La Navarraise & I Pagliacci by Massenet, Leoncavallo, dom 28 gen 2018, Da (2018/2018), Diretto da Marco Gandini, Direttore d'orchestra Maiku Shibata, Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, Tokyo, Giappone

For 2018-2019 season, Fujiwara Opera will proudly present the French composer J. Massenet’s La Navarraise, and I Pagliacchi of the Italian composer Leoncavallo. Placed in Spain, La Navarraise is about a devoted love and tragedy of a lowly-born girl, and this will be its Japan premiere. This work has often been compared to Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana and is Massenet's one and only Italian verismo. Fujiwara Opera has ventured to perform this work as a double bill with I Pagliacchi. For La Navarraise, the title role Anita will be sung by Atsuko Kobayashi (Jan. 27 & Feb. 4) reputed for her stable vocality, and Mako Nishimoto (Jan. 28) making her debut at Fujiwara Opera. Her lover Araquil will be double cast with the experienced Yojiro Oyama (Jan. 27 & Feb. 4) and another veteran Hiroshi Mochiki (Jan. 28). Remigio, Araquil’s father and the one who separates the lovebirds will be sung by Shinji Sakamoto (Jan. 27 & Feb. 4) and Yuta Otsuka (Jan. 28). Garrido, essential to the turn of events, will be shared by Taiki Tanaka (Jan. 27 & Feb. 4) and Yoshitaka Murata, his debut at Fujiwara Opera. The title role Canio of I Palliachi will be sung by Hiroaki Fueda (Jan. 27 & Feb. 4) and Takuya Fujita (Jan. 28), the two leading singers at Fujiwara Opera. It will be interesting to see how they express Canio’s grief and despair. Ryoko Sunakawa (Jan. 27 & Feb. 4) and Yasuko Sato (Jan. 28) will sing the young and beautiful Nedda. Tonio, with his famous monologue in the prologue is a double cast with Masato Makino (Jan 27 & Feb. 4) and Shingo Sudo (Jan. 28). Naoki Tokorodani (Jan. 27 & Feb. 4) and Kazuaki Sawasaki (Jan. 28) will sing Peppe. Silvio will be sung by Kenji Moriguchi (Jan. 27 & Feb. 4) and Akihiro Oka (Jan. 28). Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra will be conducted by Maiku Shibata and chorus singers will be Fujiwara Opera Chorus. Italian director Marco Gandinni returns to Fujiwara Opera after his acclaimed Le nozze di Figaro in 2012.