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Ako Imamura

Ako Imamura

Atsuko (Ako) Imamura is a retired investment banker in New York City. Born in Japan, she trained as cultural anthropologist in the US before turning to ﬁnance. She now spends her time attending opera and classical music concerts in New York and in Europe. Wagner is her favorite opera composer.

Author:Ako Imamura

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Gregory Kunde leads Wiener Staatsoper’s shattering revival of Billy Budd

By Ako Imamura, 26 October 2024

At 70 years old, American tenor Gregory Kunde makes a magnificent role debut as Captain Vere, with a strong ensemble of singers, chorus, and orchestra in Willy Decker's effective production.

*****

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Kunde leads Wiener Staatsoper’s shattering Billy Budd

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Christian Thielemann bids farewell to Dresden with an excellent new Die Frau ohne Schatten

By Ako Imamura, 27 March 2024

David Bösch directs a creative and thoughtful new production of Die Frau ohne Schatten at the Semperoper in Christian Thielemann's final opera as Principal Conductor.

*****

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Thielemann bids farewell to Dresden with an excellent new FroSch

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Nina Stemme stars in an unforgettable Elektra in Baden-Baden

By Ako Imamura, 26 March 2024

The Baden-Baden Easter Festival presents an extraordinary performance of Elektra, with Nina Stemme in the title role and the Berliner Philharmoniker, led by Kirill Petrenko, in a stark and modern production.

*****

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Nina Stemme stars in an unforgettable Elektra in Baden-Baden

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A satisfying Otello starring Jonas Kaufmann at the Wiener Staatsoper

By Ako Imamura, 25 October 2023

A revival of Adrian Noble’s abstract and dark production of Verdi’s Otello fields a strong cast led by Jonas Kaufmann, Ludovic Tézier and Rachel Willis-Sørensen.

***11

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A satisfying Otello starring Jonas Kaufmann at the Wiener Staatsoper

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Christian Thielemann presides over a triumphant Die Frau ohne Schatten in Vienna

By Ako Imamura, 17 October 2023

Vincent Huguet's 2019 production of Richard Strauss‘ masterpiece is given a stupendous revival at the Wiener Staatsoper with an excellent ensemble of soloists.

****1

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Thielemann presides over a triumphant Die Frau ohne Schatten

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Beauty and courage in Bayerische Staatsoper's Tristan und Isolde

By Ako Imamura, 10 April 2023

Bayrischer Staatsoper’s revival of Warlikowski’s static production of Tristan und Isolde featured a sensational role debut of Elena Pankratova as Isolde.

****1

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Beauty and courage in Tristan und Isolde in Munich

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Andris Nelsons conducts splendid Tannhäuser excerpts in Boston with magnificent soloists

By Ako Imamura, 04 February 2023

Soloists Klaus Florian Vogt, Christian Gerhaher, Amber Wagner and Marina Prudenskaya star in Act 3 of Tannhäuser.

****1

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Andris Nelsons conducts splendid Tannhäuser excerpts in Boston

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An extraordinary Krassimira Stoyanova elevates Vienna’s revival of Der Rosenkavalier

By Ako Imamura, 22 December 2022

Stoyanova’s extraordinary performance as the Feldmarschallin made 394th revival of Otto Schenk’s 1968 production of Der Rosenkavalier an occasion to savor.

****1

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An extraordinary Stoyanova elevates Vienna’s Rosenkavalier

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Spellbinding Parsifal caps Oper Leipzig's massive Wagner 22 Festival

By Ako Imamura, 14 July 2022

Ulf Schirmer bows out as General Music Director as the last of Wagner's 13 operas completes a successful Festival Wagner 22 in Leipzig.

****1

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Spellbinding Parsifal caps Oper Leipzig's massive Wagner 22 Festival

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Stölzl's Berlin Turandot brings out human darkness with a puppet and a surprise ending

By Ako Imamura, 22 June 2022

Philipp Stölzl depicts Turandot as a tragedy of a lonely princess who pays dearly for her cruelty in his fascinating new production at the Staatsoper Berlin.

****1

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Stölzl's Berlin Turandot brings out human darkness

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New Meistersinger at Deutsche Oper Berlin succeeds musically despite the muddled production

By Ako Imamura, 18 June 2022

Set in a 1930s music school, Sergio Morabito, Jossi Wieler and Anna Viebrick's new production of Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg at Deutsche Oper Berlin has some inspirational ideas but they often get in the way of the music.

