Information in this section first appeared in Current Productions and Tokyo Opera Calendar.

 

November 1999

 

There is a new production of Puccini's Manon Lescaut at the New National Theatre Opera House by Pierfrancesco Maestrini. Giovanna Casolla and Cheiko Shimohara alternate as Manon. Keith Olsen and Nicola Martinucci sing Des Grieux. Roberto de Candia and Tasuku Naono are Lescaut. Yoshinori Kikuchi conducts the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra with the New National Theatre and Fujiwara Choruses. [6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14 November]

 

Cast: Giovanna Casolla 6/8/11/14 /Chieko Shimohara 10/13 (Manon), Keith Olsen 6/8/11/13 / Nicola Martinucci 10/14 (Des Grieux), Roberto de Candia 6/8/10/13 / Tasuku Naono 11/14 (Lescaut), Naoki Ikeda 6/10/13 / Sachio Yamada 8/11/14 (Geronte), Kazuhiko Ichikawa 6/10/13 / Satoshi Chubachi 8/11/14 (Edmondo). Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, New National Theatre and Fujiwara choruses, Yoshinori Kikuchi (conductor), Pierfrancesco Maestrini (stage director), Fiorella Mariani (stage designer), David Walker (costume designer)

 

Yoshinori Kikuchi will also conduct two concert performances of Ponchielli 's La gioconda with the Japan Shinsei Symphony Orchestra. Cheiko Shimohara sings the title role with Kei Fukui as Enzo and Masato Makino as Barnaba. [Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space/Suntory Hall, November 21/22]

 

Cast: Chieko Shimohara (La Gioconda), Kei Fukui (Enzo), Masato Makino (Barnaba), Naomi Nagata (Laura), Peng Kang-Liang (Alvise) Misato Iwamori (La Cieca). Japan Shinsei Symphony Orchestra, Japan Shinsei Symphony and Fujiwara Choruses, Yoshinori Kikuchi (conductor)

 

Bernstein's Candide will be performed in the London National Theatre musical version, in Japanese, with Hiroyuki Yoshida, Megumi Sunada, Hiroshi Kuroda, Makoto Tanaka, Aiko Kori, Akiya Fukushima, and Madoka Sato. Yutaka Sado is the conductor. [Bunkamura November 29, Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall December 1]

 

Visitors to Tokyo include the Warsaw Chamber Opera with Le nozze di Figaro, [Kanagawa Kenmin Hall/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan November 26/27/28] and recitalists Emma Kirkby, Thomas Hampson, Jose Carreras, and Katia Ricciarelli.

 

November 1999

6 Manon Lescaut (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

8 Manon Lescaut (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

8 Recital: Emma Kirkby/Anthony Rooley (Casals Hall)

10 Manon Lescaut (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

11 Manon Lescaut (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

11 Recital: Emma Kirkby/Anthony Rooley (Casals Hall)

12 Recital: Jose Carreras (Suntory Hall)

13 Manon Lescaut (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

14 Manon Lescaut (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

16 Don Giovanni (Nikikai Opera/Tokyo Geijutsu Daigaku)

17 Recital: Die Winterreise Thomas Hampson/Wolfgang Sawallisch (Suntory Hall)

18 Recital: Jose Carreras (Yokohama Minato Mirai)

21 La Gioconda (Japan Shinsei Symphony Orchestra/Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space)

21 Recital: Katia Ricciarelli (Parthenon Tama)

22 La Gioconda (Japan Shinsei Symphony Orchestra/Suntory Hall)

26 Le nozze di Figaro (Warsaw Chamber Opera/Kanagawa Kenmin Hall, Yokohama)

26 Le nozze di Figaro (Nikikai Opera/NNTT small theatre)

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

27 Le nozze di Figaro two perfs. (Nikikai Opera/NNTT small theatre)

28 Le nozze di Figaro (Warsaw Chamber Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

28 Le nozze di Figaro (Nikikai Opera/NNTT small theatre)

29 Candide/Bernstein (Bunkamura Orchard Hall)

 

December 1999

 

In addition to innumerable performances of Beethoven's 9th Symphony (a local custom), The National Theatre is reviving its production of Madama Butterfly with Yoko Watanabe and Hisara Sato in the title role. Alfredo Cupido and Maurizio Graziani sing Pinkerton. Vjekoslav Sutej conducts the Tokyo Philharmonic. [New National Theatre Opera House, December 18/21/23/24/26/27]

 

Cast: Yoko Watanabe 18/21/24/27 /Hisara Sato 23/26 (Butterfly), Alfredo Cupido 18/21/24/27 / Maurizio Graziani 23/26 (Pinkerton), Marco di Felice 18/21/24/27 / Tadamichi Orie 23/26 (Sharpless), Naomi Nagata 8/21/24/27 / Kyoko Moriyama 23/26 (Suzuki), Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, New National Theatre Chorus, Vjekoslav Sutej (conductor), Masayoshi Kuriyama (stage director), Yukio Horio (stage designer), Katsumi Kishii (costume designer)

 

Visitors to Tokyo include recitalists Katia Ricciarelli, Kathleen Battle and Yasuko Hayashi.

 

December 1999

1 Candide/Bernstein (Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall)

2 Recital: Katia Ricciarelli (Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall))

13 Recital: Yasuko Hayashi (Suntory Hall))

16 Recital: Kathleen Battle (Suntory Hall))

18 Madama Butterfly (Fujiwara Opera and New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

21 Madama Butterfly (Fujiwara Opera and New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

23 Madama Butterfly (Fujiwara Opera and New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

24 Madama Butterfly (Fujiwara Opera and New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

26 Madama Butterfly (Fujiwara Opera and New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

27 Madama Butterfly (Fujiwara Opera and New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

 

January 2000

 

Tokyo will see 31 opera performances during the 31 days of January. Possibly a record? Both opera and operetta are included, familiar and rare works, German, Italian, Russian operas . . . many doubtless by now sold out, though tickets for some should still be obtainable up to and until the time of actual performances. Perhaps opera is at last beginning to lose its exclusivity (and high prices) here?

 

The New National Theatre begins the year with a major new production of Mozart's Don Giovanni. The title role is sung by Natale de Carolis (replacing Michele Pertusi in all performances), with Gregory Kunde, Julia Isaev, and Pamela Coburn as Don Ottavio, Donna Anna and Donna Elvira. This is a co-production with the Vienna State Opera and it's on from January 16th to the 27th.

