About

Guest introduction

Meso Soprano: Kaori Ikeda ◆

Kaori Ikeda, mezzo-soprano

profile

After graduating from the Faculty of Law at Keio University, she went on to become a vocalist and graduated from the Nikikai Opera Studio.
She has appeared in many operas, including those at the New National Theatre and the Nikikai. She is particularly indispensable in Wagner's works, and has appeared in the New National Theatre's Das Rheingold, Twilight of the Gods, Parsifal, and other productions. In 2016, she received rave reviews for playing the difficult role of Isolde in the Nikikai-Leipzig Opera joint production of Tristan and Isolde, and sang "Death of Love" at the NHK New Year Opera Concert to great acclaim. She also played Brunhilde in the Biwako Ring, which has been performed for four years since 2017, and is scheduled to appear in Twilight of the Gods in 2020. She has other upcoming productions, including the title role in Nikikai's Hérodiade in April 2019 and Herodias in the same company's Salome in June.
In concert, he has performed with major orchestras in works such as Beethoven's "Missa Solemnis," Verdi's "Requiem," Mahler's "Resurrection" and "Symphony of a Thousand," and in 2012, he received high praise for his performance of Mahler's "Symphony No. 3" conducted by E. Inbal, which was also featured on NHK's "Famous Pieces Album."