 Les mamelles de Tirésias/La voix humaine (Mozart Theatre/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

8 Siegfried (Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

10 La traviata (New National Theatre /NNTT Opera House)

12 La traviata (New National Theatre /NNTT Opera House)

12 Ariadne auf Naxos (New Japan Philharmonic/Sumida Triphony Hall, Tokyo)

12 L'occasione fa il ladro by Rossini (New National Theatre, The Pit Opera/NNTT, The Pit)

13 L'occasione fa il ladro by Rossini (New National Theatre, The Pit Opera/The Pit)

14 La traviata (New National Theatre /NNTT Opera House)

14 L'occasione fa il ladro by Rossini (New National Theatre, The Pit Opera/The Pit)

14 Ariadne auf Naxos (New Japan Philharmonic/Sumida Triphony Hall, Tokyo)

15 La traviata (New National Theatre /NNTT Opera House)

15 Turandot (Kanagawa Philharmonic/Saitama Kaikan)

15 L'occasione fa il ladro by Rossini (New National Theatre, The Pit Opera/The Pit)

21 Gräfin Mariza (Stadttheater Baden/Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall)

24 Madama Butterfly (New Japan Philharmonic/Sumida Triphony Hall, Tokyo)

25 Madama Butterfly (New Japan Philharmonic/Sumida Triphony Hall, Tokyo)

26 Madama Butterfly (New Japan Philharmonic/Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Tokyo)

28 The Turn of the Screw (New National Theatre, The Pit Opera/The Pit)

28 Sir John in Love by Vaughan Williams (Tokyo Opera Produce/NNTT Opera House, The Playhouse)

29 The Turn of the Screw (New National Theatre, The Pit Opera/The Pit)

29 Sir John in Love by Vaughan Williams (Tokyo Opera Produce/NNTT Opera House, The Playhouse)

October 2002

A busy month for opera: the main event is the world premiere of Tan Dun's Tea at Suntory Hall. This is a coproduction with the Shanghai Grand Theatre and the Netherlands Opera. The story set in 9th-century China and Japan. The composer conducts the NHK Symphony Orchestra and the singers are Haijing Fu, Nancy Allen Lundy, Christopher Gillet, Stephen Richardson and Ning Liang [22, 24 October Suntory Hall, Tokyo].

Cast: Haijing Fu (Seikyo), Nancy Allen Lundy (Princess), Christopher Gillet (Prince), Stephen Richardson (Emperor), Ning Liang (Lu), NHK Symphony Orchestra, Tan Dun (conductor), Pierre Audi (director), Jean Kalman (designer), Angelo Figus (costumes)

The New National Theatre present their first Donizetti opera: Lucia di Lammermoor [11, 13, 14, 16, 19, 20 October, NNTT Opera House].

Cast: Victoria Loukianetz / Cinzia Forte (Lucia), Fabio Sartori 11, 13, 16, 20 /Valter Borin 14, 19 (Edgardo), Roberto Frontali 11, 14, 16, 20 / TANI Tomohiro 13, 19 (Enrico), KUBOTA Masumi /WAKABAYASHI Tsutomu (Raimondo), MATSUURA Ken / TSUNODA Kazuhiro (Arturo) KONO Megumi / TAKEMOTO Setsuko (Alisa), ARIME Tetsuya / OHO Ikuo (Normanno), First cast 11, 14, 19, second cast 13, 16, 20 unless otherwise noted, New National Theatre Chorus and Fujiwara Opera Chorus Group, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Paolo Olmi (conductor) Vincenzo Grisostomi Travaglini (producer)

At the end of the month, the New National Theatre again revive their production of Il barbiere di Siviglia. This time the conductor is Antonio Pirolli, Figaro is Roberto de Candia alternating with Alessandro Battiato, Rosina is Joyce DiDonato and Paola Antonucci , and the Count is sung by Antonino Siragusa and Marco Ferrato. The NNTT explain: "Pleasant music full of speed will fascinate you. It is now autumn. Why don't you enjoy a comfortable motor ride in the refreshing winds with the jolly fellow Figaro as your driver?" [31 October, 2, 3, 9, 10 November, NNTT Opera House].

Cast: Antonino Siragusa / Marco Ferrato (Conte), Joyce DiDonato/ Paola Antonucci (Rosina), Bruno Praticó / KUBOTA Masumi (Bartolo), Roberto de Candia/ Alessandro Battiato (Figaro), Francesco Ellero d'Artegna / IKEDA Naoki (Don Basilio), MOTOMIYA Hiroko / KORI Aiko (Berta), MATSUMURA Ken / CHUBACHI Satoshi (Fiorello), HASEGAWA Kan / TAJIMA Tatsuya (Officer), First cast 31, 3, 10, second cast 2, 9 New National Theatre Chorus, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Antonio Pirolli (conductor), AGUNI Jun (director), KAWAGUCHI Naoji (designer), Pasquale Grossi (costume)

Visitors include the Hungarian State Opera performing Carmen [14 October, Kanagawa Kenmin Hall, Yokohama, 17, 18, 19 October, Tokyo Bunka Kaikan], Daniel Shtoda [6 October, Musashino Shimin Bunka Kaikan, Tokyo] and Barbara Bonney [20 October, Kioi Hall, Tokyo].