 

Cast: Natale de Carolis (Don Giovanni), Julia Isaev (Donna Anna), Gregory Kunde (Don Ottavio), Pamela Coburn (Donna Elvira), Ildebrando d'Arcangelo (Leporello) Hidekazu Tsumaya (Commendatore) Toshiya Inagaki (Masetto), Nobuko Takahashi (Zerlina), Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, New National Theatre Chorus, Asher Fisch (conductor), Roberto di Simone (director), Nicola Rubertelli (designer)

 

The Japanese premiere of Franz Schreker's opera Der ferne Klang ('The Distant Sound') is on January 27th at Bunkamura Orchard Hall. This opera was first performed in Frankfurt in 1912, at a time when the composer was regarded as one of the leading lights of modern music. Unfortunately, like some other eventual victims of Nazi Germany (he was both Jewish and homosexual), he was eventually forgotten, though his operas are now being performed again and reassessed. The music of Der Ferne Klang has been described as "like the murmuring that can be heard in the inner recesses of sea shells . . . sounds of harps, sounds of spun glass, sounds of water-filled wine glasses stroked by a moistened finger" (William Ritter). Sung in German, it will be the number 19 in the Kazushi Ono/Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra's Opera Concertante Series.

 

Cast: Rika Iwai, Hiroyuki Yoshida, Masamichi Yabunishi, Asako Yoda, Ken Osawa, Chieko Teratani, Ryohei Izumi, Mitsuya Okubo, Katsunori Kono, Hohmei Kamie, Koichi Inoue, Toshihiko Yamaguchi, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra and Tokyo Opera Singers, Kazushi Ono (conductor)

 

The Fujiwara Opera presents a new production of Lucia di Lammermoor on the 14th, 15th, and 16th at Bunkamura Orchard Hall, conducted by Stefano Ranzani, directed by Henning Brockhaus with sets by the veteran designer Josef Svoboda. There is a synopsis of the plot of this opera here on this website.

 

Cast: Valeria Esposito / Mieko Sato (Lucia), Dario Volonte / Shigehiro Sano (Edgardo), Roberto Servile / Yasuo Horiuchi (Enrico), Masumi Kubota / Kazuhiro Yatabe (Raimondo), Kazuhiro Tsunoda / Makoto Tashiro (Arturo), Kyoko Moriyama / Megumi Kono (Alisa), Kazuhiko Ichikawa / Tetsuya Arime (Normanno), Fujiwara Opera Chorus Group, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra [First cast January 14/16, second cast January 15] Stefano Ranzani (conductor ), Henning Brockhaus (director), Josef Svoboda (designer)

 

Visitors include the Prague National Theatre (Die Fledermaus and Die Zauberflöte) at Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, Sagamiono and Yokohama, and the Kirov Opera from St Petersburg (Der fliegende Holländer, La forza del destino and the Queen of Spades) at Tokyo Bunka Kaikan and NHK Hall, followed by the Hungarian State Budapest Operetta Theatre (Die lustige Witwe).

 

7 Die Fledermaus (Prague National Theatre/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

8 Die Fledermaus (Prague National Theatre/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

9 Die Zauberflöte (Prague National Theatre/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

10 Die Zauberflöte (Prague National Theatre/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

10 Tosca (Suntory Hall)

14 Die Fledermaus (Prague National Theatre/Green Hall Sagamiono)

14 Lucia di Lammermoor (Fujiwara Opera/Bunkamura Orchard Hall)

14 Die Fledermaus (Tokyo Operetta Association/Shinjuku Bunka Centre)

15 Die Zauberflöte (Prague National Theatre/Kanagawa Kenmin Hall)

15 Lucia di Lammermoor (Fujiwara Opera/Bunkamura Orchard Hall)

16 Lucia di Lammermoor (Fujiwara Opera/Bunkamura Orchard Hall)

16 Don Giovanni (Vienna State Opera and New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

18 Don Giovanni (Vienna State Opera and New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

19 Tosca (The Citizenry of Tokyo Opera Society/Yupoto Kanihoken Hall)

20 Tosca (The Citizenry of Tokyo Opera Society/Yupoto Kanihoken Hall)

21 Don Giovanni (Vienna State Opera and New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

21 Der fliegende Holländer (Kirov Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

22 Der fliegende Holländer (Kirov Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

22 Die Dreigroschenoper (Kanagawa Kenmin Hall, Yokohama)

23 Don Giovanni (Vienna State Opera and New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

23 Der fliegende Holländer (Kirov Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

23 Die Dreigroschenoper (Kanagawa Kenmin Hall, Yokohama)

24 Die lustige Witwe (Hungarian State Budapest Operetta Theatre/Fuchu-no-mori Art Theatre)

25 Don Giovanni (Vienna State Opera and New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

26 La forza del destino (Kirov Opera/NHK Hall)

27 Don Giovanni (Vienna State Opera and New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

27 Der ferne Klang (Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra/Bunkamura Orchard Hall)

28 La forza del destino (Kirov Opera/NHK Hall)

29 Queen of Spades (Kirov Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

30 La forza del destino (Kirov Opera/NHK Hall)

31 Queen of Spades (Kirov Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

 

February 2000

 

A quiet month compared to January. The New National Theatre revives Pierfrancesco Maestrini's production of Il barbiere di Siviglia. Rockwell Blake and Toshiro Gorobe alternate as Almaviva. Sonia Ganassi and Nobuko Takahashi sing Rosina, Angelo Veccia and Masato Makino are Figaro. Antonio Pirolli conducts the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra with the New National Theatre Chorus. [ 20, 22, 24, 26, 27 February ]

 

Cast: Rockwell Blake 20/22/27 /Toshiro Gorobe 24/26 (Almaviva), Sonia Ganassi 20/24/27 / Nobuko Takahashi 22/26 (Rosina), Alfredo Mariotti 20/22/27 / Masumi Kubota 24/26 (Bartolo), Angelo Veccia 20/24/27 / Masato Makino 22/26 (Figaro), Bonaldo Giaiotti 20/24/27 / Katsuji Miura 22/26 (Basilio). The Tokyo Symphony Orchestra with the New National Theatre Chorus, Antonio Pirolli (conductor), Pierfrancesco Maestrini (stage director), Naoji Kawaguchi (stage designer), Pasquale Grossi (costume designer)

 

At the Tokyo University of Fine Arts [Tokyo Geijutsu Daigaku] there is a performance of Minoru Miki's opera Ada, An Actor's Revenge. This was originally composed with an English text by James Kirkup, and received its premiere at the Old Vic in London in 1979. It was subsequently performed in St. Louis in 1981. The story of this opera will be familiar to those who know Kon Ichikawa's classic 1962 film of the same name, which was based in turn on a novel by Otokichi Mikami. [21 February]

 

Visitors include the Hungarian State Budapest Operetta Theatre and the baritone Stephan Genz.

