Production & Cast

Dao, To Loan, Soprano

A multi-talented soprano singer, To Loan from Thai Nguyen performs not only opera but also many other genres ranging from pop to Vietnamese traditional music and folk songs and has appeared as a soloist in national and international events.
She started studying singing in 2006 and received a scholarship to study in Germany in 2012. In 2016, she graduated with a master’s degree in Vocal Performance from the Vietnam National Academy of Music. She has studied under Associate Professor Tran Thi Ngoc Lan and professors from Norway, Australia, and Canada.
To Loan has won the first prize at the Sao Mai National Singing Contest (2011), the first prize and Audience Award at the Lidal North International Opera Workshop in Oslo (2014), the first prize at the Singapore Lyric Opera – ASEAN Vocal Competition (2018), the second prize at the Vietnam Opera Contest and the gold medal at the Duong 9 Xanh Singing Contest (2019), as well as the third prize at the MAP International Music Competition in the United States (2021).

Bui, Thi Trang, Soprano

A soprano singer from Thai Nguyen, Thi Trang graduated in 2018 with a master's degree in Vocal Performance from the Vietnam National Academy of Music under the guidance of Professor and People's Artist Trung Kien.
A member of the Vietnam National Opera and Ballet since 2013, she has performed as a soloist in numerous concerts. Her opera performances include Dorabella in Così fan tutte, María in María de Buenos Aires, Frasquita in Carmen, H’ Nuon in The Sculptor by Do Nhuan, and Fantine in Les Misérables. She has also participated in many art events held by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam in Korea, Thailand, and Russia.
Thi Trang has received the gold medal at the National Professional Music and Dance Festival (2021), the second prize at the Thai Nguyen Television Singing Festival (2010), and a participation award at the National Opera and Chamber Music Singing Competition (2019).

Kobori, Yusuke, Tenor

Originally from Fukushima prefecture, Kobori graduated top of the class in the undergraduate Vocal Music course and the Graduate School Opera Course at the Kunitachi College of Music. He completed opera training in 2015 at the New National Theatre Tokyo. He won many awards, including second place in the Vocal Section at the 16th Tokyo Music Competition in 2018, and first in the Vocal Section at the 88th Music Competition of Japan in 2019. He continued his studies in Bologna under the Agency for Cultural Affairs' Program of Overseas Study for Upcoming Artists and also at the Accademia Rossiniana in Pesaro, then at the Rossini Opera Academy in Lunenburg in 2016 under the tutelage of Alberto Zedda. He made his European debut as Lindoro in L'italiana in Algeri at the Tyrol Festival Theatre. After returning to Japan, his first appearance was as Tonio in La fille du régiment at Biwako Hall, followed by other roles including Don Ramiro in the Fujiwara Opera’s performance of La Cenerentola and Nemorino in the Nissay Theatre’s performance of L'elisir d'amore. He is also member of the Japan Rossini Society.

Yamamoto, Kohei, Tenor

Originally from Tottori Prefecture and graduated top of the class from the Graduate School of Tokyo University of the Arts, Yamamoto continued his studies in Italy. He has won many awards, including the Milano Grand Prize at the Concorso di Lirica Italiana, the first prize and the Best Singing Award at the Concorso Vocale Italo-Giapponese.
Among his most acclaimed opera performances are the title role in the Nikikai’s Don Carlo, the Duke of Mantua in Rigoletto, Kashiwagi in the Kinkakuji directed by Miyamoto Amon, Alwa in Lulu, and Tebaldo in I Capuleti e in Montecchi at the Nissay Theatre. As a concert soloist, he has received high praise for his performances of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, Bach's Mass in B minor, and Rossini's Petite messe solennelle. He has often appeared in media, including programs such as NHK New Year Opera Concert, La La La Classic, and Tokyu Silvester Concert. Yamamoto has released two solo albums: Mi manchi and Non t'amo più. In 2013, he participated in Chanel Pygmalion Days. He has been appointed Tourism Ambassador for Yonago City and Tottori Furusato Ambassador and is a member of Nikikai.

Fortune teller (Guest Artist)

Pham, Khanh Ngoc, Soprano

Born in a musical family, Khanh Ngoc started playing the piano at the age of six. She completed her master's degree in vocal performance at the Ho Chi Minh City Music Conservatory and participated in a master class at the Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media in Germany (2017).
She performed in many concerts, including the 50th anniversary concert of the establishment of Austria-Vietnam relations in Vienna and the 45th anniversary concert of the establishment of Spain-Vietnam relations in Madrid. Her opera performances include Thuong in Nguoi Giu Con (Dune's Keeper) by Professor Ca Le Thuan, Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute by Mozart, Frasquita in Carmen by Bizet, and Zerlina in Don Giovanni by Mozart. Currently, she is a soloist at the Ho Chi Minh City Opera Ballet and Symphony Orchestra and teaches at the Ho Chi Minh City Music Conservatory.
Khanh Ngoc received the gold medal at the National Professional Music and Dance Competition (2015), second prize at the ASEAN Vocal Competition in the Singapore Lyric Opera (2016), first prize at the Ho Chi Minh City Opera and Chamber Singing Competition (2017) and at the Opera Chamber Singing Group B at the Autumn Music Concour in Hanoi (2019).

