On 25 October 2017, the Hungarian State Opera kicks off its tenth tour around Japan. For a whole month, audiences at 20 different venues can enjoy two full-scale productions given by the company featuring internationally acclaimed soloists Edita Gruberová, Erika Miklósa and Andrea Rost. The final part of the tour will offer orchestra concerts with appearance by pianist Ingrid Fujiko Hemming.
A touring group of 150 artists sets off for Japan for the tenth time, after having already given 200 performances and 20 concerts in the island country. This year, the institution’s Japanese patron, Masayuki Kobayashi has set his eye on two different productions, therefore, the set of Lucia di Lammermoor will be shipped over, with Die Fledermaus also returning to Japan after 16 years.
These productions – one directed by the youthful Máté Szabó, and the other by the veteran Miklós Szinetár) will feature stars joining the opera’s own forces, with Edita Gruberová and Erika Miklósa in the role of Lucia, and Andrea Rost as both Lucia and Rosalinda. The performances are conducted by János Kovács, Peter Valentovič and principal music director Balázs Kocsár.
Johann Strauss Jr.: Die Fledermaus
25 October: Mito – with Andrea Rost and János Kovácsházi; conducted by János Kovács
27 October: Nerima – with Gertrúd Wittinger and Tibor Szabbanos; conducted by Balázs Kocsár
28 October: Omiya – with Andrea Rost and János Kovácsházi; conducted by János Kovács
29 October: Niigata – with Adrienn Miksch and Tibor Szabbanos; conducted by Balázs Kocsár
31 October: Morioka – with Gertrúd Wittinger and János Kovácsházi; conducted by János Kovács
3 November: Maebashi – with Adrienn Miksch and Tibor Szabbanos; conducted by Balázs Kocsár
4 November: Fuchu – with Andrea Rost and János Kovácsházi; conducted by János Kovács
5 November: Yokosuka – with Gertrúd Wittinger and Tibor Szabbanos; conducted by Balázs Kocsár
10 November: Tokyo – with Adrienn Miksch and János Kovácsházi; conducted by János Kovács
13 November: Kanazawa – with Gertrúd Wittinger and Tibor Szabbanos; conducted by Balázs Kocsár
14 November: Tsu – with Adrienn Miksch and János Kovácsházi; conducted by János Kovács
Gaetano Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor
6 November: Musashino – with Erika Miklósa and Mihály Kálmándy; conducted by Balázs Kocsár
7 November: Matsudo – with Erika Miklósa and Zoltán Kelemen; conducted by Balázs Kocsár
9 November: Tokyo – with Edita Gruberová and Mihály Kálmándy; conducted by Peter Valentovič
11 November: Tokyo – with Andrea Rost and Zoltán Kelemen; conducted by Balázs Kocsár
12 November: Osaka – with Edita Gruberová and Mihály Kálmándy; conducted by Peter Valentovič
25 November: Fukuoka – with Andrea Rost and Mihály Kálmándy; conducted by Balázs Kocsár
16 November: Nagoya – with Edita Gruberová and Zoltán Kelemen; conducted by Peter Valentovič
At the end of the Hungarian State Opera’s 18-performance tour, additional musicians – as is now customary – will be joining the rest of the ensemble in Japan for five symphonic concerts in different cities around the country. The programme will feature music by Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Johann Strauss and Liszt.
30 October: Seitoku University – Strauss, Mozart, Beethoven; conducted by János Kovács
18 November: Niigata / 21 November: Tokyo / 23 November: Akita – Strauss, Liszt, Beethoven; featuring Ingrid Fujiko Hemming (piano), conducted by Mario Košik
20 November: Tokyo – Brahms, Mozart, Beethoven; conducted by János Kovács
Photo by Péter Rákossy (Lucia di Lammermoor)