 

1 Queen of Spades (Kirov Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

4 Die lustige Witwe (Hungarian State Budapest Operetta Theatre/Omiya Symphonic Hall)

20 Barbiere (Fujiwara Opera and New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

21 Ada, An Actor's Revenge by Minoru Miki (Tokyo Geijutsu Daigaku/Tokyo Geijutsu Daigaku Sogakudo)

22 Barbiere (Fujiwara Opera and New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

23 Die schweigsame Frau (Tokyo Opera Productions/ Nakano Zero Hall, Tokyo)

24 Barbiere (Fujiwara Opera and New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

24 Die schweigsame Frau (Tokyo Opera Productions/ Nakano Zero Hall, Tokyo)

25 Die Zauberflöte (Nikikai Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

26 Barbiere (Fujiwara Opera and New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

26 Die Zauberflöte (Nikikai Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

27 Barbiere (Fujiwara Opera and New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

27 Die Zauberflöte (Nikikai Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

29 Recital Stephan Genz (Oji Hall)

 

March 2000

 

Mariella Devia stars in the Fujiwara Opera's annual Traviata, following in the distinguished footsteps of Angela Gheorghiu, June Anderson, Cristina Gallardo-Domas, Andrea Rost, Victoria Loukianetz and others. Devia also gives a recital at Tokyo Bunka Kaikan on 1 March.The Alfredo is Octavio Arévalo. Both he and Devia come direct to Tokyo after singing in Rossini's Otello at Covent Garden. The production of Traviata by the veteran director Beppe de Tomasi is noted for its (sometimes confusing) cinematic flashback approach. It is now in its third year. The young Italian baritone Davide Damiani is Germont, Alain Guingal conducts the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra. A second cast led by Young Mi Kim, Taro Ichihara. and Tadamichi Orie perform on the 17th. [Tokyo Bunka Kaikan 12, 15, 17, 18 March]

 

Cast: Mariella Devia 12/15/18 /Young Mi Kim 17 (Violetta), Octavio Arévalo 12/15/18 / Taro Ichihara 17 (Alfredo), Davide Damiani 12/15/18 / Tadamichi Orie 17 (Germont), Naomi Nagata 12/15/18 / Megumi Kono 17 (Flora). The Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra with the Fujiwara Opera Chorus Group, Alain Guingal (conductor), Beppe de Tomasi (stage director)

 

The Nikikai Opera and New National Theatre present Silence, an opera by Heizo Matsumura. This is based on a novel by Shusaku Endo about Christianity in Kyushu in the 17th century. This opera has been recorded under its Japanese title Chinmoku. [New National Theatre Opera House 16, 18 March]

 

Cast: Makoto Tanaka 16 /Tetsuya Ono 18 (Rodrigo), Tasuku Naono 16 / Kazunori Kubo 18 (Ferriera), Susumu Matsumoto 16 / Tetsuya Uno 18 (Valignano), Futoru Katsube 16 / Gudo Hasui 18 (Kichijiro) Hiroshi Kawakami 16/ Horoyuki Yoshida 18 (Mokichi) Emi Sawahata 16 / Masaki Saida 18 (Oharu). The Tokyo Symphony Orchestra with the Nikikai Chorus Group, Yutaka Hoshide (conductor), Kei-ichi Nakamura (stage director)

 

Among other events: the Tokyo Chamber Opera Theatre perform Cimarosa's Il matrimonio segreto at Kioi Hall, Tokyo [ 14, 15 March], Geidai (Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music) put on La Cenerentola [16 March] and the International Friedrich Kuhlau Society present Kuhlau's Lulu at Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall [26 March].

 

1Recital: Mariella Devia (Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

12 La Traviata (Fujiwara Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

14 Il matrimonio segreto (Tokyo Chamber Opera Theatre/Kioi Hall, Tokyo)

15 Il matrimonio segreto (Tokyo Chamber Opera Theatre/Kioi Hall, Tokyo)

15 La Traviata (Fujiwara Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

16 La Cenerentola (Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music Opera Project/Sogakudo)

16 Silence by Heizo Matsumura (Nikikai Opera and New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

17 La Cenerentola (Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music Opera Project/Sogakudo)

17 La Traviata (Fujiwara Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

18 La Traviata (Fujiwara Opera/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

18 Silence by Heizo Matsumura (Nikikai Opera and New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

24 Cavalleria rusticana/I Pagliacci (New Opera Production/Nakano Zero Hall, Tokyo)

26 Lulu by F Kuhlau (International Friedrich Kuhlau Society/Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall)

 

April 2000

 

Suntory Hall's Verdi-oriented biannual concert-platform-staged series of operas, known as Hall Opera, continues with Un ballo in maschera. Neil Shicoff is Riccardo and Michele Crider is Amelia. Other singers are Renato Bruson (Renato) and Elena Zaremba (Ulrica). Daniel Oren conducts. [Suntory Hall, 7. 11, 15 April]

 

Cast: Neil Shicoff (Riccardo), Renato Bruson (Renato), Michele Crider (Amelia), Elena Zaremba (Ulrica). Akie Amou (Oscar), Carlo Striuli (Samuel), Hiroki Shimizu (Tom), The Tokyo Symphony Orchestra with the Tokyo Opera Singers and Fujiwara Opera Chorus Group, Daniel Oren (conductor)

 

The Nihon Opera Kyokai present the Tokyo premiere of Taki Rentaro, an opera by Kazuko Hara. This concerns Japan's first western-influenced composer who studied in Germany. In 1900 he wrote a song called Kojo no tsuki ('Moon over the old castle'), known to almost everybody in Japan. He died at the age of 26 of tuberculosis. [Bunkyo Civic Hall 7, 8 April]

 

Cast: Hiroshi Mochiki / Kazuhiko Ichikawa (Rentaro), Eriko Sekine / Tomoko Akimoto (Nami), Naoko Sunaga / Yuko Kinoshita (Rentaro's mother), Mayumi Fujita / Shinobu Futami (Yuki Koda), Kazuko Koga / Aya Yamaguchi (En Koda), Makoto Fujisawa / Yasushi Nakamura (Bansui Doi), Yasushi Nakamura / Makoto Fujisawa (Rohan Koda), Izumi Furusawa / Ikuo Oho (Toson Shimazaki) (First cast 7 April 2000/ second cast 8 April 2000). The Japan Shinsei Symphony Orchestra, the Nihon Opera Kyokai Chorus and the Tama Family Singers, Yutaka Hoshide (conductor), Shigetaka Matsumoto (stage director)