***11

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New Meistersinger succeeds musically despite the muddled production

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The Met’s new Lucia di Lammermoor: a good idea poorly executed by Simon Stone

By Ako Imamura, 26 April 2022

The Met unveils Simon Stone’s new production is set in a working class American town in decline... an interesting concept that ultimately fails to overcome its own cluttered ideas.

***11

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The Met’s new Lucia: a good idea poorly executed by Simon Stone

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Splendid performance of Parsifal amid Pierre Audi's bleakness and desolation in Munich

By Ako Imamura, 14 April 2022

The Bayerische Staatsoper's revival of a controversial production containing Georg Baselitz’s artwork succeeds with strong musical performances led by veterans of Wagnerian operas.

****1

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Splendid performance of Parsifal amid Audi's bleakness in Munich

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Outstanding performances in brothel-based Pique Dame at Baden-Baden Easter Festival

By Ako Imamura, 12 April 2022

The Baden-Baden Easter Festival offers a memorable production of Pique Dame with excellent musical performances convincing in Leiser and Caurier's updating of the plot.

*****

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Outstanding performances in brothel-based Baden-Baden Pique Dame

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Nina Stemme and Lise Davidsen shine in a lyrical Elektra at the Met

By Ako Imamura, 01 April 2022

Two sopranos bring intensity and tenderness to Strauss’ powerful opera in a revival of the timeless production by Patrice Chéreau.

****1

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Nina Stemme and Lise Davidsen shine in a lyrical Elektra at the Met

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Lohengrin as chamber opera in Patrick Bialdyga's expanded Leipzig production

By Ako Imamura, 26 March 2022

A new production of Lohengrin at Oper Leipzig is conceived as an intimate chamber opera and succeeds with brilliant musical performances.

*****

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Lohengrin as chamber opera in Patrick Bialdyga's Leipzig production

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Musical excellence mired by stale new McVicar production in the Met's first French Don Carlos

By Ako Imamura, 28 February 2022

The Metropolitan Opera performs the original French version of Don Carlos for the first time with a distinguished ensemble of soloists, but the static production offers no new insights into the depth of Verdi's masterpiece.

****1

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Musical excellence mired by stale production in the Met's Don Carlos

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Claus Guth presents The Makropulos Case as tragicomedy in Berlin

By Ako Imamura, 13 February 2022

Director Claus Guth's new production for the Staatsoper Berlin is a bit of a mixed bag but the evening succeeds more on its musical merits, with a splendid ensemble of singers and orchestra conducted by Sir Simon Rattle.

****1

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Claus Guth presents The Makropulos Case as tragicomedy in Berlin

The Met revives its legendary Turandot to mixed musical performances

By Ako Imamura, 12 October 2021

Franco Zeffirelli’s spectacular production of Turandot gets another revival with Christine Goerke and Yusif Eyvazov as the ice princess and Calaf.

***11

The Met revives its legendary Turandot to mixed musical performances

Moving out of the darkness: a poignant concert at the Teatro alla Scala

By Ako Imamura, 11 May 2021

The Orchestra and Chorus of Teatro alla Scala excel in a thrilling concert conducted by Riccardo Chailly with a magnificent contribution from soprano Lise Davidsen.

*****

Moving out of the darkness at the Teatro alla Scala

A cruel world with no salvation: Don Carlo in Budapest paints a dark picture of humanity

By Ako Imamura, 20 February 2021

The Hungarian State Opera presents a new modern production of Don Carlo by a director who depicts the historical cruelty as very much present in our world today.

****1

No salvation: Budapest Don Carlo paints a dark picture of humanity

Tcherniakov's new Freischütz a brilliant piece of theater in Munich

By Ako Imamura, 13 February 2021

Dmitri Tcherniakov updates the "German Romantic Opera" into a modern-day thriller with interesting twists in a musically splendid performance in Munich.

*****

Tcherniakov's new Freischütz a brilliant piece of theater in Munich

Beethoven's Fidelio as fervent prayer in Leeds

By Ako Imamura, 12 December 2020

Opera North performed a semi-staged and shortened Fidelio with a committed group of soloists, chorus and orchestra led by Mark Wiggelsworth. With a pared Orchestra, the opera came across as a hymn of hope.

****1

Beethoven's Fidelio as fervent prayer in Leeds

Koležnik's casino Falstaff redeemed by a powerful ending in Munich

By Ako Imamura, 02 December 2020

The Bayerische Staatsoper's new production of Falstaff makes the mistake of turning a comedy into a slapstick, but the fine ensemble have the last say as they stand in silence and defiance to face the empty auditorium.

