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NNT Opera Studio

SATO Masahiro

SATO Masahiro
DIRECTOR OF OPERA STUDIO

Message

For aspiring opera singers, performing in opera houses abroad is a big dream. It is only natural that they would want to pursue the real thing. Although opera in Japan has developed substantially along with the New National Theatre Tokyo, performing opportunities are still limited.

We consider the Opera Studio as a step before venturing out into the world. We teach and practise the skills necessary to become a world-class singer from a multifaceted approach. How to interpret the score, which is the basis of everything, and how to connect the music and acting to expression. The singers will learn and master the styles and techniques through practice, and prepare to become “true interpreters” and “true stage performers”. All our Japanese lecturers and guest lecturers from abroad are experienced professionals on the international stage, so it is also a place where singers can obtain the latest information in the ever-changing world of opera.

Having a dream is also the beginning of struggles. It may involve great sacrifices to achieve it. However, it is our hope that our young singers will overcome these obstacles and develop fully, and we would like to help them on their journey.

Biography

SATO Masahiro graduated from the Tokyo University of the Arts, vocal music department and completed the master course of piano accompaniment at the Juilliard School. After working as an exclusive pianist at the San Francisco Opera, he became the chief korrepetitor of Opéra de Lyon at the invitation of Kent Nagano in 1995. He also worked as an assistant to Myung-Whun Chung and Valery Gergiev at Théâtre du Châtelet and Wiener Festwochen, among others. In 1999, he made his conductor debut conducting Idomeneo at the Dartington Music Summer Festival. The next year, he conducted Ariadne auf Naxos at the same festival and he made his Japan debut conducting the NNTT's pit opera Orfeo ed Euridice.

To date, he has conducted the Educational Programme for High School Students Tosca at the NNTT, Un ballo in maschera and La Traviata at the Fujiwara Opera, Japan premiere of French version of Don Carlos, L'Enfant prodigue, Djamileh, La Voix humaine and L'Arlésienne at the Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre, among others. He has also conducted Japanese operas like Byacco which received Sagawa Yoshio Music Award and Toi Ho (Distant Sail) composed by Miyoshi Akira. He has also led many orchestras including the Yomiuri Nioppon Symphony Orchestra and Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra and worked as a accompanist for vocal concerts and recordings.

Currently he is the Music Director of Kobe City Chorus, the Principal Conductor of Keio University Wagner Male Chorus, a lecturer at the Tokyo University of the Arts, and a project associate professor at the Musashino Academia Musicae.

CURRICULUM

The Opera Studio trains opera singers ready and able to follow their art anywhere in the world. Led by Director SATO Masahiro, highly knowledgeable and widely experienced instructors at the top of their profession from inside Japan and overseas provide a curriculum of consistently world-standard tuition. Areas studied cover vocalization and performing, as well as a range of topics required to become an opera singer, such as understanding works and the languages they are performing in, taught by way of lectures and practicums. All graduates to date have not only appeared onstage at the New National Theatre Tokyo, but have made their debut overseas and are pursuing careers in opera companies in and beyond Japan.

VIEW PREVIOUS PRODUCTIONS

SINGERS

GOTO Manami
GOTO Manami
(2023-)
Mezzo-soprano
TANI Nanako
TANI Nanako
(2023-)
Soprano
NAKAO Keigo
NAKAO Keigo
(2023-)
Baritone
WATANABE Misaki
WATANABE Misaki
(2023-)
Soprano
ARIYOSHI Kotomi
ARIYOSHI Kotomi
(2024-)
Soprano
ONODA Keisuke
ONODA Keisuke
(2024-)
Baritone
SHIMABUKURO Moeka
SHIMABUKURO Moeka
(2024-)
Soprano
MAKIBA Yuko
MAKIBA Yuko
(2024-)
Mezzo-soprano
YAZAWA Ryo
YAZAWA Ryo
(2024-)
Tenor
UEDA Kakeru
UEDA Kakeru
(2025-)
Baritone
SAITO Nanako
SAITO Nanako
(2025-)
Soprano
TANAKA Jun
TANAKA Jun
(2025-)
Baritone
NAGAKURA Shun
NAGAKURA Shun
(2025-)
Tenor
YOSHIHARA Miku
YOSHIHARA Miku
(2025-)
Mezzo-soprano

SEE ALL SINGERS

FORMER YOUNG ARTISTS

SOGO Shoko
SOGO Shoko
(alumna 2019)
Mezzosoprano
SUNADA Airi
SUNADA Airi
(alumna 2018)
Soprano
KOBAYASHI Hiromichi
KOBAYASHI Hiromichi
(alumnus 2016)
Baritone
TANETANI Noriko
TANETANI Noriko
(alumna 2016)
Soprano
KOBORI Yusuke
KOBORI Yusuke
(alumnus 2015)
Tenor
FUJII Asami
FUJII Asami
(alumna 2015)
Mezzo soprano
HARA Rinako
HARA Rinako
(alumna 2015)
Soprano
ITO Tatsundo
ITO Tatsundo
(alumnus 2014)
Tenor
JO Hironori
JO Hironori
(alumnus 2010)
Tenor
ITOGA Shuhei
ITOGA Shuhei
(alumnus 2010)
Tenor
KONDO Kei
KONDO Kei
(alumnus 2009)
Baritone
MURAKAMI Kota
MURAKAMI Kota
(alumnus 2006)
Tenor
FUJIKI Daichi
FUJIKI Daichi
(alumnus 2005)
Countertenor
YONASHIRO Kei
YONASHIRO Kei
(alumnus 2005)
Baritone
NAKAMURA Eri
NAKAMURA Eri
(alumna 2005)
Soprano
SHIMIZU Kasumi
SHIMIZU Kasumi
(alumna 2004)
Mezzosoprano
KUSHIMA Kanae
KUSHIMA Kanae
(alumna 2004)
Soprano
AOYAMA Takashi
AOYAMA Takashi
(alumnus 2004)
Baritone
ANDO Fumiko
ANDO Fumiko
(alumna 2003)
Soprano

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