 

The New National Theatre and Nikikai Opera co-produce Salome, based on an original production by August Everding. Hiroshi Wakasugi conducts and Cynthia Makris and Mari Midorikawa alternate as Salome. Josef Hopferwieser and Kosuke Taguchi are Herod, Nelly Boschkowa and Yumi Koyama are Herodias. [New National Theatre Opera House, 11, 13, 14, 16, 17 April]

 

Cast: Cynthia Makris 11/14/17 / Mari Midorikawa 13/16 (Salome), Josef Hopferwieser 11/13/17 / Kosuke Taguchi 14/16 (Herodes), Nelly Boschkowa 11/13/17 / Yumi Koyama 14/16 (Herodias), Akiya Fukushima 11/14/17 / Teruhiko Komori 13/16 (Jochanaan), Katsumi Narita 11/14/17 / Ryoji Inoue 13/16 (Narraboth), Akemi Obata 11/14/17 / Mami Sugino (Page). The Japan Shinsei Symphony Orchestra, Hiroshi Wakasugi (conductor), Helmut Lehberger after the original production by August Everding (production)

 

Bunkamura presents Turandot for the second 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 are basically unchanged. There is a review by Simon Holledge of the premiere in 1999 on this site. [Bunkamura Orchard Hall 14, 15, 16 April]

 

Cast: SHIMOHARA Chieko 14/15 / SATO Motoku 15 (Turandot), SUZUKI Kanichi (Altoum), HASEGAWA (personal name unidentified) (Timur), Zhao Deng Feng 14/15 FUKUI Kei 16 (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)

 

7 Taki Rentaro by Kazuko Hara (Nihon Opera Kyokai/Bunkyo Civic Hall)

7 Un ballo in maschera (Hall Opera/Suntory Hall)

8 Taki Rentaro by Kazuko Hara (Nihon Opera Kyokai/Bunkyo Civic Hall)

11 Un ballo in maschera (Hall Opera/Suntory Hall)

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

13 Salome (Nikikai Opera and New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

14 Turandot (Tokyu Bunkamura/Bunkamura Orchard Hall)

15 Turandot (Tokyu Bunkamura/Bunkamura Orchard Hall)

15 Un ballo in maschera (Hall Opera/Suntory Hall)

15 Salome (Nikikai Opera and New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

16 Salome (Nikikai Opera and New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

16 Turandot (Tokyu Bunkamura/Bunkamura Orchard Hall)

17 Salome (Nikikai Opera and New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

29 Recital Lubica Vargicova (Kioi Hall, Tokyo)

 

May 2000

 

The Fujiwara Opera and the New National Theatre co-produce Massenet's Don Quichotte - a notable departure from the usual conservative programming. Production and design is by Piero Faggioni. Alain Guingal conducts and the title role is played by Ruggero Raimondi. Michel Trempont is Sancho, and Maria Senn plays Dulcinée. There is an synopsis of Don Quichotte on this site. [New National Theatre Opera House 7, 9, 12, 14 May]

 

Cast: Ruggero Raimondi (Don Quichotte), Michel Trempont (Sancho), Maria Senn (Dulcinée), Keiko Takemura (Garcias), Satoshi Chubachi (Juan), Noriko Ieda (Pedro), Kazuhiko Ichikawa (Rodriguez). The New National Theatre and Fujiwara Opera Choruses, The Japan Shinsei Symphony Orchestra, Alain Guingal (conductor), Piero Faggioni (direction and design)

 

Visitors to Japan include Andrea Bocelli, Sumi Jo and Myung-Whun Chung who appear together in a programme of operatic arias at Orchard Hall [11, 13, 15 May]. From Germany comes mezzo-soprano and finest of Japanese lieder singers Mitsuko Shirai, who sings Hugo Wolf's Italienisches Liederbuch with Christoph Prégardien, accompanied by Hartmut Höll at Kioi Hall [18 May].

 

5 Chushingura by Saegusa, revised version premiere (Aichi Prefectural Art Theatre, Nagoya)

6 Chushingura by Saegusa (Aichi Prefectural Art Theatre, Nagoya)

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

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

11 Concert Myung-Whun Chung, Sumi Jo, Andrea Bocelli, Japan Shinsei SO (Bunkamura Orchard Hall)

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

13 Concert Myung-Whun Chung, Sumi Jo, Andrea Bocelli, Japan Shinsei SO (Bunkamura Orchard Hall)

14 Don Quichotte (Fujiwara Opera and New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

15 Concert Myung-Whun Chung, Sumi Jo, Andrea Bocelli, Japan Shinsei SO (Bunkamura Orchard Hall)

18 Wolf's Italienisches Liederbuch Mitsuko Shirai, Prégardien, Höll (Kioi Hall, Tokyo)

 

June 2000

 

It is not easy to fathom the minds of those who schedule opera performances in the Tokyo area. Do they know something about local ticket-purchasing behaviour that we don't? In May we had a grand total of four performances (one production). In June we have 36 - almost all of them in the first half of the month. On June 11 alone, we have the Monte Carlo Opera Carmen, Rigoletto at the New National Theatre, the Japanese opera Yuzuru, and a local production of Die Zirkusprinzessin - not to mention Seiji Ozawa's Figaro, two hours away in Nagoya.

 

American companies, other than the Met, seldom visit Japan but Seiji Ozawa brings an original San Francisco production of Figaro to Japan with the 'Rohm Opera Theatre' performing in Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya and Osaka. The cast is led by Olaf Bär as the Count, Christine Goerke as the Countess, Nucia Focile as Susanna and Gerald Finley as Figaro [Kanagawa Kenmin Hall 1 June, Tokyo Bunka Kaikan 4, 6 June, Aichi Prefectural Art Theatre 11 June, Osaka Festival Hall 13 June]. Ozawa plans to bring Cosi fan tutte in 2001 and Don Giovanni in 2002.

 

Cast: Olaf Bär (Count), Christine Goerke (Countess), Nucia Focile (Susanna), Gerald Finley (Figaro), Ruxandra Donose (Cherubino), Judith Christin (Marcellina), Donato di Stefano (Bartolo). Dennis Petersen (Basilio), Antony Laciura (Curzio), Sari Gruber (Barbarina), James Courtney (Antonio), The Seiji Ozawa Ongaku Juku Choir and Orchestra, Seiji Ozawa (conductor), David Kneuss (direction) Original production by the San Francisco Opera

 

The Monte Carlo Opera makes its first visit to Japan led by Roberto Alagna as Don José in Carmen and Angela Gheorghiu as Violetta in La traviata. The latter is conducted by Richard Bonynge and directed by Pier Luigi Pizzi. Giuseppe Filianoti and Luca Lombardo sing Alfredo. Renato Bruson is Germont [Aichi Prefectural Arts Theatre, Nagoya 7 June,Tokyo Bunka Kaikan 10, 13 June, Osaka Festival Hall 16 June].

