Fumiko Ando
- Vocal
ProfileProfile
Born in Sapporo. After graduating from the Vocal Music Department of Kunitachi College of Music, Ando completed a graduate course in vocal music (opera) at the Kunitachi College of Music’s Graduate School of Music. She went on to complete the course at the New National Theatre Opera Studio as a member of its 3rd class. After studying in Italy as an overseas artist of the Japanese government’s Agency for Cultural Affairs, she returned to Italy as a Rohm Music Foundation research student to continue her training. She has studied with teachers including Paola Molinari, Sergio Bertocchi, and Hisako Tanaka.
Fumiko Ando made her debut in the role of Fiordiligi in a Kunitachi College of Music Graduate School production of the opera Cosi fan Tutte. In February 2006 she received high praise for her outstanding musicianship and lovely stage appearance in the role of Musetta in a Tokyo Nikikai Opera Theatre production of La Bohème, which raised high expectations for her future career. In 2007, she gave an impressive performance in the role of Chlöe in Queen of Spades, conducted by Seiji Ozawa, at the Saito Kinen Festival Matsumoto. And in February 2009, she was specially selected for the role of Violetta in the new Tokyo Nikikai production of La Traviata directed by Amon Miyamoto. Her performance, with its multicolored, sensitive expressive style and elegant singing and acting, fully conveyed her great promise as a star singer.
Ando went on to give highly successful performances in many more roles. In June-July 2009 she performed the role of Micaela in Carmen, produced by Yutaka Sado and directed by Jean-Louis Martinoty; and in October of that year she performed Lady I in The Magic Flute at the New National Theatre Tokyo. In 2011, she appeared as Cio-Cio San in a Japanese-Korean-Italian co-production of Madama Butterfly at Sejong Center Grand Theater (conducted by Rigon, directed by Mattia) in May, and as the First Wood Sprite in the New National Theatre production of Rusalka in November. In 2012, she performed the role of Elisabeth in Tannhäuser, in a co-production of Biwako Hall and Kanagawa Kenmin Hall. In 2013, she performed the role of Violetta in La Traviata in the same co-production (in cooperation with the Bologna Opera in Italy) in March; she appeared as Lady I in The Magic Flute at the New National Theatre in April, as Anna in that theatre’s production of Nabucco in June, and in the title role of Madama Butterfly, produced by the Aichi Triennale, in September. In February 2014, she performed the role of Elisabeth in the Tokyo Nikikai production of Don Carlo.
Fumiko Ando is also active in concert appearances. In 2003, she performed in a gala concert in the U.S. on the invitation of the Portland Opera Performing Institute. In 2004, she participated in the International Music Festival Young Prague, where she gave a successful performance in the opening concert of Stabat Mater (Vanhal) with Prague Chamber Orchestra and Kühn Chorus. Her concert appearances also include the Silvester Concert at Yokohama Minatomirai Hall, the Fantastic Gala Concert of Kanagawa Kenmin Hall, and the Sendai Classic Festival. She was a soloist in concerts of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony by NHK Symphony Orchestra conducted by Kurt Masur in 2009, and by Stanislaw Skrowaczewski in 2011. In October 2013, she performed with Riccardo Muti in a special concert celebrating the bicentennial of Verdi’s birth at the Tokyo Spring Music Festival. Her singing of an aria from La Traviata has been broadcast on the NHK TV program An Album of Musical Masterpieces.
In February 2017, Fumiko Ando acted as a title role on Madama Butterfly at the New National Theatre Tokyo, and her outstanding performance was enthusiastically received by critics.
As a young soprano who has already built an impressive career, Fumiko Ando has a very bright future.