King Nguyen

Dao, Mac, (Bass) Baritone

Born in 1989 in Hung Yen province, Mac is a bass baritone singer with a profound, powerful, beautiful voice and a wide vocal range. Under the guidance of Dang Duong Meritorious Artists, he completed his bachelor's degree in vocal performance at the Vietnam National Academy of Music. After his successful performance as Papageno in The Magic Flute, he studied in a training course at the Musiktheater in Revier, an opera house in Gelsenkirchen, Germany in 2017.
He gained recognition in roles such as Dr. Falke in The Bat by Johann Strauss, Kaspar in Magic Bullet by Weber, and Baron Gondremarck in Parisian Life by Offenbach and Mr. X in Yesterday’s Memory by Anna Sophie Weber. He also played the role of Cricket in the Vietnamese musical De Men (Crickets), composed by Viet Anh.
Currently, he's a soloist at the Ho Chi Minh City Ballet and Symphony Orchestra. He also teaches at the Ho Chi Minh City Music Conservatory, the Military Institute of Culture and Arts, and is the head of the vocal music department at the MPU School of Music.

Queen

Nguyen, Thu Quynh, Mezzo-soprano

Born in 1984, Thu Quynh completed her master's degree in vocal performance at the Vietnam National Academy of Music. Currently, she's a soloist with the Vietnam National Opera and Ballet. She has performed the soloist in Requiem by Verdi and Symphony No. 9 by Beethoven, and has played roles such as Dorabella in Cosi fan tutte by Mozart, Carmen in Carmen by Bizet, Eng in Co Sao (Mr. Sao) by Do Nhuan, Mai in La Do (The Red Leaf) by Do Hong Quan, H’ Beng in Nguoi Tac Tuong (The Sculptor) by Do Nhuan, and Fantine in Les Miserables in 2020.

Minister

Nguyen, Huy Duc, Baritone

Huy Duc completed his master's degree in vocal performance at the Vietnam National Academy of Music and joined the Vietnam National Opera and Ballet in 2003, where he currently serves as its leader.
His opera performances include Zuniga in Carmen by Bizet, Isonokami Marotari in The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter presented by Japan-Vietnam Cultural Exchange Program, Ho Ton Hien in Kieu by Nguyen Thien Dao, Deo Van Hung and Quan Tri Chau in Co Sao (Mr. Sao) by Do Nhuan, Village Elder Aepong in Nguoi Thach Tuong by Do Nhuan, Mountain God in La Do (The Red Leaf) by Do Hong Quan, and many other significant roles. He also has experience as a baritone soloist in other musicals and many classical music productions. In 2020, he performed the role of Javert in Les Miserables with great success.
He received silver medals at the first National Professional Music and Dance Competition (2015) and the Duong Chin Xanh Singing Competition then second prize in Group B Men's Chamber Singing at the Autumn Music Competition (2019).

Nagasaki magistrate

Ito, Takayuki, Bass

Ito was originally from Aichi Prefecture. He graduated from Nagoya University of the Arts, where he also completed his master’s degree. He received a scholarship from the non-profit organization Yellow Angel to study in Italy (2013-2014). His accolades include winning second prize at the 48th Italy-Japan Vocal Concorso, gold at the 41st Italian Vocal Concorso, and second at the 6th Giannino Zecca International Opera Singer Competition.
Since his debut in Granville in La Traviata at the Aichi Prefectural Art Theater, he has appeared in many operas, including Ramfis and The King in Aida. After his debut with The Fujiwara Opera in 2013 as Tom in Un ballo in maschera, he has continued to perform major roles in bass, such as Alidoro in La Cenerentola and Sparafucile in Rigoletto.
Ito received the Cultural Newcomer Award at the Aichi Prefecture Arts and Culture Awards (2012), Education Culture Encouragement Prize at the Toyoshin Scholarship Foundation (2016) and the Toyota Cultural Encouragement Prize at the Toyota City Cultural Promotion Foundation (2017). Lastly, he is also a member of The Fujiwara Opera.

Yasu

Kawakoshi, Miharu, Soprano

Kawakoshi hails from Aichi Prefecture and graduated from the Aichi University of the Arts, and completed her master’s degree in the same university. She also attended master classes given by Maurizio Carnelli and Chieko Okazaki in Italy and received a diploma. She completed the 65th master class at the Nikikai Opera Training Institute. Upon completion of the course, she received the Prize for Excellence and the Encouragement Prize.
Her opera performances include the Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute, Vitellia in The Clemency of Titus, and Gretel and Dew Fairy in Hansel and Gretel. She also performed with the Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra in the Emerging Performer Development Project sponsored by the Japan Federation of Musicians in 2019.
Kawakoshi received third prize at the 20th Tokyo Music Competition, second prize at the 23rd Japan Player’s Competition, first prize, Excellent Prize, Special Prize for Professional, and the Mayor of Gifu Prize at the Gifu International Music Festival Competition (2018). Lastly, she is a member of the Nikikai.