 

Cast: Angela Gheorghiu (Violetta), Giuseppe Filianoti / Luca Lombardo (Alfredo), Renato Bruson (Germont), Erzsebet Erdelyi (Flora), John Nuzzo (Gastone), Michele Govi (Duphol), Enrico Turco (Grenvil), Juan Jesus Rodriguez (D'Obigny), Aldo Bottion (Giuseppe), Marie-José Dolorian (Annina) Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte Carlo at choeurs de l'Opera de Monte Carlo, Richard Bonynge (conductor), Pier Luigi Pizzi (director)

 

The title role of Carmen is sung by Denyce Graves. Anton Guadagno conducts (replacing Garcia Navarro) and the production is by the Spanish director Emilio Sagi. Norah Amsellem is Micaela, and Franck Ferrari is Escamillo. [Aichi Prefectural Arts Theatre, Nagoya 8 June, Tokyo Bunka Kaikan 11, 12, 14 June, Osaka Festival Hall 18 June].

 

Cast: Denyce Graves / Angela Horn (Carmen), Roberto Alagna / Luca Lombardo (Don José), Norah Amsellem/ Danielle Streiff (Micaela), Franck Ferrari / Grant Youngblood (Escamillo), Elena de la Merced (Frasquita), Marie-José Dolorian (Mercedes), René Franck (Dancairo), José-Antonio Campo (Remendado), Sorin Coliban (Zuniga), Jean-Francois Lapointe (Morales), Compania Antonio Marquez (ballet), Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte Carlo at choeurs de l'Opera de Monte Carlo, Anton Guadagno (conductor), Emilio Sagi (director) Antonio Marquez (choreography). The second cast sing on 12 June.

 

There is a new production of Rigoletto at the New National Theatre. Leo Nucci was to have sung the title role but his place has been taken by the Rumanian baritone Alexandru Agache. Andrea Rost is Gilda, and Pietro Ballo is the Duke. Renato Palumbo conducts the Japan Shinsei Symphony Orchestra, Production is by Alberto Fassini. The second cast is led by Tasuku Naono, Akie Amou and Shigehiro Sano [ 11, 13, 15, 17, 18, 20 June].

 

Cast: Alexandru Agache 11, 13, 17, 20 / Tasuku Naono 15, 18 (Rigoletto), Andrea Rost 11, 15, 17, 20 / Akie Amou 13, 18 (Gilda), Pietro Ballo 11, 13, 18, 20 / Shigehiro Sano 15, 17 (the Duke), Masumi Kubota / Kan-liang Peng (Sparafucile), Naomi Nagata / Kayo Takao (Maddalena), Yoshinobu Kuribayashi / Ryohei Izumi (Monterone), Toshiko Shimura / Megumi Kono (Giovanna), Tomohiro Tani / Kazunori Kubo (Marullo). Kazunori Ikemoto / Toshiaki Murakami (Borsa), Takashi Shinpo / Sachio Yamada (Conte di Ceprano), Nina Sasaki / Mina Kikuchi (Contessa di Ceprano) The New National Theatre Chorus, The Japan Shinsei Symphony Orchestra, Renato Palumbo (conductor), Alberto Fassini (direction and design). Unless otherwise indicated the first cast perform on 11, 15, 18 June and the second cast on 13, 17, 20 June

 

Other visitors to Japan include the 'Canadian Baroque Opera Company Opera Atelier' performing Don Giovanni in English [New National Theatre, Play House 2,3,4 June], and the Operettenbühne Wien with Die lustige Witwe [Bunkamura Orchard Hall 6. 10 June Nerima Bunka Centre 19 June]. Juan Diego Florez gives an all Rossini recital [Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space, 4 June] and Francisco Araiza sings operatic arias accompanied by the Tokyo Philharmonic conducted by Masahiro Izari [Suntory Hall, 10 June].

 

There is a performance of Ikuma Dan's classic opera Yuzuru ('Evening Crane') in Yokosuka [Yokosuka Art Theatre 11 June].

 

June

1 Le nozze di Figaro (Rohm Opera Theater/Kanagawa Kenmin Hall)

2 Don Giovanni (Canadian Baroque Opera Company/NNTT Play House)

3 Don Giovanni (Canadian Baroque Opera Company/NNTT Play House)

4 Rossini Recital Juan Diego Florez (Tokyo Pro Musica/Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space)

4 Le nozze di Figaro (Rohm Opera Theater/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

4 Die Lustige Witwe (Operettenbühne Wien/Festival Hall, Osaka)

4 Don Giovanni (Canadian Baroque Opera Company/NNTT Play House)

6 Le nozze di Figaro (Rohm Opera Theater/Kanagawa Kenmin Hall)

7 La traviata (Opera de Monte Carlo/Aichi Prefectural Arts Theatre, Nagoya)

8 Carmen (Opera de Monte Carlo/Aichi Prefectural Arts Theatre, Nagoya)

9 Die Zirkusprinzessin (Keio/NNTT Play House)

9 Die Lustige Witwe (Operettenbühne Wien/Bunkamura Orchard Hall)

10 Die Zirkusprinzessin (Keio/NNTT Play House)

10 Die Lustige Witwe (Operettenbühne Wien/Bunkamura Orchard Hall)

10 Recital Francisco Araiza (Suntory Hall)

10 La traviata (Opera de Monte Carlo/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

11 Die Zirkusprinzessin (Keio/NNTT Play House)

11 Le nozze di Figaro (Rohm Opera Theater/Aichi Prefectural Arts Theatre, Nagoya)

11 Carmen (Opera de Monte Carlo/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

11 Rigoletto (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

11 Yuzuru by Ikuma Dan (Yokosuka Art Theatre)

12 Carmen (Opera de Monte Carlo/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

13 Le nozze di Figaro (Rohm Opera Theater/Festival Hall, Osaka)

13 La traviata (Opera de Monte Carlo/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

13 Rigoletto (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

14 Carmen (Opera de Monte Carlo/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

15 Rigoletto (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

16 La traviata (Opera de Monte Carlo/Festival Hall, Osaka)

17 Rigoletto (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

18 Carmen (Opera de Monte Carlo/Festival Hall, Osaka)

18 Rigoletto (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

19 Die Lustige Witwe (Operettenbühne Wien/Nerima Bunka Centre)

20 Rigoletto (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

25 Orfeo ed Euridice (New National Theatre/NNTT The Pit)

27 Orfeo ed Euridice (New National Theatre/NNTT The Pit)

28 Orfeo ed Euridice (New National Theatre/NNTT The Pit)

29 Orfeo ed Euridice (New National Theatre/NNTT The Pit)

30 L'elisir d'amore (Showa Music University/NNTT Play House)

 

July 2000

 

During June some major figures in the world of opera visited Japan: Alexandru Agache. Roberto Alagna, Olaf Bär, Renato Bruson, Angela Gheorghiu. Denyce Graves. Anton Guadagno, Seiji Ozawa, Andrea Rost - but in Tokyo's puzzling operatic cycle, July is a month of small, low budget productions and unknown singers.

