What this is
One of the most celebrated mezzo-sopranos alive, Latvian opera star Elīna Garanča returns to Japan for two recital performances featuring works by Bizet, Gounod, and Tchaikovsky, accompanied by the New Japan Philharmonic under conductor Karel Mark Chichon. Garanča is a Deutsche Grammophon artist whose voice has filled the Metropolitan Opera and Vienna State Opera — hearing her in a recital hall rather than a vast opera house is a genuinely rare intimacy. Two venues host the performances: Sumida Triphony Hall and Suntory Hall.
Who should go
Classical music lovers and opera fans, particularly those who follow international recital circuits. Anyone who has never seen Garanča live and is in Japan this autumn should treat this as a priority — opportunities to hear her at this scale outside Europe and North America are infrequent.
Good to know
Tickets are typically available through eplus.jp, pia.jp, and Lawson Ticket — all three platforms accept foreign credit cards, and Lawson Ticket convenience store pickup is the most reliable collection method for visitors without a Japanese delivery address. Suntory Hall Grand Hall seats approximately 2,006 and is one of Japan's most acoustically prestigious concert venues, with a vineyard-style seating arrangement that puts most of the audience close to the stage — stalls and side balcony seats offer excellent sightlines. Sumida Triphony Hall Grand Hall seats around 1,801 and has a similarly warm acoustic reputation. Both venues are fully seated and enforce strict no-photography and no-recording policies during performances. Bag check facilities are available at both halls; large bags and luggage are not permitted in the auditorium. Programmes are sold in the lobby and are worth picking up for Japanese and English notes on the repertoire.
This event was sourced and translated from Japanese by What's On Japan. Details may change — verify with the official source before attending.