Biography

The Japanese baritone Takaki Kurihara is a emerging young artist, highly evaluated not only in Japan but also in Italy and America. Mr. Kurihara has lustrous, well-resonant sweet voice with great feeling. He is a very promising singer celebrated by great singers such as Sherill Milnes, Cecilia Bartoli and Renata Scott. The Agency of Cultural Affairs of Japan evaluated his activity and he receives subsidy from autumn 2019. He is now a member of the Young Artist Program at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples.

In July 2019, Mr. Kurihara made his Italian debut as Yamadori in Madama Butterfly at Teatro dell’opera Giocosa. This was possible because he took the masterclass of Renata Scott. He was selected as Yamadori and he won a scholarship for outstanding singer during the masterclass. In this debut, Scott as director admired him “Perfectly done”.

After Mr. Kurihara graduated postgraduate opera school of Tokyo University of the Arts in 2018, he actively participates and is invited in masterclasses. In Switzerland in August 2018, he joined Gstaad Vocal Academy held by Silvana Bartoli. He got Cecilia Bartoli’s attention and she invited him to Cecilia Bartoli’s masterclass in Salzburg in May 2019 with scholarship. In the U.S. in April 2018, he took Opera Naples Academy. He was admired by soprano Veronica Villaroel, vocal coach Manny Perez and tenor Bruce Ford. As a result, he was invited to both Savanna Voice Festival and Milnes Voice Studio with schoolrship.

Mr. Kurihara made his debut as Guglielmo in Così fan tutte in 62nd regular opera performance of Tokyo University of the Arts. His roles played in Japan include Il Conte di Almaviva in Le Nozze di Figaro, Masetto in Don Giovanni.

Also as a soloist, Mr. Kurihara performed in major concert halls in Japan including Händel’s Messiah at Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem at Sumida Triphony Hall, Orff’s Carmina Burana at Kanagawa Arts Theatre, and Beethoven’s Symphony No.9 in various concert halls.

A graduate of Tokyo University of the Arts and graduate school of Tokyo University of Arts; the most prestigious music school in Japan, Mr. Kurihara has received notable vocal awards, including 1st place in the 2018 Competition of Lirica Italiana in Japan, 2nd place of the 35th Soleil Vocal Competition in Japan, Finalist in the 2018 Maria Malibran International Opera Competition, and the People’s Choice Award in Opera Idol Vocal Competition in the 2020.Young Artist Program of the Wiener Staatsoper Finalist, Komische Oper Berlin Finalist in the 2020.The 2nd Vienna International Music Competition Special Prize in the 2020. I CONCORSO INTERNAZIONALE LIONS DI CANTO LIRICO 3rd place in the 2020. Giovanni Consiglio International Competition TIVAA award in the 2020. Medici International Music Competition second place 2021. Roberto DeSimone Memorial Aria Competition second place 2021. Piccolo Teatro NH Opera Idol Competition first place 2021.