 

What to recommend? The Fujiwara Opera present the premiere of a new 'fantasy' opera by Kosuke Kaneko called Tistou, les pouces verts ('Tistou Green-fingers') based on a 1950s childrens' story by Maurice Druon. [New National Theatre, The Pit, 4, 5, 6, 7 July)

 

Cast: Masayo Kageyama / Megumi Saito (Tistou), Masanobu Shibayama / Toshihiro Tachibana (Papa), Nobuko Yamamoto /Mariko Ochi (Maman), Ikuo Matsuyama / Hakuyo Inoue (Moustache), Hiroaki Murakami / Shoji Sato (Gymnastique), Makoto Fujisawa / Yasushi Nakamura (Traunadisse), Yasuhiro Miura / Sumio Morita (Mauxdivers/Instituteur), Yumiko Kubo / Hirone Zaitsu (Jeune fille) Shimon Suzuki (Carlos) [First cast July 4/6, second cast July 5/7] Fujiwara Opera Chorus Group, Tistout Ensemble, Keiji Sudo (conductor ), Yoshikazu Yokoyama (director/librettist), Koji Muto (designer)

 

Showa Music University's annual bel canto opera is L'elisir d'amore. The chorus and orchestra are students. The soloists are professionals from the Fujiwara Opera, with which Showa Music University is closely connected. [New National Theatre Play House, 1, 2 July]

 

The New National Theatre presents Madama Butterfly for high schools. Performances are at 1pm and only high school students can purchase advance tickets at the very low price of 2,100 yen. The public can purchase any remaining tickets on the day of the performance. These cost only 4,200 yen. [New National Theatre Opera House, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18 July]

 

Visitors include Eva Marton [Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space, 18 July] and the Karlin Music Theatre of Prague.

 

July

1 L'elisir d'amore (Showa Music University/NNTT Play House)

2 L'elisir d'amore (Showa Music University/NNTT Play House)

4 Tistou, les pouces verts by Kosuke Kaneko (Fujiwara Opera/NNTT The Pit)

5 Tistou, les pouces verts by Kosuke Kaneko (Fujiwara Opera/NNTT The Pit)

6 Tistou, les pouces verts by Kosuke Kaneko (Fujiwara Opera/NNTT The Pit)

7 Tistou, les pouces verts by Kosuke Kaneko (Fujiwara Opera/NNTT The Pit)

7 My Fair Lady (Karlin Music Theatre Prague/Omiya Sonic City)

8 Le nozze di Figaro (Mozart Theatre/ NNTT Play House)

9 Le nozze di Figaro (Mozart Theatre/ NNTT Play House)

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

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

13 My Fair Lady (Karlin Music Theatre Prague/Tokyo Kosei Nenkin Hall)

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

14 My Fair Lady (Karlin Music Theatre Prague/Tokyo Kosei Nenkin Hall)

14 Cosi fan tutte (Piccolo Opera/Aichi Prefectural Arts Theatre, Nagoya)

15 My Fair Lady (Karlin Music Theatre Prague/Tokyo Kosei Nenkin Hall)

15 Cosi fan tutte, matinée/evening (Piccolo Opera/Aichi Prefectural Arts Theatre, Nagoya)

15 Recital Eva Marton (Musashino Shimin Bunka Kaikan)

16 My Fair Lady (Karlin Music Theatre Prague/Tokyo Kosei Nenkin Hall)

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

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

18 Recital Eva Marton (Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space)

18 My Fair Lady (Karlin Music Theatre Prague/Aichi Prefectural Arts Theatre, Nagoya)

20 Otello by Rossini (Tokyo Opera Production/NNTT Play House)

21 Otello by Rossini (Tokyo Opera Production/NNTT Play House)

 

August 2000

 

In Japan the hot and humid month of August, as in most other countries, is not a prime time for opera. Nevertheless each of the three scheduled productions are promising.

 

Nikikai Opera present Benjamin Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream. All the singers are Japanese but the opera is sung in English. In an announcement the Nikikai explained that they intended to perform the work in Japanese, but found it was 'too difficult' to translate so they reverted to the original. [4, 5, 6 August, Bunkamura Orchard Hall]

 

Cast: KAN Yumiko / MITSUHASHI Chizuru (Oberon), MORI Maki / MATSUZONO Mayumi (Tytania), HOSHI Yoji / INOUE Ryoji (Lysander), NAGAI Kazuko / OBATA Akemi (Hermia), KURODA Hiroshi / AOTO Satoru (Demetrius), SASAKI Noriko / SAWAHATA Emi (Helena), HASEGAWA Akira / OSAWA Ken (Theseus), TAKEMOTO Setsuko / TOBE Yuko (Hippolyta), MINE Shigeki / MATSUMOTO Susumu ( Quince). KONDO Masanobu / YOSHIDA Nobuaki (Flute ). MAKIKAWA Shuichi / ONO Mitsuhiko (Snout). MATSUI, Yasushi / FUKUYAMA Izuru (Starveling). TSUTSUI Shuhei / TANI Shigeki (Snug). IKEDA Naoki / KOTETSU Kazuhiro (Bottom). AIKOU Kumi / HASEGAWA Mitsue (Cobweb). KOBAYASHI Nami/ SHIBATA Eriko (Mustardseed), HARA Kumiko / UMINO Mie (Peaseblossom), ASANO Mihoko / SUZUKI Yumiko (Moth), UCHIDA Shinichiro (Puck). [First cast August 4/6, second cast August 5] Nikikai Chorus, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra WAKASUGI Hiroshi (conductor), KATOU Tadashi (director), Regina Eschenberg (designer)

 

