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NNT Opera Studio

NAGAI Kazuko

NAGAI Kazuko
DIRECTOR OF OPERA STUDIO

Message

The Opera Studio was founded in April 1998 as Japan's first ever theatre-affiliated training institute for those aiming for a career in singing opera. World-class lecturers provide fully-rounded, ongoing tuition focusing on the three fundamentals of music, performance and language.

Opera has been described as a "comprehensive art form," and to study opera really is to study everything. The Opera Studio is founded on the concept of being a training ground to become a stage artist, rather than an extension of a music college or post-graduate school. The three-year curriculum presents new challenges year-by-year, building on knowledge and skills acquired in an accelerating learning curve.

It is a place where future performers can absorb and hone their mastery of music, performance, and all other important elements of their profession: approaching and delving further into them from every angle as soon-to-be stage artists. By freely breathing the air of artistry that, being part of a theatre, so fully imbues the Studio, may trainees develop sensibilities that take them far.

Biography

NAGAI Kazuko graduated as Master of Music from Kunitachi College of Music, and completed operatic training at the Opera Studio promoted by the Agency for Cultural Affairs (ACA). She then gained experience studying in Geneva as a trainee under the programme of overseas study for upcoming artists of ACA. In 1987, she was selected by conductor Giuseppe SINOPOLI and made her debut playing Suzuki in “Madama Butterfly”.

As a prominent mezzo-soprano, she is highly valued in concerts for her vocal consistency and breadth of repertoire. Her international career extends from her rapturous acclaim at Deutsche Oper Berlin in 1988, concerts and recitals at Conservatorio di Musica Santa Cecillia in Rome, Teatro la Fenice in Venice, Royal Festival Hall in London along with many other venues in Japan, China, Korea and Australia. She is also acclaimed in the field of lied and particularly won popularity for the premiere of “Chansons Malaises” composed by DAN Ikuma.

She is a professor at Tokyo University of the Arts, visiting lecturer at Tokoha University Junior College, a member of the Tokyo Nikikai Opera Foundation as well as the Japan Federation of Musicians.

At the New National Theatre, Tokyo she played Yamato-Hime in the opening Opera production of “Takeru”, and assumed office as Director of New National Theatre Opera Studio in April 2014.

Awards
1983 Kawasaki Shizuko Award
1984 First Prize, Min-on Competition
1987 Global Azuma Atsuko Award
1987 Giraud Opera Award
1992 Muramatsu Award

CURRICULUM

The Opera Studio trains opera singers ready and able to follow their art anywhere in the world. Led by Director NAGAI Kazuko, 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

UCHIYAMA Kasumi
UCHIYAMA Kasumi
(2020-)
Soprano
OKUBO Atsushi
OKUBO Atsushi
(2020-)
Baritone
KAWATA Marika
KAWATA Marika
(2020-)
Soprano
SUGIYAMA Saori
SUGIYAMA Saori
(2020-)
Mezzo Soprano
OSHIRO Minami
OSHIRO Minami
(2021-)
Mezzo soprano
OTAKA Rena
OTAKA Rena
(2021-)
Soprano
SATO Katsuhiko
SATO Katsuhiko
(2021-)
Baritone
NAGATOMI Shoji
NAGATOMI Shoji
(2021-)
Baritone
MAEJIMA Manami
MAEJIMA Manami
(2021-)
Mezzo soprano
OTAKE Yui
OTAKE Yui
(2022-)
Soprano
TOMINAGA Haruna
TOMINAGA Haruna
(2022-)
Soprano
NAGAO Keiichiro
NAGAO Keiichiro
(2022-)
Tenor
NOGUCHI Mako
NOGUCHI Mako
(2022-)
Soprano
MATSUURA Shugo
MATSUURA Shugo
(2022-)
Baritone

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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