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Appearing

conductor and talk / Shigeo Genda

Soprano / Michiko Hariu *

Tenor / Masaji Okazaki #

Baritone / Atsushi Okamoto +

Song List

© K.Miura

Shigeo Genda（conductor and talk）

Born in Tokyo in 1959. From the age of 9, he studied cello in an orchestra and studied with Katsuo Shimizu. While in high school, he aspired to become a conductor and received conducting guidance from Noboru Kaneko. In 1979, he entered the Tokyo College of Music conducting major, studied under Yasuhiko Shiosawa and Seiichi Mitsuishi. In 1982, he entered the conducting major at Tokyo University of the Arts studied under Kotaro Sato and Masako Endo. In 1986, he made his debut in the opera "Hansel and Gretel" at the Tokyo Nikikai. Upon graduating from university in 1987, he became the conductor of the Japan Shinsei Symphony Orchestra . In 1990, he studied at the Vienna State Opera on a government scholarship as a trainee dispatched by the Agency for Cultural Affairs. He made guest appearances with the Dresden Philharmonic, the Slovak Philharmonic, the Prague Symphony Orchestra, the Sanremo Symphony Orchestra, among others, and continued to appear in both concerts and operas. Shinobu Sato's concert at the Prague Spring in 1994 was televised throughout Europe. He has also made guest appearances with orchestras in Japan, becoming the conductor of the Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra in 1996, permanent conductor in 2000, and honorary conductor in 2009. He has much experience as an opera conductor and is highly trusted by singers, such as Nikikai 21, the Kansai Nikikai, the opera produced by Ken Nishikori, and the performance of Shinobu Sato's "Yuzuru". He has been a personality on NHK's FM "Symphony Concert" for many years, and is engaged in a wide variety of activities. From 2023, he will be a visiting professor at the Department of Conducting at Tokyo University of the Arts, where he will also be teaching younger students.

© 深谷義宣aura.Y2

Michiko Hariu *（Soprano）

Born in Otaru City, Hokkaido. Graduated from Sapporo Otani Junior College, Department of Music, Vocal Course, and completed the same major. After completing the 11th term of the Agency for Cultural Affairs' Opera Training Institute, she studied in Rome as an artist trainee dispatched by the Hokkaido Cultural Foundation and the Agency for Cultural Affairs. She is the Winner of the Grand Prize at the Santa Margherita Ligure International Seminar appearing as Gilda in "Rigoletto". Past appearances include the New National Theatre Amagasaki performance, Nissei Theater, Hokkaido Nikikai "Yuzuru," Hokkaido Nikikai, Matsumoto Opera's "The Magic Flute" Queen of the Night, New National Theatre's Carolca in "Jenufa" , The Flower Maiden in "Parsifal," Nissei Theatre's Rosina in "The Barber of Seville," Fujisawa Civic Opera's Eurydice in "Hell's Orpheus," Fiordiligi in "Così fan tutte ," Donna Anna in "Don Giovanni" and Adele in "The Bat", all have been well received. She is Winner of the 1st prize at the 2nd Fujisawa Opera Competition and the Yoichiro Fukunaga Award, First prize at the 7th Jaimes Competition, received the 5th Hokkaido Silver Arts and Culture Encouragement Award and the Otaru Culture Encouragement Award. She is professor at Sapporo Otani University and is Nikikai member.

Masaji Okazaki #（Tenor）

While studying at Kunitachi College of Music, he made his operatic debut in Tamino's opera "The Magic Flute." He appeared in Puccini's "Bohème" Rodolfo, Verdi's "Rigoletto" in Mantua while living in Tokyo and appeared in number of opera productions in Hokkaido, such as Puccini's "Turandot" Calaf, Bizet's "Carmen" José, and J. Strauss II: "The Bat", Eisenstein. As a soloist, he appeared in Mozart's "Requiem", Verdi's "Requiem", Beethoven's "Ninth," and in January 2012, Donizetti's "The Elixir of Love" (Nemorino) performed in Sendai noted highly in "Ongaku-no-Tomo" magazine, and his appearance as Verdi's "Aida" (Radamès) sponsored by Hokkaido Nikikai to celebrate its 50th anniversary in January 2015, his voice and performance were acclaimed deeply on the Hokkaido Shimbun. In addition, he organized a male vocal unit "ACCIDENTH" and is developing a new sense of classical live performances while arranging his own music. In 1995, he won the Sapporo Citizen Art Grand Prize and the Musicians Council Special Prize at the Sapporo City New Artist Music Association. He received the 11th Hokkaido Silver Arts and Culture Encouragement Award. Currently, he is a member of the Hokkaido Nikikai and the Sapporo Musicians Association.

Atsushi Okamoto +（Baritone）

He graduated at the top of his class from Kunitachi College of Music and received the Yatabe Prize upon graduation. Completed a master's course at Tokyo University of the Arts. He holds diplomas from the annual academies of the National Conservatory of Parma, Ferrara and Bologna, and master classes at the Hochschule für Musik in Vienna. In 2000, he moved to Italy and performed at opera houses in Italy, including the Teatro Municipal de Imola, the Teatro Municipal de Faenza, and the Teatro Comcinale di Cento. His role as Marllo in Rigoletto at the Teatro Comunale de Lodi was described by L'Opera magazine as "a noble voice with brilliance". In Japan, he made his debut in the opera "In the Penal Colony" sponsored by the New National Theatre Tokyo Chamber Opera, and has since appeared in various major performances such as contemporary opera and Italian classical opera. He won the Best Performance Prize at the Francesco Albanese International Vocal Competition, the 2nd prize at the Wien-Tichler Memorial Bösendorfer International Music Competition, and the 1st prize at the 22nd Jaimes Competition. He was a trainee of the 23rd Agency for Cultural Affairs' Overseas Dispatch Program for Emerging Artists. He is a member of the Hokkaido Nikikai and the Tokyo Chamber Opera. Lecturer at Hokkaido University of Education, Sapporo Otani University, and Hokusho University, Faculty of Education and Culture, Department of Education, Music Course.