Kazushi Ono, music director designate of Le Monnaie, conducts the 20th in the Tokyo Philharmonic Opera Concertante series. This time a classic rather than the premiere of a neglected early 20th-century work: Verdi's Otello. The title role is sung by John Keyes. The next Opera Concertante (Stravinsky's Le Rossignol and Zemlinsky's Der Geburtstag der Infantin) will be directed by Ryusuke Numajiri, so it may be a while before we have the pleasure of hearing Ono conduct opera again. [18, 20 August, Bunkamura Orchard Hall]

 

Cast: John Kayes (Otello), Mari Midorikawa (Desdemona), Akiya Fukushima (Iago), Ken Osawa (Lodovico), Hiroyuki Yoshida (Cassio), Asako Yoda (Emilia), Tokyo Opera Singers, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Kazushi Ono (conductor )

 

The Sendai Citizens Cultural Office are reviving the short, intense and (by repute) very powerful opera by Akira Miyoshi called Toiho (Faraway Sail, sometimes also called Hasekura Tsunenaga). The subject of the opera is the retainer despatched by Date Masamune, the powerful feudal lord of Sendai, on a mission to the Pope in 1613. The baritone Michio Tatara sings the title role of Hasekura Tsunenaga. [3, 4 August Miyagi Kenmin Kaikan, Sendai, 22, 23 August Tokyo Bunka Kaikan]

 

August 

3 Toiho (Faraway Sail) by Akira Miyoshi (Sendai Shimin Bunkajigyodan/Miyagi Kenmin Kaikan, Sendai)

4 Toiho (Faraway Sail) by Akira Miyoshi (Sendai Shimin Bunkajigyodan/Miyagi Kenmin Kaikan, Sendai)

4 A Midsummer Night's Dream (Nikikai Opera/Bunkamura Orchard Hall)

5 A Midsummer Night's Dream (Nikikai Opera/Bunkamura Orchard Hall)

6 A Midsummer Night's Dream (Nikikai Opera/Bunkamura Orchard Hall)

18 Otello (Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra/Bunkamura Orchard Hall)

20 Otello (Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra/Bunkamura Orchard Hall)

22 Toiho (Faraway Sail) by Akira Miyoshi (Sendai Shimin Bunkajigyodan/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

23 Toiho (Faraway Sail) by Akira Miyoshi (Sendai Shimin Bunkajigyodan/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

 

September 2000

 

Defying norms and standards is a well-attested Tokyo pastime - typically there is no agreement on when the opera season begins and ends. For the National Theatre and the Japan Opera Foundation, it lasts from September to July, but for the Nikikai Opera it begins in April and ends in March. Despite the confusion it is evident that the Tokyo opera world is back in full swing this month with no less than 30 performances.

 

La Scala make their fourth visit to Japan: previous tours were in 1981, 1988 and 1995. While the German companies may bring more exciting productions, Vienna a better orchestra and the Met (arguably) better singers, La Scala is still regarded by many Japanese as the 'ne plus ultra' of opera companies.

 

La Scala bring Rigoletto, La forza del destino, and the Requiem to Tokyo in anticipation of the 100th anniversary of Verdi's death next year. These performances are the first stage in the 2000-2002 Opera Festival that will later bring the Vienna State Opera, the Teatro Comunale Firenze (Florence), the Bavarian State Opera and the German State Opera (Unter den Linden) to Japan as part of the world's most expensive operatic event. For La Scala tickets cost up to 58,000 yen each (about 540 US dollars).

 

Rigoletto stars Alberto Gazale as Rigoletto, Ramon Vargas as the Duke and Andrea Rost as Gilda. The director is Gilbert Deflo [10, 13, 15, 17, 20 September, NHK Hall]

 

Cast: Alberto Gazale (Rigoletto), Ramon Vargas (Duke), Andrea Rost (Gilda), Paata Burchuladze (Sparafucile), Elena Cassian (Maddalena), Cinzia De Mola (Giovanna), Andrzej Dobber (Monterone), Vladimir Stoyanov (Marullo), Alessandro Cosentino (Borsa), Francesco Musinu (Ceprano), Nicoletta Zanini (Contessa di Ceprano), Marilena Laurenza (page), Aldo Bramante (usher), Orchestra and Chorus of La Scala, Riccardo Muti (conductor), Gilbert Deflo (director), Ezio Frigerio (design)

 

La forza del destino has Maria Guleghina as Leonora, Salvatore Licitra as Alvaro and Ambrogio Maestri as Carlo. Both direction and design are by Hugo de Ana. [16, 19, 21, 24 September, Tokyo Bunka Kaikan]

 

Cast: Maria Guleghina (Leonora), Salvatore Licitra (Alvaro), Ambrogio Maestri (Carlo), Luciana D'Intino (Preziosilla), Roberto de Candia (Fra Melitone), Enzo Capuana (Calatrava), Julian Konstantinov (Guardiano), Tiziana Tramonti (Curra) Alberto Noli (Alcade), Ernesto Gavazzi (Trabuco) Ernesto Panariello (a surgeon). Orchestra and Chorus of La Scala, Riccardo Muti (conductor), Hugo de Ana (producer)

 

The soloists for the Verdi Requiem are Miriam Gauci, Violeta Urmana, Fabio Sartori and Roberto Scandiuzzi. [22, 23 September, NHK Hall]

 

All performances are conducted by Riccardo Muti, who is the past has banned the use of the ubiquitous Japanese translation machines. Maestro Muti has suggested that Japanese audiences should study the operas (and presumably the Italian language as well) before going to his performances.

 

Tosca begins the season at the New National Theatre. In the first cast are Sylvie Valayre as Tosca, Alfredo Cupido as Cavaradossi and Juan Pons as Scarpia. Marcello Viotti conducts. [21, 23, 24, 26, 27, 29, 30 September]

 

Cast: Sylvie Valayre / Yasuko Hayashi (Tosca), Alfredo Cupido / Shigehiro Sano (Cavaradossi), Juan Pons / Tasuku Naono (Scarpia), Katsuji Miura / Akira Hasegawa (Angelotti ), Sachio Yamada / Takashi Shinpo (sacristan), Ken Matsuura / Kazunori Ikemoto (Spoletta), Makoto Ohkubo / Shigeki Mine (Sciarrone), Naoki Ikeda / Yasushi Nakamura (gaoler), Tomoko Omori / Kaori Hirai (shepherd boy), Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Marcello Viotti (conductor), Antonello Madau Diaz (director)

 

In contrast to the grandeur and opulence of the productions mentioned above the Japanese folk opera group Konyaku-za produce Nigorie by Kyoko Hagi. This is based on a story by the Meiji period writer Higuchi Ichiyo. The performance is by the same forces responsible for the recording of Kitamori Shogun to Sannin Kyodai no Isha [13, 14, 15, 16, 17 September, Sendagaya Public Theatre, Tokyo]

 

Recitalists visiting Japan include Nicola Martinucci and Tamara Giavashvili [9 September,Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space] and Barbara Bonney [14 September, Kioi Hall, Tokyo].