***11

Koležnik's casino Falstaff redeemed by a powerful ending in Munich

Dutch National Opera brings off a Covid-adapted Figaro with brilliance

By Ako Imamura, 29 November 2020

Shortened and simplified to adapt to restrictions, David Bösch's 2016 production succeeds in bringing Mozart's brilliant opera to a modern setting with a splendid cast of singers.

****1

DNO brings off a Covid-adapted Figaro with brilliance

Nina Stemme reigns supreme in Wagner in Stockholm

By Ako Imamura, 05 November 2020

Karina Canellakis leads the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra in Wagner and Strauss with style and sophistication.

*****

Nina Stemme reigns supreme in Wagner in Stockholm

Stunning visuals, but François Girard's new Fliegende Holländer disappoints at The Met

By Ako Imamura, 02 March 2020

François Girard’s production presents the moody, stormy atmosphere of Norwegian seascapes with stunning visuals, but offers few fresh ideas on the doomed love between the Dutchman and Senta.

***11

François Girard's new Fliegende Holländer disappoints at The Met

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Gregory Kunde is splendid in Liege’s new Don Carlos

By Ako Imamura, 05 February 2020

The Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège takes a risk in mounting a new, but traditional production of the more rarely heard French version of Verdi’s Don Carlos and succeeds with a great ensemble of singers.

****1

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Gregory Kunde is splendid in Liege’s new Don Carlos

An enchanting new Midsummer Night’s Dream at Deutsche Oper Berlin

By Ako Imamura, 29 January 2020

Deutsche Oper Berlin’s new production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a delightful and whimsical homage to Britten’s masterpiece. The orchestra, soloists and children’s chorus performed with energy and charm under the baton of Donald Runnicles.

***11

An enchanting new Midsummer Night’s Dream at Deutsche Oper Berlin

Aleksandra Kurzak impresses as the Met’s new Violetta

By Ako Imamura, 10 January 2020

Michael Mayer’s colorful and busy production of La traviata returned to the Met with a triumphant performance of the title role by soprano Aleksandra Kurzak.

****1

Aleksandra Kurzak impresses as the Met’s new Violetta

Camilla Nylund makes impressive Met debut in Rosenkavalier revival

By Ako Imamura, 13 December 2019

The Met revives Robert Carsen's updated production of Der Rosenkavalier with a strong cast led by Camilla Nylund. Sir Simon Rattle led the Met Orchestra in an inspired and detailed reading of the score.

*****

Camilla Nylund makes impressive Met debut in Rosenkavalier revival

Tchaikovsky’s tale of dark obsession sparkles with notable Met debuts

By Ako Imamura, 29 November 2019

The young soprano Lise Davidsen scored a successful debut at the Met, with impressive support by conductor Vasily Petrenko, also making a debut, led a memorable revival of Pique Dame.

****1

Tchaikovsky’s tale of dark obsession sparkles with notable Met debuts

Astonishing double bill of Erwartung and Bluebeard’s Castle at New York Philharmonic

By Ako Imamura, 26 September 2019

A semi-staged performance of the two early 20th-century modernist works at the New York Philharmonic featured excellent soloists, great production and an inspired orchestra led by Jaap van Zweden.

*****

Astonishing double bill at New York Philharmonic

Strong singing as The Met revives Massenet’s Manon

By Ako Imamura, 24 September 2019

Laurent Pelly’s darkly stylish production of Manon is revived with a strong cast of singers. In the title role, Lisette Oropesa demonstrated elegant and incisive singing, while Michael Fabiano was her virile and powerful partner.

***11

Strong singing as The Met revives Massenet’s Manon

Memorable singing in ambiguous Staatsoper Berlin Götterdämmerung

By Ako Imamura, 15 September 2019

Irene Théorin and Andreas Schager lead a stunning musical performance, as Guy Cassiers vision of The Ring becomes clear.

****1

Memorable singing in ambiguous Staatsoper Berlin Götterdämmerung

Siegfried as chamber opera at Staatsoper Berlin

By Ako Imamura, 11 September 2019

Daniel Barenboim conducts much of Siegfried as an intimate chamber opera, resulting in an unexpected musical joy, with an excellent cast of singers headed by Michael Volle’s Wanderer.

****1

Siegfried as chamber opera at Staatsoper Berlin

Michael Volle excels in a Walküre to remember in Berlin

By Ako Imamura, 08 September 2019

The Staatsoper Berlin celebrate the arrival of Michael Volle, a splendid Wotan, aided by a strong ensemble of singers and Daniel Barenboim's leadership.

