Jury

HAMADA Rie

Japan; Soprano

After graduating from Tokyo University of the Arts, Ms. IHARA Naoko completed the university’s graduate school program. She received the Art Encouragement Prize for New Artists from the Japanese Minister of Education in 1970 and won the grand prix of the 8th Wienerwald Opera Prize. In 1971 she went to the University of Music and Performing Arts Munich to study under E.HAEFLIGER on a fellowship from the government of West Germany. In 1969 she made her opera debut playing the role of Elda in Das Rheingold. Ms. IHARA signed a contract with Opéra National du Rhin in France in 1975, performing in Carmen, Orfeo ed Euridice, Siegfried, and others. After returning to Japan in 1981, she played in operas including Aida, Pelléas et Mélisande, Walküre, Madama Butterfly. After performing in Gotterdammerung in 1991, Ms. IHARA became the only singer to appear in the tetralogy, titled the the Ring, held over a period of 22 years by Nikikai, securing her position as one of Japan’s outstanding prima donnas. Currently she is a professor emeritus of Tokyo University of the Arts and an executive director of the board of the Japan Federation of Musicians.