 

September

2 Das Rheingold (Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

2 La bohème (Fujisawa Shimin Opera/Fujisawa Shimin Kaikan)

3 La bohème (Fujisawa Shimin Opera/Fujisawa Shimin Kaikan)

7 L'inganno felice by Rossini (New National Theatre/NNTT The Pit)

8 L'inganno felice by Rossini (New National Theatre/NNTT The Pit)

9 La bohème (Fujisawa Shimin Opera/Fujisawa Shimin Kaikan)

9 L'inganno felice by Rossini (New National Theatre/NNTT The Pit)

9 Recital Nicola Martinucci and Tamara Giavashvili (Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space)

10 La bohème (Fujisawa Shimin Opera/Fujisawa Shimin Kaikan)

10 L'inganno felice by Rossini (New National Theatre/NNTT The Pit)

10 Rigoletto (La Scala/NHK Hall)

13 Rigoletto (La Scala/NHK Hall)

13 Nigorie by Kyoko Hagi (Konyaku-za/Sendagaya Public Theatre, Tokyo)

14 Nigorie by Kyoko Hagi (Konyaku-za/Sendagaya Public Theatre, Tokyo)

14 Recital Barbara Bonney (Kioi Hall, Tokyo)

15 Rigoletto (La Scala/NHK Hall)

15 Nigorie by Kyoko Hagi (Konyaku-za/Sendagaya Public Theatre, Tokyo)

15 Does clone Juliet dream of Romeo? by Keiichi Kanda (Nakano Zero Hall, Tokyo)

16 Nigorie by Kyoko Hagi, 2 perfs. (Konyaku-za/Sendagaya Public Theatre, Tokyo)

16 La forza del destino (La Scala/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

17 Rigoletto (La Scala/NHK Hall)

17 Nigorie by Kyoko Hagi (Konyaku-za/Sendagaya Public Theatre, Tokyo)

19 La forza del destino (La Scala/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

20 Rigoletto (La Scala/NHK Hall)

21 La forza del destino (La Scala/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

21 Tosca (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

22 Verdi Requiem, conducted by R Muti (La Scala/NHK Hall)

23 Tosca (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

23 Verdi Requiem, conducted by R Muti (La Scala/NHK Hall)

23 L'elisir d'amore (Aichi Prefectural Arts Theatre, Nagoya)

24 La forza del destino (La Scala/Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

24 Tosca (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

26 Tosca (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

27 Tosca (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

28 Otello (The Citizenry of Tokyo Opera Society/Yupoto Kanihoken Hall)

29 Tosca (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

29 Otello (The Citizenry of Tokyo Opera Society/Yupoto Kanihoken Hall)

30 Tosca (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)

30 Die lustige Witwe (Nihon Operetta Kyokai/Hokutopia, Tokyo)

 

October 2000

 

Close on the heels of La Scala, the Vienna State Opera make their fifth visit to Japan. Their previous tours were in 1980, 1986, 1989 and 1994. Ariadne auf Naxos will be performed in October, followed by Die lustige Witwe, and Donizetti's Linda di Chamounix in November. This is the second stage in the '2000-2002 Opera Festival' that will later bring the the Teatro Comunale Firenze (Florence), the Bavarian State Opera and the German State Opera (Unter den Linden) to Japan as part of the world's most expensive operatic event. Rating equally in monetary terms with La Scala, tickets cost up to 58,000 yen each (about 540 US dollars).

 

Ariadne auf Naxos stars Tokyo's favourite diva Edita Gruberova as Zerbinetta, Cheryl Studer as the Primadonna/Ariadne and Agnes Baltsa as the Composer. Giuseppe Sinopoli conducts and the producer is Filippo Sanjust [22, 25, 28 October, Kanagawa Kenmin Hall, Yokohama].

 

Cast: Waldemar Kmentt (Major-Domo), Agnes Baltsa (Composer), Jon Villars (Tenor/Bacchus), Edita Gruberova (Zerbinetta), Cheryl Studer (Primadonna/Ariadne), Orchestra and Chorus of the Vienna State Opera, Giuseppe Sinopoli (conductor), Filippo Sanjust (producer)

 

Earlier in the month the Moscow Chamber Musical Theatre and the Hungarian State Opera are coming to Tokyo. The Russians under Artistic Director Boris Pokrovsky (who will also be directing Eugene Onegin at the end of the month at the New National Theatre) present Don Giovanni [12 October, Tokyo International Forum ] and Monteverdi's L'incoranazione di Poppea [14 October, Tokyo International Forum]. Further performances will be held in Hokkaido [25, 26 October]. Nagano [28 October], and Toyama [2 November]. The Hungarians, on the third visit here, tour Madama Butterfly with Ilona Tokody and Kawazoe Chihiro alternating in the title role [13 October, Kobe Kokusai Kaikan, 14 October, Festival Hall, Osaka, 21, 22 October, Bunkamura Orchard Hall) 30 October, Musashino Shimin Bunka Kaikan, Tokyo].

 

The Japan Shinsei Symphony Orchestra under Pascal Verrot give a concert performance Debussy's Pelléas et Mélisande. Didier Henry sings Pelléas, Mari Midorikawa is Mélisande, and Jean-Philippe Marlière is Golaud [13 October, Suntory Hall, 15 October, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space]

 

Cast: Didier Henry (Pelléas), Mari Midorikawa (Mélisande), Jean-Philippe Marlière (Golaud), Naoki Ikeda (Arkel), Chieko Teratani (Geneviève), Michiko Hayashi (Yniold), Japan Shinsei Symphony Orchestra, Pascal Verrot (conductor)

 

At the New National Theatre there is a revival of Die Zauberflöte, conducted by Daisuke Muranaka and directed by Michael Hampe (10, 12, 14, 15, 16 October, NNTT Opera House ) with an all Japanese cast (with two Chinese members).

 

Other visitors to Tokyo during October include Vincenzo La Scola [15 October, Suntory Hall, Tokyo and 24 October Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall] and Kiri Te Kanawa [16 October, Suntory Hall, Tokyo ].

 

1 Die lustige Witwe (Nihon Operetta Kyokai/Hokutopia, Tokyo)

1 Opera Gala Concert (New National Theatre/NNTT Opera House)