*****

Michael Volle excels in a Walküre to remember in Berlin

A promising start to Staatsoper Berlin's Ring revival

By Ako Imamura, 07 September 2019

Daniel Barenboim led a performance of deliberate tempo with a great ensemble of singers. Guy Cassiers‘ production, while visually stunning at times, does little to enhance the performance.

***11

A promising start to Staatsoper Berlin's Ring revival

Gilbert Deflo’s charming Manon Lescaut brilliantly performed at Deutsche Oper

By Ako Imamura, 09 June 2019

Deutsche Oper Berlin's revival of Manon Lescaut achieves a rare theatrical success; a witty and visually stunning production combined with thrilling music making in the pit with Sir Simon Rattle leading the orchestra and singers with emotional urgency.

****1

Manon Lescaut brilliantly performed at Deutsche Oper

Flórez makes a role debut in a stylish production of Manon in Vienna

By Ako Imamura, 05 June 2019

Juan Diego Flórez was impressive in his first portrayal of a lovesick soldier/priest in Manon, with Nino Machaidze's accomplished heroine. Andrei Serban's modern and thoughtful production was still fresh and arresting.

****1

Flórez makes a role debut in a stylish production of Manon in Vienna

Deutsche Oper Berlin revives Philipp Stölzl's production of Rienzi, set in Berlin

By Ako Imamura, 18 April 2019

Staging the story of the Italian political figure Rienzi as that of a dictator in 20th-century Germany was an inspired idea. This revival was a rare occasion to experience Wagner's early opera.

***11

Deutsche Oper revives Stölzl's Rienzi staging

Quiet tragedy: Robert Wilson's Otello explores depths of emotion in Baden-Baden

By Ako Imamura, 16 April 2019

Zubin Mehta conducts Verdi's Otello in an iconic Robert Wilson production of stylized theater where less is more. The effect was mesmerizing.

****1

Quiet tragedy: Robert Wilson's Otello in Baden-Baden

Iván Fischer and the Budapest Festival Orchestra deliver astonishing Bartók at Carnegie Hall

By Ako Imamura, 06 April 2019

In a program devoted to Béla Bartók, the visitors from Hungary conveyed both a distinct uniqueness of their heritage as well as a possibility of music as a tool for communication and understanding.

*****

Astonishing Bartók from the BFO at Carnegie Hall

Splendid ensemble in The Met's revival of La clemenza di Tito

By Ako Imamura, 30 March 2019

The Met's revival of Jean-Pierre Ponnelle's 1984 production of La clemenza di Tito is given a new breath of life with superb conducting and an excellent ensemble of singers.

****1

Splendid ensemble in The Met's revival of La clemenza di Tito

Amneris is the star of the Met's Aida revival

By Ako Imamura, 07 January 2019

This revival of the Met's 30-year-old production of Aida had a disappointing debut in the title role but Dolora Zajick's reign as Amneris is still a force of nature.

***11

Amneris is the star of the Met's Aida revival

A psychological drama: Weber's Euryanthe in Vienna

By Ako Imamura, 28 December 2018

Vienna's Theater an der Wien stage a seldom performed opera by Carl Maria von Weber with an excellent cast, orchestra, and chorus.

****1

A psychological drama: Weber's Euryanthe in Vienna

A memorable recreation: Tristan und Isolde arrives in Linz from Bayreuth

By Ako Imamura, 25 December 2018

25 years after its creation in Bayreuth, Director Heiner Müller's legendary production of Tristan und Isolde was recreated and presented in Linz with committed performers with great success.

****1

Tristan und Isolde arrives in Linz from Bayreuth

A Mixed Evening at Deutsche Oper Berlin's new Les Contes d'Hoffmann

By Ako Imamura, 15 December 2018

Deutsche Oper Berlin staged an ambitious production by Laurence Pelly with mixed results. The performance included new discoveries and young singers brought fresh energy to the evening.

***11

Mixed Evening at Deutsche Oper Berlin's new Les Contes d'Hoffmann

A miraculous Ariadne auf Naxos in Dresden

By Ako Imamura, 12 December 2018

Christian Thielemann led a memorable performance of Strauss's chamber opera Ariadne auf Naxos with a strong cast in a new straightforward production by David Hermann.

*****

A miraculous Ariadne auf Naxos in Dresden

The Met welcomes Nézet-Séguin with a new Traviata

By Ako Imamura, 04 December 2018

A new production of La Traviata, colorful and conventional, brings little new ideas but is a fine vehicle for a fine performance conducted by Yannick Nezet-Seguin that features a trio of excellent singers.

****1

The Met welcomes Nézet-Séguin with a new Traviata