TMSO Special “Beethoven's 9th”（12/26）
Venue: Suntory Hall Venue Info Seat
Kazuhiro KOIZUMI, Conductor
Mao MORITA, Soprano
Ikuko NAKAJIMA, Mezzo-Soprano
Kazuma KUDO, Tenor
Takashi AOYAMA, Baritone
New National Theatre Chorus, Chorus
Kazuhiro KOIZUMI (Honorary Conductor for Life)
Kazuhiro Koizumi studied at Tokyo University of the Arts and at Universität der Künste Berlin. After winning the 1st prize at Karajan International Conducting Competition in 1973, he has appeared with Berliner Philharmoniker, Wiener Philharmoniker, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Chicago Symphony, Boston Symphony, and Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, among others. Currently, he serves as Honorary Conductor for Life of TMSO, Honorary Music Director for Life of Kyushu Symphony, Honorary Music Director of Nagoya Philharmonic, and Special Guest Conductor of Kanagawa Philharmonic.
Mao MORITA (Soprano)
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music and completed the graduate school. Graduated from the Nikikai Opera Training Institute Master Class with the Excellence Award and Encouragement Award. Graduated from the Paris Ecole Normale de Musique and the Paris Conservatoire Master's Program with unanimous highest honors. She appeared as Zerlina in Nikikai's Don Giovanni, Valencienne in The Merry Widow, and the title role in La Traviata, and received rave reviews for her performance as Pamina in Nikikai's Die Zauberflöte in 2021. She has also performed with major orchestras in concerts, and has recently received reviews for her performances in Nielsen's Symphony No. 3 conducted by Blomstedt in 2022. She has also appeared on NHK's Recital Passio and Classic TV. She has appeared as a soloist and has been highly acclaimed for Beethoven's 9th Symphony, Mozart's as well as Fauré Requiem and Mahler’s 4th Symphony. She has also appeared on NHK's Recital Passio and Classic TV. 3rd place in the 8th Elena Obraztsova International Vocal Competition, 1st place and Takemura Award in the 17th Japan-France Vocal Competition, 2nd place in the vocal division of the 12th Tokyo Music Competition. She is a Member of NIKIKAI.
photo ©FUKAYA Yoshinobu auraY2
photo ©FUKAYA Yoshinobu auraY2
Ikuko NAKAJIMA (Mezzo-Soprano)
Graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts. She studied in Italy as an overseas trainee of the Agency for Cultural Affairs. She has won numerous prizes, including the Zandonai Special Prize at the 15th Riccardo Zandonai International Vocal Competition in Italy and the second prize at the 72nd Music Competition of Japan. She has performed Azucena in Il Trovatore and Suzuki in Madama Butterfly for Nikikai Opera, Rosina in Il Barbiere di Siviglia for Nissay Opera and Neris in Medea, Frica in Die Walküre and Waltraute in Götterdämmerung for Biwako Hall Opera Productions. Moreover she appeared as Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana and Quickly in Falstaff for Nikikai Opera as well as Biwako Hall Opera Productions, Mercedes in Carmen and Cesca in Gianni Schicchi for New National Theatre, Emilia in Otello conducted by C. Myung-whun and Annina in Rosenkavalier conducted by J. Nott. In concerts, she has appeared as a soloist and has been highly acclaimed for Beethoven's 9th Symphony, Mozart's as well as Verdi Requiem and Mahler’s 2th and 8th Symphony, Das Lied von der Erde. She is an Associate Professor, Tokyo University of the Arts and a member of NIKIKAI.
Kazuma KUDO (Tenor)
photo ©FUKAYA auraY2
Takashi AOYAMA (Bariton)
Graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts and completed the graduate school. Graduated from the Nikikai Opera Training Institute Master Class with the highest award. After graduating from the New National Theatre Opera Training Institute, he received a scholarship to further his studies in Bologna and Milan. He has received high praise for his many major roles, including the title role in Nikikai's Nabucco, Wotan in Das Rheingold and Die Walkure at Biwako Hall, the title role in Falstaff, Hans Sachs in Die Meistersinger von Nuremberg, Furninal in Der Rosenkavalier, Scarpia in Tosca at the New National Theatre, Johanna in Salome, and Figaro in Il Barbiere von Seville at Nissay Theatre. He has also appeared in many concerts with his solid singing, most recently receiving reviews in 2022 for his performance of Nielsen's Symphony No. 3 conducted by Blomstedt. He has appeared as a soloist and has been highly acclaimed for Beethoven's 9th Symphony, Mozart's as well as Fauré Requiem and Mahler’s 8th Symphony. He is the recipient of the 19th Goto Memorial Culture Award for New Opera Artists and 1st Place, 6th Carlos Gomes International Competition. He is a Member of NIKIKAI.
New National Theatre Chorus (Chorus)
New National Theatre, Tokyo, opened in October 1997 as the only national theatre for the modern performing arts of opera, ballet, contemporary dance, and play. Meanwhile, New National Theatre Chorus started its career and has played a central role in many opera performances all through the seasons. Their ensemble ability and rich voices have achieved acclaim from co-starred singers, conductors, directors, stage staffs as well as domestic and foreign media.