October

4 Madama Butterfly (Kunitachi Opera Company/Nakano Zero Hall, Tokyo)

5 Toiho (Faraway Sail) by Akira Miyoshi (Kanagawa Philharmonic/Kanagawa Kenmin Hall, Yokohama)

5 L'incoronazione di Poppea (Nikikai Opera/Hokutopia Sakura Hall, Tokyo)

6 L'incoronazione di Poppea (Nikikai Opera/Hokutopia Sakura Hall, Tokyo)

6 Toiho (Faraway Sail) by Akira Miyoshi (Kanagawa Philharmonic/Kanagawa Kenmin Hall, Yokohama)

6 Recital Daniel Shtoda (Musashino Shimin Bunka Kaikan, Tokyo)

11 Lucia di Lammermoor (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

11 Die Fledermaus (Nikikai Opera/Shinjuku Bunka Center, Tokyo)

13 Lucia di Lammermoor (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

13 Das Land des Lächelns (Nippon Operetta Kyokai/Hokutopia Sakura Hall, Tokyo)

14 Lucia di Lammermoor (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

14 Das Land des Lächelns (Nippon Operetta Kyokai/Hokutopia Sakura Hall, Tokyo)

14 Carmen (Hungarian State Opera/Kanagawa Kenmin Hall, Yokohama)

16 Lucia di Lammermoor (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

17 Carmen (Hungarian State Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

18 Carmen (Hungarian State Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

19 Lucia di Lammermoor (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

19 Carmen (Hungarian State Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

19 Nabucco (Ota Kumin Opera/Ota Kumin Hall, Tokyo)

20 Lucia di Lammermoor (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

20 Nabucco (Ota Kumin Opera/Ota Kumin Hall, Tokyo)

20 Recital Barbara Bonney (Kioi Hall, Tokyo)

22 Tea by Tan Dun (Hall Opera/Suntory Hall, Tokyo)

22 La traviata (Nikikai Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

23 La traviata (Nikikai Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

24 Tea by Tan Dun (Hall Opera/Suntory Hall, Tokyo)

24 La traviata (Nikikai Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

25 Il viaggio a Reims (Societa' Rossiniana Giapponese/Ota Kumin Hall, Tokyo)

27 Parsifal Act 3 (Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

28 Il viaggio a Reims (Societa' Rossiniana Giapponese/Ota Kumin Hall, Tokyo)

29 Recital Antonio Abete (Musashino Swing Hall, Tokyo)

30 Concert Parsifal Act 3 (Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra/Tokyo Metroplitan Art Space)

31 Il barbiere di Siviglia (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

November 2002

The revival of Il barbiere di Siviglia continues at the New National Theatre. The conductor is Antonio Pirolli, Figaro is Roberto de Candia alternating with Alessandro Battiato, Rosina is Joyce DiDonato and Paola Antonucci , and the Count is sung by Antonino Siragusa and Marco Ferrato. The NNTT explain: "Pleasant music full of speed will fascinate you. It is now autumn. Why don't you enjoy a comfortable motor ride in the refreshing winds with the jolly fellow Figaro as your driver?" [2, 3, 9, 10 November, NNTT Opera House].

Cast: Antonino Siragusa / Marco Ferrato (Conte), Joyce DiDonato/ Paola Antonucci (Rosina), Bruno Praticó / KUBOTA Masumi (Bartolo), Roberto de Candia/ Alessandro Battiato (Figaro), Francesco Ellero d'Artegna / IKEDA Naoki (Don Basilio), MOTOMIYA Hiroko / KORI Aiko (Berta), MATSUMURA Ken / CHUBACHI Satoshi (Fiorello), HASEGAWA Kan / TAJIMA Tatsuya (Officer), First cast 3, 10, second cast 2, 9 New National Theatre Chorus, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Antonio Pirolli (conductor), AGUNI Jun (director), KAWAGUCHI Naoji (designer), Pasquale Grossi (costume)

Later in the month, the New National Theatre also revive their production of Il trovatore, which they describe as being 'one of the most opera-like of Verdi's works'. The first cast is led by Norma Fantini, Lando Bartolini, HORIUCHI Yasuo, and Barbara Dever, and conducted by Giuliano Carella [21, 23, 24 November, 1 December, NNTT Opera House].

