03 / 29 / 2006
Annoucement
Due to his illness, Mr. Clifton Forbis cancelled his appearance as Otello for the performances on March 24th and 27th, but Mr. Forbis is scheduled to perform the two remaining performances on March 30th and April 2nd. We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.

03 / 27 / 2006
Annoucement
Due to Mr.Clifton Forbis's illness, Mr.Janez Lotric will be singing Otello for today's performance.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Otello: Clifton Forbis -> Janez Lotric

02 / 11 / 2006
Tokyo Opera Nomori 2006: Opera Otello Replacing Conductor

The Artistic Director of Tokyo Opera Nomori, Maestro Seiji Ozawa, cancelled his engagement to conduct the Opera Otello due to health reasons. The opera (all four performances) will be conducted by Maestro Philippe Auguin. M° Auguin is a regular guest at several international opera houses such as the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, the Metropolitan Opera, the Bayerische Staatsoper (Munich), La Scala in Milan, to name a few. There will be no changes in regards to other performing artists and schedules due to the change in conductors. Thank you for your understanding and support.

Conductor: Philppe Auguin
Philippe Auguin was born in Nice in 1961. While studying in Vienna and Florence with Franco Ferrara, he was appointed musical assistant to Herbert von Karajan in 1986, which led him to orchestras such as Berlin Philharmonic, Vienna Philharmonic, and several tours through Europe and the USA. In 1989 he began his close relation with Sir Georg Solti at the Salzburg Festival. On the occasion of Mozart's 200th anniversary of death in 1991, he conducted the Opening Matinee at Salzburg festival and was re-invited for Fidelio with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in 1996. A particular highlight of his career was China's first ever production of Wagner's Ring Cycle for the Beijing Music Festival with the Staatstheater Nuremberg in October 2005, which was highly acclaimed. In June 2002, Philippe Auguin was nominated honorary consul of France. In June 2005, he received the Federal Cross of Merit from the Federal Republic of Germany for artistic recognition and acting upon friendship between Germany and France.
[Recent Engagements]
November 11, 12, 15, 18, 22, 26, 30, 2005: Metropolitan Opera, Puccini La Boheme (d. F. Zefeirelli)
January 16, 19, 21, 24, 27, 30, 2006: Covent Garden Royal Opera, Verdi La Traviata (d. R. Ayre)
February 17, 21, 25, 2006: Berlin Staatsoper, Korngold Die Tode Stadt (d. P. Arlaud)
February 19, 22, 25, 2006: Bayerische Staatsoper, Bizet Carmen (d. L. Wertmüller)
March 3, 6, 9, 2006: Berlin Deutsche Oper, Verdi Aida (d. G. Friedrich)

02 / 1 / 2006
Tokyo Opera Nomori 2006: Opera Otello Change of Conductor

The Artistic Director of Tokyo Opera Nomori, Seiji Ozawa, was scheduled to conduct the performances beginning in March 24th, and resting for this engagement, but after consulting with his physician, he has been advised to take further time off, and unfortunately unable to conduct Otello.
Otello, which is a co-production with the Vienna State Opera and a new production, is scheduled to take place with a different conductor for all four performances. This conductor will be chosen after through discussion amongst the Artistic Director, Seiji Ozawa, and the Artistic Administrator Ioan Holender, and our co-production partner Vienna State Opera. The conductor will be announced as soon as decisions have been reached.
The Orchestra Concert and Chamber Music Concert will take place as scheduled.
We apologize for any inconveniences that occur in this event, and thank you for your understanding and concerns.

Message from Seiji Ozawa:
"Following my physician's advice, I've decided to take 4-5 months off to rest and fully recover my health. Due to this reason, I am very sorry to conclude that I am unable to conduct the opera Otello this upcoming March for Tokyo Opera Nomori. I realize that this will cause many inconveniences to many of you, but for the time being, I would like to concentrate on getting better, and hope to return to my performance activities as soon as possible."

01 / 17 / 2006
New concert information:Chamber Concert

01 / 17 / 2006
Requiem mezzo-soprano announced.

09 / 14 / 2005
The Concerthall for orchestra concert have been decided.

08 / 18 / 2005
The ticket prices for the Opera and Orchestra Concerts have been decided.

08 / 18 / 2005
2006 Performances: Changes in Ticket Sales Date The starting date for ticket sales have been changed from the initially announced date, October 29th (Sat).

07 / 05 / 2005
The Orchestra Concert's conductor and soloists have been announced.
Verdi: Requiem
Apr. 6(Thu) and 8(Sat), 2006

Conductor: Ricardo Muti
Soprano: Barbara Frittoli
Mezzo-soprano: (TBA)
Tenor: Giuseppe Sabbatini
Bass: Ildebrando d'Arcangelo
Orchestra: Tokyo Opera Nomori Orchestra
Chorus: Tokyo Opera Nomori Chorus
*Please revisit our homepage for further updated information.

03 / 01 / 2005
Exhibit: Strauss and His Time

A collaboration with Museum der Moderne Salzburg
March 1-22 12:00-17:00pm
Tokyo Bunka Kaikan: Main Hall Foyer
Open to Public (no admission fee)
*The exhibit may be closed for public viewing due to performance schedules

07 / 03 / 2003
THE COMMITTEE ANNOUNCES FOUNDING OF NEW MUSIC PROGRAM IN TOKYO

The Committee today announced the formation of TOKYO OPERA NOMORI, a new music program in Tokyo. TOKYO NO MORI will send a new artistic culture to the world from Tokyo. Maestro Ozawa will serve as the artistic director and Ioan Holender, artistic director of the Vienna State Opera, will serve as artistic advisor. All performances will take place at Tokyo's prestigious Bunka Kaikan. The program's name was drawn from the Ueno area in which the Bunka Kaikan is located: NOMORI means "of the forest" and the Ueno area is renowned for its beautiful, lush park surrounding the hall.

TOKYO OPERA NOMORI's first production will feature four performances of Richard Strauss' Elektra, conducted by Mr Ozawa, currently Music Director of the Vienna State Opera and directed by Robert Carsen in March 2005. The following year, the TOKYO OPERA NOMORI will present Verdi's Othello as a co-production with the Vienna Staatsoper.

The opera performances will be held annually each spring and consist of at least one full-length opera as well as symphonic concerts and chamber music programs.

Mr. Holender commented: "In 2005 the TOKYO OPERA NOMORI will be held by Seiji Ozawa, the music director of the Vienna State Opera. This project will be the most important music program in the history of Japan. While many visiting orchestras and opera productions have come to Japan from all over the world, this will be the first time that an opera production and the concerts programs made up of Japanese musicians presenting works on a world-class level. The Vienna State Opera is very proud of co-producing Verdi's Otello in 2006. I am certain that this new music program in Tokyo will show the world the cultural excellence of Japan.

Mr. Carsen commented: "It is a great pleasure for me to send my warmest congratulations to everyone involved with the creation of the TOKYO OPERA NOMORI, and a special joy to be able to congratulate my friend and colleague Maestro Seiji Ozawa. Our work together on Janacek's opera Jenufa in Matsumoto remains one of my most cherished memories, and I am deeply honoured to have been asked to direct the inaugural production of this exciting new music program in Tokyo. Elektra was the first (and for many people the greatest) collaboration between Richard Strauss and Hugo von Hoffmannstahl. It is one of the most powerful works in the operatic repertoire and its composition marked a significant development in music's ability to examine and explore the human pysche. It is in every way a remarkable work. I look forward enormously to helping to bring to life this musical and dramatic milestone for the people of Tokyo in 2005.