The New National Theatre Tokyo has announced its 2026/27 opera season, comprising ten productions that combine international collaborations, core repertory works, and a strong commitment to Japanese artists. Under the artistic leadership of Kazushi Ono, the season includes three new productions alongside seven revivals, reinforcing the theatre’s position as one of Asia’s leading operatic institutions with an increasingly global outlook.
Three new productions at the centre of the season
The season opens with Rossini’s Il Turco in Italia, a new production co-produced with the Teatro Real in Madrid and the Opéra National de Lyon, where it premiered in 2023. Directed by Laurent Pelly, the staging brings Rossini’s rarely performed comedy back into focus, combining elegant vocal writing with theatrical wit. The production also marks the New National Theatre debut of conductor Alessandro Bonato.
In November, the theatre presents Benjamin Britten’s Peter Grimes in Robert Carsen’s acclaimed production, first seen at Teatro alla Scala in 2023. Tenor Brandon Jovanovich reprises the title role, joined by British soprano Sally Matthews as Ellen Orford. The opera’s psychological depth is underlined by Britten’s orchestral sea interludes and by the central role of the chorus, a key element in this production.
The season closes with a new production of Verdi’s Macbeth, conducted by Carlo Rizzi and directed by Lorenzo Mariani. Baritone Ernesto Petti sings the title role, with Karen Gardeazabal as Lady Macbeth. The opera highlights Verdi’s evolving dramatic language, particularly in its intense portrayal of ambition, guilt, and psychological disintegration.
Repertory works and Japanese artistry
Alongside the new productions, the season features a wide range of repertory titles. Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro is presented with an entirely Japanese musical team, reflecting the theatre’s long-term investment in national talent. Puccini’s Tosca returns in Antonello Madau-Diaz’s realistic staging, conducted by Donato Renzetti.
Richard Strauss is represented by two contrasting works: Salome, revived in August Everding’s symbolic staging and conducted by Ryusuke Numajiri, and Der Rosenkavalier, presented in Jonathan Miller’s celebrated production under Patrick Hahn.
Italian comedy, verismo, and Slavic repertoire
Verdi’s Falstaff, also in a Jonathan Miller production, returns under the baton of Maurizio Benini, with Roberto Frontali in the title role. The verismo double bill Cavalleria rusticana / Pagliacci is revived in Gilbert Deflo’s staging, conducted by Kazushi Ono, bringing together leading international and Japanese singers.
Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin completes the season, featuring Russian and Slavic singers active in Europe and conducted by Andriy Yurkevych, who previously led the production at the theatre. The opera’s reflective tone offers a lyrical counterbalance to the season’s dramatic intensity.
A season shaped by balance and continuity
Across its ten productions, the 2026/27 season reflects a careful balance between innovation and continuity. International co-productions coexist with established stagings, while Japanese artists remain central across casts and creative teams. Under Kazushi Ono’s leadership, the New National Theatre Tokyo continues to develop a distinctive operatic profile that bridges global traditions and local artistic identity.
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