The 664th Subscription Concert 2024.October.19（Sat）17:00～
/ October.20（Sun）13:00～ Sapporo Concert Hall; Kitara

© 青柳 聡

Toshiyuki KAMIOKA（conductor）

Born in Tokyo, Toshiyuki Kamioka studied conducting, composition, piano and violin at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music and was awarded the Ataka prize in 1982. With a scholarship of Rotary International, he continued his study at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg with Klauspeter Seibel. He started his career in Kiel, later appointed Generalmusikdirektor at the State Theatre Wiesbaden and Chief Conductor at Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie among others. Since 2004, Kamioka has been Generalmusikdirektor of Wuppertal, and with the Orchestra of Wuppertal, he visited Japan twice, which resulted much acclaimed. From 2016/17 season, he became Chief Conductor of the Copenhagen Philharmonic and at the same period, he guest conducted WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln, the Bamberg Symphony, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks,　Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR and others. Kamioka was appointed as Music Director of New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra from 2016 for five years, and appeared with Yomiuri Nippon, Tokyo Philharmonic, New Japan Philharmonic, Japan Philharmonic, Osaka Philharmonic and Kyushu Symphony. This autumn is the first appearance with Sapporo Symphony Orchestra. His style with high musicality, meticulous interpretation, and the ability to bring out the individuality of the orchestra is high acclaimed internationally. He released eight CDs with Wuppertal with much attention and in 2010 he was awarded the Von der Heydt Prize of the city of Wuppertal as conductor of the Symphony Orchestra Wuppertal. Currently he is the Honorary Conductor of the Copenhagen Philharmonic and Professor of the Hochschule für Musik Saarbrücken.

© FUKAYA Yoshinobu／auraY2

Mao MORITA（soprano）

Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music and completed the graduate school. Graduated from the Nikikai Opera Training Institute Master Class with the Excellence Award and Encouragement Award. Graduated from the Paris Ecole Normale de Musique and the Paris Conservatoire Master's Program with unanimous highest honors. She appeared as Zerlina in Nikikai's Don Giovanni, Valencienne in The Merry Widow, and the title role in La Traviata, and received rave reviews for her performance as Pamina in Nikikai's The Magic Flute in 2021. She has also performed with major orchestras in concerts, and has recently received reviews for her performances in NHK Symphony Orchestra Nielsen's Symphony No. 3 conducted by Blomstedt in 2022 and Mozart's Requiem conducted by the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra in 2023. She has also appeared on NHK's Recital Passio and Classic TV. 3rd place in the 8th Elena Obraztsova International Vocal Competition, 1st place and Takemura Award in the 17th Japan-France Vocal Competition, 2nd place in the vocal division of the 12th Tokyo Music Competition. Member of the Nikikai.

© Mariko Tagashira

Kasumi SHIMIZU（mezzo soprano）

Graduated as the top at Kunitachi College of Music, and completed the graduate school with the highest degree. After completing the Opera Training Institute of the New National Theater, she continued her studies in Bologna as a trainee dispatched overseas by the Agency for Cultural Affairs. She attracted much attention and has been active in the New National Theatre and Nikikai. In addition to Azucena in Il Trovatore and Ortrud in Lohengrin, she has recently appeared as Amneris in Aida conducted by A. Battistoni, Princess Utsuro in the New National Theatre's The Tale of Shion (world premiere), Herodias in Nikikai's Salome, and Princess Eboli in Don Carlo. In July of this year, she took on her first role as Suzuki in Madame Butterfly at the Hyogo Performing Arts Center, where her outstanding singing was highly praised. She has also performed with prestigious conductors from Japan and abroad in concerts such as Verdi's Requiem, Mahler's Resurrection, and R. Strauss' Four Last Songs. Her first recital at Kioi Hall was also broadcast on NHK. She is an associate professor at the Kunitachi College of Music and its graduate school. Member of Nikikai.

Jun SUZUKI（tenor）

Graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts. Received the Matsuda Toshi Prize and the Acanthus Music Prize. Received a doctorate in music from the same university and Mitsubishi Jisho Prize. Mozart is at the center of his repertoire, and since his role debut in 2001 as Tamino in The Magic Flute, he has been highly praised as a hit role in numerous productions at the New National Theatre, Nissay Theatre, Hyogo Performing Arts Center, Nikikai, and other venues. He has also received acclaim for his roles as Iacchino in Fidelio at the New National Theatre and Narrabort in Salome. He has also performed religious music and oratorios with many orchestras, including the New York Oratorio Society's first performance in Japan of Handel's Messiah. He has made Britten's works his life's work and has repeatedly appeared in the Tokyo Spring Music Festival's "The World of Benjamin Britten." He is highly trusted by lyricist Takashi Matsumoto and has released Schubert's "Winterreise" and "Swan Song" with lyrics by the composer. Associate professor at Toho Gakuen School of Music. Member of Nikikai.

Takashi AOYAMA（baritone）

Graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts and completed the graduate school. Graduated from the Nikikai Opera Training Institute Master Class with the highest award. After graduating from the New National Theatre Opera Training Institute, he received a scholarship to further his studies in Bologna and Milan. He has received high praise for his many major roles, including the title role in Nikikai's Nabucco, Wotan in Das Rheingold and Die Walküre at Biwako Hall, the title role in Falstaff, Hans Sachs in Die Meistersinger von Nuremberg, Scarpia in Tosca at the New National Theatre, Johanna in Salome, Furninal in Der Rosenkavalier, and Figaro in Il Barbiere von Seville at Nissay Theatre. He has also appeared in many concerts with his solid singing, most recently receiving reviews in 2022 for his performance of Nielsen's Symphony No. 3 conducted by Blomstedt with the NHK Symphony Orchestra. He is the recipient of the 19th Goto Memorial Culture Award for New Opera Artists and a finalist in the 4th Magda Olivero International Competition. Nikikai Member.