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BIOGRAPHY OF
HARMONIA OPERA COMPANY Harmonia Opera Company was created
by Emiko Iinuma in 1981 for the purpose of promoting an artistic
bond between Japan and America. Many Western composers have been
inspired to write operas with a Japanese background, and Japanese
composers have answered this trend by assimilating a Western musical
style into their works. Our company presents operas that embody
both styles of this mutual musical inspiration. We perform, in the
greater New York area, operas, and musicals which portray Japanese
culture in a manner enjoyable and intelligible to American tastes.
United States performances of YUZURU, MADAME CHRYSANTHÈME, IRIS,
MADAMA BUTTERFLY, GOMBO GITSUNE, OSHO TO KOZO, FOX AND OTTER, A
STORY OF THREE WOMEN, AMANJAKU AND PRINCESS URIKO, TOJIN OKICHI,
and FLOWER DRUM SONG have made it possible for us to realize these
goals. Harmonia Opera has presented the world premieres DANNY BOY
by Toya and NEW HOPE by Robin Berger, in addition to the American
premiere of the Japanese opera AYAME inspired by prominent novelist
Yukio Mishima at Merkin Concert Hall with an excellent review by
The New York Times. In 1996, Harmonia Opera celebrated its 15th
Anniversary at Sylvia and Danny Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College
with World Premieres of THE STREETS OF JAPAN, arranged by Robin
Berger, and a Japanese Version of Mozart´s "THE MAGIC FLUTE" with
orchestra, costumes, and scenery. In 1995, Harmonia Opera Company
performed in the Venezuela International Festival. In 1998, Harmonia
Opera appeared at Miller Theatre of Columbia University with two
American premieres: SAYONARA and WARRIOR'S RED JACKET. In 1998,
Harmonia Opera Company presented the Premiere of PRINCESS KAGUYA
at Sylvia & Danny Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College. Harmonia
Opera Company was awarded a grant from the Japan Foundation, Center
for Global Partnership, and gave a Lecture & Demonstration with
a performance of the opera AMANJAKU AND PRINCESS URIKO at Middlebury
College, Vermont on July 28, 2000. On October 11, 2000, Harmonia
Opera had a tremendous success in presenting the World Premiere
of HAIBO in English, written and composed by Christian McLeer. On
November 26, 2000, Harmonia Opera performed Highlights from Opera
and Musicals in Guatemala. On November 1, 2001, Harmonia Opera Company
celebrated its 20th Anniversary with highlights of four operas presented
over the past 20 years: MADAMA BUTTERFLY, THE STORY OF THREE WOMEN,
HAIBO, and the Japanese Version of Mozart's THE MAGIC FLUTE, with
special performances by the renowned Metropolitan Opera singers
Lucine Amara and Russell Christopher at Merkin Concert Hall. On
October 26, 2002, Harmonia Opera presented the American Premiere
of KESA AND MORITO at Merkin Concert Hall. On November 5, 2003,
Harmonia Opera presented the World Premiere of Noh Opera KANTAN
at Kaye Playhouse, Hunter College. On October 5, 2004, Harmonia revived HAIBO, written and composed by Christian McLeer, at Merkin Concert Hall. The 24th Anniversary performance with American Premiere of NASU NO YOICHI on November 3, 2005, at the Merkin Concert Hall was the great success with enthusiastic audience's standing ovation. Harmonia Opera Company presented the "25th Anniversary Performance Presentation of American Premiere of KUROFUNE", on November 6, 2006, at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center, composed by a great pioneer composer Kosaku Yamada, and script by American Journalist Percy Nowell. It was a tremendous success and received standing ovation as well as an excellent critics reviews. It was interviewed and filmed by the Time & Warner Cable & TV, reviewed by Opera News, Ongaku No Tomo (Friend of Music), Brooklyn View, and Shukan New York (Japanese Weekly New York Life Newspaper.)
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