Cast: Norma Fantini/Amarilli Nizza (Leonora), Lando Bartolini/Antonino Interisano (Manrico), HORIUCHI Yasuo/ TANI Tomohiro (Conte di Luna), Barbara Dever/Anna Maria Chiuri (Azucena), TSUMAYA Hidekazu/Kang-Liang Peng (Ferrando), KANO Satomi/AKIYAMA Yukimi (Ines), CHUBACHI Satoshi / HIGUCHI Tatsuya (Ruiz), Tang Jun Bo (vecchio zingaro),Watanabe Fumitoshi (messo), first cast 21, 24 November, 1 December, second cast 23, 30 November, New National Theatre Chorus and Fujiwara Chorus Group, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Giuliano Carella (conductor), Alberto Fassini (director)

Visitors include the Warsaw Chamber Opera with Le nozze di Figaro [17 November, Green Hall Sagamiono, Tokyo, 20 November, Omiya Sonic City, 21 November, Katsushika Symphony Hills], and Sofia National Opera with La bohème [23 November, Gunma Kenmin Kaikan, 24 November, Parthenon Tama, 26 November, Yamanashi Prefectural Kenmin Bunka Hall, Kofu, 27 November, Aichi Prefectural Arts Centre, Nagoya].

Recitalists include Juliane Banse [2 November, Toppan Hall, Tokyo], Christian Gerhaber [3 November, Toppan Hall, Tokyo], Mitsuko Shirai [3, 5 November, Kioi Hall, Tokyo], and Jessye Norman [10, 15, 19 November, Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Tokyo].

November

2 Parsifal Act 3 (Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

2 Il barbiere di Siviglia (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

2 La traviata (Fujiwara Opera/Meguro Persimmon Hall, Tokyo)

2 Matinee recital Juliane Banse (Toppan Hall, Tokyo)

2 Recital Christian Gerhaber (Toppan Hall, Tokyo)

3 Il barbiere di Siviglia (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

3 La traviata (Fujiwara Opera/Meguro Persimmon Hall, Tokyo)

3 Lieder master classes Mitsuko Shirai (Kioi Hall, Tokyo)

4 Parsifal Act 3 (Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

5 Recital Mitsuko Shirai (Kioi Hall, Tokyo)

7 Idomeneo (Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra/Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Tokyo)

9 Il barbiere di Siviglia (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

9 Die Zauberflöte (Yokohama City Opera/Kanagawa Kenmin Hall)

9 Concert Die Walküre Act 1 (Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra/Suntory Hall, Tokyo)

10 Il barbiere di Siviglia (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

10 Die Zauberflöte (Yokohama City Opera/Kanagawa Kenmin Hall)

10 Recital Jessye Norman (Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Tokyo)

11 Concert Die Walküre Act 1 (Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra/Suntory Hall, Tokyo)

15 Recital Jessye Norman (Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Tokyo)

15 Rashomon (Nissay Opera 2002/Nissay Thaetre, Tokyo)

15 Concert Wagner Gala (Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra/Tokyo Metroplitan Art Space)

16 Concert Wagner Gala (Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra/Tokyo Metroplitan Art Space)

17 Rashomon (Nissay Opera 2002/Nissay Thaetre, Tokyo)

17 Le nozze di Figaro (Warsaw Chamber Opera/Green Hall Sagamiono, Tokyo)

19 Recital Jessye Norman (Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Tokyo)

20 Le nozze di Figaro (Warsaw Chamber Opera/Omiya Sonic City)

21 Le nozze di Figaro (Warsaw Chamber Opera/Katsushika Symphony Hills)

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

22 La traviata (Nikikai Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

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

23 La traviata (Nikikai Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

23 Le nozze di Figaro (Warsaw Chamber Opera/Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Tokyo)

23 La bohème (Sofia National Opera/Gunma Kenmin Kaikan)

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

24 La traviata (Nikikai Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

24 Carmen (Nissay Opera 2002/Nissay Opera)

24 La bohème (Sofia National Opera/Parthenon Tama)

26 La bohème (Sofia National Opera/Yamanashi Prefectural Kenmin Bunka Hall, Kofu)

27 La bohème (Sofia National Opera/Aichi Prefectural Arts Centre, Nagoya)

30 Il trovatore (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

December 2002

The New National Theatre hold the final performance of their revival of Il trovatore [1 December, NNTT Opera House].

Cast: Norma Fantini (Leonora), Lando Bartolini (Manrico), HORIUCHI Yasuo (Conte di Luna), Barbara Dever (Azucena), TSUMAYA Hidekazu (Ferrando), KANO Satomi (Ines), CHUBACHI Satoshi (Ruiz), Tang Jun Bo (vecchio zingaro), Watanabe Fumitoshi (messo), New National Theatre Chorus and Fujiwara Chorus Group, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Giuliano Carella (conductor), Alberto Fassini (director)

Later in the month, the New National Theatre, together with Nikikai Opera, present Ariadne auf Naxos. The production was originally by Hans-Peter Lehmann. In its inimitable capitalization, the NNTT explain that this is an opera "Which Has a Happy Ending in Love after Much Fuss and Shows the True Worth of the Opera by Strauss!" [12, 13, 14, 15 December 2002, NNTT Opera House].

