Concert: Magic of Miyazaki. Voice of Japan
When and where:
– Prague, Divadlo Na Maninách, Na Maninách 32a – Friday 12. 6. 2026 doors: 19:00, start at 20:00. (The date changed due to war in the Middle East).
(Update: Brno cancelled)
More information and tickets here.
“Magic of Miyazaki. Voice of Japan” is a magical concert that will transport the audience to a magical world of transformations inspired by the famous anime of the Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki and composer Joe Hisaishi, whose work is known and admired all over the world.
Japanese conductor Kotaro Kimura and soprano Satoko Ota will present the audience with beautiful and breathtaking musical compositions from Studio Ghibli anime films, such as “Fantasy Road”, “My Neighbor Totoro”, “Princess Mononoke”, “Laputa: Castle in the Sky”, “Kiki’s Delivery Service” and many others. These compositions will transport you to a unique, magical space – to mysterious forests, cities and a world of extraordinary adventures.
Music is (not only) an integral and essential part of the atmosphere in anime, so come and enjoy it with us!
In honor of these famous personalities – Hayao Miyazaki and Joe Hisaishi – Kotaro Kimura will skillfully convey their music to the audience with extraordinary sensitivity, while the orchestra, together with the magical soprano Satoko Ota, will bring the stories of the characters to life. The orchestra’s instruments can convey not only human and animal voices, but also the murmur of the sea, the rustling of trees, the roar of engines and silence.
The concert will also include selected melodies from the history of Japanese musical culture.
Performers:
Conductor – Kotaro Kimura (Japan)
Soloist (soprano) – Satoko Ota (Japan)
Chamber Orchestra
Kimura Kotaro began his career in the Japanese city of Fukuoka. He dedicated his conducting career to bringing classical music to children and adults. His goal is to make music accessible and pass it on to as many people as possible, so that they will love it as much as he did.
He is currently the conductor of the Vietnam National Opera and Ballet.
Even as a recipient of the Fukuoka Prefecture Cultural Contribution Award, he continues to engage in activities supporting local communities and international exchange.
He is the author of the book “What is Maestro Kim’s Music?”, which is currently on sale. You can also find his YouTube channel “Conducting is Fun! Kimura Cantabile!”.
Satoko Ota is a talented Japanese singer and stage actress. She was born in Nagasaki and has been singing since an early age – first at school, then at the Fukuoka University Faculty of Music. She performed on the opera stage as a child, when she was part of a performance of Mozart’s “The Magic Flute”.
She is a laureate of the International Music Competition in the Czech Republic. In addition to Japan, she has performed as a soloist with orchestras in Russia, Kazakhstan, Vietnam and other countries.
In Japan, she is known and loved as a talented actress in musicals such as “The Sound of Music” (Maria), “Beauty and the Beast” (Belle) and “The Phantom of the Opera” (Meg). She frequently appears in films, TV dramas, and commercials. She collaborates with the art agency Actuvo Hakata and regularly appears on the popular entertainment show “Pop Pop Pop”, where she portrays a family member with humorous stories.
