Sawakami Opera in Nachikatsuura: From Kumano

Sawakami Opera in Nachikatsuura: From Kumano

The Nachikatsuura Opera Concert Executive Committee has held opera concerts since fiscal 2021 to revitalize the community and promote residents' culture.
Through fiscal 2024 they were held in the Katsuura Regional Wholesale Market as the "Sawakami Opera in Kishu Katsuura Fresh Tuna Market Concert," but from fiscal 2025 the venue moved to the Nachikatsuura Town Gymnasium and Cultural Hall, and they are held as "Sawakami Opera in Nachikatsuura."

Organizer: Nachikatsuura Opera Concert Executive Committee
Co-sponsors: Nachikatsuura Town Board of Education, Nachikatsuura Town
Support: (General Inc. Assoc.) Nachikatsuura Tourism Organization, Nanki Kuroshio Chamber of Commerce, Kumano Shimbun Co., Ltd., Kinan Shimbun Co., Ltd., Wakayama Broadcasting Co., Ltd.
Commissioned operation: Sawakami Opera Arts Promotion Foundation (public interest incorporated foundation)

Date and time

Sunday, November 1, Reiwa 8 (2026), curtain at 14:00 (doors open 13:00)
(Running time about 2 hours 40 minutes) * Includes intermission

Venue

Nachikatsuura Town Gymnasium and Cultural Hall, Arena
441-8 Tenma, Nachikatsuura-cho, Higashimuro-gun, Wakayama 649-5331

Seats

500 seats (all reserved, including wheelchair seats)

Program

Opera "La Bohème" (4 acts) by Giacomo Puccini
(performed in the original language / piano accompaniment / with Japanese subtitles)

　"La Bohème" is a representative work of Giacomo Puccini, a human drama portraying the love and friendship of young people in 19th-century Paris and the fragility of life. Its moving melodies and realistic characters touch audiences of every generation.
　The chorus "TUNA GOOD (Tsunagu)," formed by local residents, will also appear in the concert, now for the third year.

Performers

Mimì (soprano): Hatsune Sato
Rodolfo (tenor): Yuya Higashihara
Musetta (soprano): Erika Motegi
Marcello (baritone): Naotaka Tanimoto
Schaunard (baritone): Yuki Tomura
Colline (bass): Haruma Goto
Chorus: TUNA GOOD (Tsunagu) Chorus
Piano: Aya Shimizu
Conductor: Takayuki Yamazaki (Sawakami Opera Foundation)
Director and chorus coach: Motoharu Takei (Sawakami Opera Foundation)

* Performers may change

Ticket prices

Reserved seats / tax included
Advance tickets: general 3,000 yen, students 1,000 yen (elementary to high school students)
Day-of tickets: general 3,500 yen, students 1,500 yen (elementary to high school students)
* Preschool children cannot enter
* If advance tickets sell out, no day-of tickets will be sold
* Advance sales ended 10/29. A limited number of day-of tickets will be sold.

Ticket sales

① Early sales　
　At the venue (2nd-floor large meeting room, Gymnasium and Cultural Hall) of the "Nachikatsuura Town Residents' Music Festival" held on Sunday, August 30,
　a sales booth will be set up after the performance

② Counter sales: Tuesday, September 8 to Thursday, October 29
　Nachikatsuura Town Office, 2nd floor, Tourism Planning Division
　(7-1-1 Tsukiji, Nachikatsuura-cho, Higashimuro-gun, Wakayama)
　[Weekdays 9:00–17:00 / closed Sat, Sun and holidays]
　* Cash only　
　* No reservations held outside the sales period or by phone

* Advance sales have ended. A limited number of day-of tickets will be sold.
For the seat availability of counter sales, see the file below (updated every Friday).
◎ Seats available as of October 29 (seats with an uncolored number are available for sale)

③ Online (internet) sales: Tuesday, September 8 to Thursday, October 29
　Sawakami Opera Arts Promotion Foundation (public interest incorporated foundation)
　Sawakami Opera Arts Promotion Foundation web service link
　* A free membership registration is required to apply or purchase

④ Phone sales: Tuesday, September 8 to Thursday, October 29
　Sawakami Opera Arts Promotion Foundation (public interest incorporated foundation)
　Phone: 0570-023-223 [Weekdays 10:00–17:00 / closed Sat, Sun and holidays]

Notes

Lead cast profiles

Hatsune Sato (soprano)

Graduated first in her class from the Department of Music, Miyagi Gakuin Women's University.
Completed the master's program in opera at the Tokyo University of the Arts Graduate School.
Won the Excellence Award and the Encouragement Award on completing the 64th Master Class of the Nikikai Opera Institute.
At the Geidai Opera regular performances she sang Pamina in "The Magic Flute" and Fiordiligi in "Così fan tutte."
Placed third in the 2024 Margherita Guglielmi Vocal Competition.
Besides serving as soprano soloist in Beethoven's "Symphonie fantastique," she has widened her performing activities with appearances at the Sendai Classic Festival, Tome Festival Theater and duo concerts in Fukushima.
In 2026 she took the Sawakami Opera Academy Italy training course and continues to hone her skills.

Director and chorus coach

Motoharu Takei
(Sawakami Opera Foundation)

He passed the audition for study abroad in Italy organized by the Sawakami Opera Arts Promotion Foundation in 2015 and went to Italy in January 2016. He has performed in some 300 opera productions at Italian Serie A opera houses, repeatedly in lead roles in world premieres. A representative premiere was the opera "Amorosa Presenza" (director Chiara Muti), in which he appeared at a Serie A opera house's season-opening opera as the first Japanese lead tenor. Besides opera, he has experience in musicals such as "Les Misérables" at the Imperial Theatre and continues to hone his skills on the contemporary stage. Drawing on his varied experience, he is a promising talent expected to bring diverse expression and acting direction. He made his directing debut in December 2024 with Sawakami Opera in Tokushima, "The Elixir of Love." Head of stage arts at the Sawakami Opera Arts Promotion Foundation.

About the Sawakami Opera Arts Promotion Foundation

Founded to spread opera culture in Japan and let people feel the luxury of the heart and the richness of life. It holds full-scale opera performances that move audiences across the country, supports the formation of local choruses, and actively works to revitalize communities through opera.
Sawakami Opera Arts Promotion Foundation website link

Opera chorus TUNA GOOD (Tsunagu)

Formed in 2024 mainly by volunteers from Nachikatsuura and neighboring cities. About 60 members of a wide range of ages belong, and they are currently rehearsing happily for the performance under Motoharu Takei's guidance.

Contact

◆ Nachikatsuura Opera Concert Executive Committee Secretariat
[Weekdays 9:00–17:00 / closed Sat, Sun and holidays]
　About the concert: Nachikatsuura Town Board of Education, Lifelong Learning Division
　　　　　　　　　　　　Phone: 0735-52-4686
　　　　　　　　　　　　Address: 75 Nikawa, Nachikatsuura-cho
　About ticket sales: Nachikatsuura Town Tourism Planning Division
　　　　　　　　　　　　Phone: 0735-52-2131
　　　　　　　　　　　　Address: 7-1-1 Tsukiji, Nachikatsuura-cho
◆ Sawakami Opera Arts Promotion Foundation
[Weekdays 10:00–17:00 / closed Sat, Sun and holidays]
　Phone: 0570-023-223