Tokyo Opera Singers (Choir)

Founded: 1992 - Tokyo, Japan

On the occasion of 1992 production of Der fliegunde Hollander directed by Yukio Ninagawa, conductor Seiji Ozawa requested a “world-class chorus”. And that is how the Tokyo Opera Singers (= TOS) came to be formed by the vocalists who are mainly based in Tokyo, and at the beginning or in the middle of their musical careers. This chorus ensemble in this production attained an enormous success, and received praises from all venues. The Tokyo Opera Singers went on to perform in Oedipus Rex at the first Saito Kinen Festival Matsumoto, and the Japanese performance of the Der fliegunde Honllander by the Bayerische Staatsoper.

Performing regularly since 1993, the Tokyo Opera Singers has performed at important occasions in the Japanese music scene including the Saito Kinen Festival Matsumoto, the Tokyo Philharmonic Opera Concertante Series, and the Biwa Lake Opera Productions. They have also performed with the Berlin Komische Opera (conducted by Valery Gergiev), St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, and Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della RAI in their Japanese appearances. The singers have also contributed to the vitalization of the music scene with their appearance as the chorus and soloists in the premiere of Su-sa-no-o by Dan Ikuma, at the 1^st Kanagawa Art Festival. For the opening ceremony of the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, the singers represented Japan and sang the chorale from L.v. Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with other groups from six different countries. In 1999, they made their appearance at Edinburgh Music Festival (Turandot produced by Tokyu Bunakmura), one of the major festivals in Europe. For two consecutive years, 2000 and 2001, they collaborated with the Wiener Philharmoniker (conductors Seiji Ozawa and Sir Simon Rattle), by whom they have been highly praised. The Tokyo Opera Singers have performed at each of the Saito Kinen Festivals to date, every year successfully achieving solid musical results.

This unique ensemble is characterized first and foremost for their overwhelmingly rich vocal sonorities. Most of the members are also active as professional soloists outside of the group's activities, and the resulting purity and professionalism of the ensemble brings forth an exceptional sound. Secondly, the Tokyo Opera Singers is successful because its members can flexibly match the work to be sung, producing the most appropriate sonority. Members specialize in genres varying from Baroque to Romantic opera, or in contemporary music, and the singers would be selected appropriately for the work at hand in mind.

From the Press

"Hearing such a high standard chorus perform was an overwhelming experience." (Shin-ichi Kamohara)
“You gather a talented group of people, and you instantly have the best chorus in Japan, or in the world, like this one. The chorus was indeed magnificent.” (Katsuo Matsumoto on Oedipus Rex, from the first festival)
“You gather a talented group of people, and you instantly have the best chorus in Japan, or in the world, like this one. The chorus was indeed magnificent.” (Katsuo Matsumoto on Oedipus Rex, from the first festival)
“What was most dramatic was how the members of the Opera Singers moved around on the stage. Perhaps there was never a time in operatic performances in Japan when the chorus moved so freely, and at the same time providing meaningful acting and wonderful singing.” (Akio Jissouji on The Rake’s Progress, from the fourth festival)
“I thought the chorus was exceptional in this concert. They did not show any signs of disarray as the long piece went on, and they actually achieved more beauty in their singing from around the Hosanna, where it becomes two-part singing.” (Shuji Horiuchi on Bach’s B-Minor Mass, from the ninth festival)
“The chorus of villagers was filled with musical dynamism, practically serving as the main role. There was no separation between the chorus and the finely selected soloists, which made every chorus member seem like a soloist and every soloist a member of the chorus.” (Tadashi Isoyama on Peter Grimes, from the 11^th festival)
“As usual, the Tokyo Opera Singers were superb. Combined with the magnificently selected soloists, they sang the music to sublimity, filling the hall with a storm of passion.” (Yoshihisa Sasaki on L.v. Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, from the 11^th festival)
“The Tokyo Opera Singers were even better than before. I liked the scene where several men searched desperately from house to house. They really put on a show with great acting skills.” (Reiko Sekine on Falstaff, from the 12^th festival)

Source: Saito Kinen Festival Matsumoto Website (2006)
Contributed by Teddy Kaufman (June 2006)

Seiji Ozawa: Short Biography | Tokyo Opera Singers | Saito Kinen Orchestra | Boston Symphony Orchestra | Recordings of Vocal Works | Recordings of Instrumental Works
Individual Recordings: BWV 232 - S. Ozawa | BWV 244 - S. Ozawa

Links to other Sites

Saito Kinen Festival Matsumoto : Performer Profil (2006)