Cast: MAIYA Takehiko (Major-Domo), KOMORI Teruhiko / KURODA Hiroshi (Music Master), TESHIMA Masako / SHIRATSUCHI Rika (Composer), Wolfgang Müller-Lorenz / NARITA Katsumi (Tenor / Bacchus), NIKAITANI Yusuke / TANIGAWA Yoshiyuki (Officer), KONDO Masanobu / IDANE Yasuhiko (Dancing Master), SHIMURA Fumihiko / ANDO Joko (Wigmaker), UNO Tetsuya / HATAKEYAMA Shigeru (Lackey), Cyndia Sieden / KODA Hiroko (Zerbinetta), Mariana Zvetkova / IWANAGA Keiko (Primadonna / Ariadne), HAGIWARA Jun / KITAMURA Tetsuro (Harlekin), HAJI Masato / MOCHIZUKI Tetsuya (Scaramuccio), WAKABAYASHI Tsutomu / SHIKANO Yoshiyuki (Truffaldin), YUKAWA Akira / OKAMOTO Yasuhiro (Brighella), YAMAMOTO Miki / WAKATSUKI Ryoko (Najade), SUGITA Miki / ISAKA Megumi (Dryade), MORINO Yumi / TAJIMA Shigeyo (Echo), first cast 12, 14 / second cast 13, 15, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, KODAMA Hiroshi (conductor) Hans-Peter Lehmann (director), Olaf Zombeck (designer)

Visitors include the Sofia National Opera touring Japan with La bohème and Don Carlo, and the Warsaw Chamber Opera with Die Zauberflöte [for details see below].

December

1 Il trovatore (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

1 Tosca (Opera Lirica/Komaba-eminence Hall)

1 Merry Widow (Sumida Kumin Opera/Sumida Triphony Hall)

1 La bohème (Sofia National Opera/Oita Prefectural Bunka Centre)

3 La bohème (Sofia National Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

3 Utayomizaru (The Monkey Poet) by MIKI Minoru (Opera Theatre Uta-za/Komaba-eminence Hall)

4 La bohème (Sofia National Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

4 Utayomizaru (The Monkey Poet) by MIKI Minoru (Opera Theatre Uta-za/Komaba-eminence Hall)

5 La bohème (Sofia National Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

5 Utayomizaru (The Monkey Poet) by MIKI Minoru (Opera Theatre Uta-za/Komaba-eminence Hall)

8 Don Carlo (Sofia National Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

10 La bohème (Sofia National Opera/Kanazawa City Kanko Kaikan)

11 Don Carlo (Sofia National Opera/Hatsukaichi Bunka Hall, Hiroshima)

12 La bohème (Sofia National Opera/Kagawa-ken Kenmin Hall, Takamatsu)

12 Das Christelflein by Pfitzner (Tokyo Chamber Opera Theatre/Komaba-eminence Hall)

12 Ariadne auf Naxos (Nikikai Opera and New National Theatre)/NNTT Opera House)

13 Das Christelflein by Pfitzner (Tokyo Chamber Opera Theatre/Komaba-eminence Hall)

13 Ariadne auf Naxos (Nikikai Opera and New National Theatre)/NNTT Opera House)

13 Don Carlo (Sofia National Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

14 La bohème (Sofia National Opera/Edogawa-ku Bunka Centre, Tokyo)

14 Ariadne auf Naxos (Nikikai Opera and New National Theatre)/NNTT Opera House)

15 Ariadne auf Naxos (Nikikai Opera and New National Theatre)/NNTT Opera House)

15 Don Carlo (Sofia National Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

16 Die Zauberflöte (Warsaw Chamber Opera/Parthenon Tama)

17 Die Zauberflöte (Warsaw Chamber Opera/Saitama-shi Bunka Centre))

20 Die Zauberflöte (Warsaw Chamber Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

21 Die Zauberflöte (Warsaw Chamber Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

22 Die Zauberflöte (Warsaw Chamber Opera/Chiba-ken Bunka Kaikan)

NOTE: Japanese names are listed exactly as they appear in publicity handouts and programmes, usually in American style (e.g. Seiji Ozawa) rather than the normal, everyday-life, Japanese style (e.g. OZAWA Seiji). When the latter (Japanese) style is used the surname will be given in capital letters. Unfortunately Japanese artists and managements often use both forms, as well as alternative spellings.

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