Stefan Pop and Friends Opera Gala Concert Japan Tour 2019

Naoko Togawa (soprano)
Originally from Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture. Studied at Hiroshima Music High School, Kunitachi College of Music, Tokyo University of the Arts, Faculty of Music, vocal arts department, 48th period second year opera training institute. She attended many concerts, international music festivals and international seminars while attending school. Naoko Togawa studied at Hiroshima Music High School, Kunitachi College of Music, Tokyo University of the Arts and Tokyo Nikikai Opera Foundation. From her school days onward, Naoko Togawa has performed at many concerts and international music festivals.
(Religious song history)
1997: Debuted as "Roh Misa song" (Bach) soloist　
2001: "Stabert Martel" (Rossini) co-starring with the Carlo vi Vari Symphony Orchestra Prague & Carlo vi Vari
2004: "Stabert "Mertel" (Dvorjak) Polish National Radio S2010, 2011, 2012 Italian Army recital won 3 great successes.
2013: "Madama Butterfly" highlight in London and Vienna.
2014: "Madama Butterfly" highlight appearance in Moscow.
2015: May 2 concerts of religious songs in Berlin
2016: March "Madama Butterfly" highlight in Rome.
(Opera)
2001: Mozart's "Maji" after making his opera debut, Mozart "Kosi van Tutte", "Nabucco" Performed in (Verdi), "Mr. Butterfly" (Puccini), etc.
2008: Rome-Freiano Theater "Mr. Butterfly" (Puccini) title roll is well received, and is acclaimed by seven newspapers in Rome and Milan.
2012: "Adriana Lukpleur" (Chilea) title roll appearance
"Maria Stoalda" (Donisetti) title roll appearance, Mitsubishi UFJ trust music award winning (for the opera Aya sponsored work)
(Concert career)
1998: European debut in Munich and Prague to be featured in the Prague newspaper.
Living in Rome since 2006. Many performers based in
Rome 2008: First recital at Rome Santa Maria degli Angeli church 4 acclaimed articles with four newspapers "鶯" "The Triumphal Arch in Rome"

2009-2012: London, Vienna, Recital and concert in Budapest.
Religious music
1997: Debut as soloist with recital of H-moll Messe (Bach)
2001: Co-performed Stabat Mater (Rossini) with the Karlovy Vary Symphony Orchestra in Karlovy Vary and Prague, Czech Republic
2004: Co-performed Stabat Mater (Dvořák) with the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra in Warsaw, Poland
Other performances include Symphony No. 9 (Beethoven), etc.
Operas
2001: After debuting in Die Zauberflote (Mozart), appearances in Cosi Fan Tutte (Mozart), Nabucco (Verdi), Madama Butterfly (Puccini)
2008: Principal role in Madama Butterfly at Flaiano Theater, Rome in November (performance critically acclaimed by seven newspapers in Rome and Milan)
2012:Principal role in 'Adriana Lecouvreur' and 'Maria Stuarda' in Japan.
'Maria Stuarda' which was organized by Opera Sai in Japan won the 21st Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Music Grand Award.
2015: Highlights of "Madama Butterfly" with an orchestra at the Tokyo Metropolitan Theater in September.
Concerts
1998 onward: Naoko Togawa also has been performing in concerts across Europe, notably in Munich and Prague
Naoko Togawa has lived in Rome since 2006
2008: First recital at Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli in Rome in September won Naoko Togawa critical acclaim from four Rome newspapers, with headlines declaring “Triumph in Rome” and “Nightingale”
2009-2012
Recitals and concerts in London, Vienna and Budapest

Cristian Sandu was born in Romania, Cristian Sandu graduated ”Gheorghe Dima” Music Academy in Cluj Napoca and started his artistic activity during his college years, marking his debut in 2004 at the Romanian National Opera in Cluj Napoca with Il Barbiere di Siviglia and ever since he has been a permanent guest conductor.

Specialized in Musicology, Choir Conducting and Orchestral Conducting, Cristian Sandu has been shaped under the close guidance of illustrious Romanian masters such as Victor Dumănescu and Petre Sbârcea. Graduating the courses of the “Ilya Musin” International Academy of Advanced Conducting held in Sankt-Petersburg, class of Leonid Korchmar, Cristian Sandu enriched his experience also attending the rehearsals of great masters as Valery Gergiev, Tugan Sokhiev, Gianandrea Noseda, Pavel Bubelnikov, Yuri Temirkanov.

In 2015, Cristian Sandu has assisted the great italian conductor Nello Santi at the premieres of Bellini’s Norma (San Carlo di Napoli), Verdi’s La Traviata (La Fenice di Venezia), La Traviata and Nabucco (Teatro alla Scala) and Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor (Zurich Opera).

His international validation is confirmed by receiving the First Prize of the International Contest of Orchestra Conducting “Jeunesses Musicales” in Bucharest, 2010.

With a generous repertoire in symphonic, opera, sacred or concert genres and with a consistent artistical experience, Cristian Sandu held the position of Artistic Director at the institution of Iasi National Opera in 2011-2012 season.

At the same time, he is a permanent guest of the Romanian opera theatres and philharmonics such as Cluj Romanian National Opera, Cluj Hungarian Opera, Bucharest National Opera, Iasi National Opera, Timisoara National Opera, Craiova Opera, Braşov Opera, Constanta “Oleg Danovski” Opera and Ballet Theatre, Galați “Nae Leonard” Musical Theatre. Bucharest ”George Enescu” Philharmonic Orchestra, Bucharest Radio Chamber Orchestra, Cluj Transilvania Philharmonic Orchestra, Sibiu Philharmonic Orchestra, Satu Mare ”Dinu Lipatti” Philharmonic Orchestra, Iasi Philharmonic Orchestra, Oradea Philharmonic Orchestra, Arad Philharmonic Orchestra, Pitesti Philharmonic Orchestra, Botosani Philharmonic Orchestra etc

His international recognition took place in 2006 during the Daegu International Opera Festival (South Korea) with the opera Il Matrimonio Segreto by Cimarosa. Amongst other abroad collaborations could be mentioned: Kiev National Ukraine Orchestra, Kiev Radio Symphony Orchestra, Sankt Petersburg “Klassika” State Symphony Orchestra, Forli “Bruno Maderna” Symphony Orchestra, Dnepropetrovsk Philharmonic Orchestra, Lecco “Sinfolario” Orchestra, Daegu Opera Festival Orchestra, Palermo ”Mediterranea” Chamber Orchestra

He obtains his PhD in Music with the thesis The Verismo Style in Modern Opera Evolution, thus enriching his presence in festivals and international juries, such as: International Singing Contest “Petre Stefănescu-Goangă” (Bucharest 2010), International Vocal Contest ”Vox Artis” (Sibiu 2011), International Voice Competition “Alfredo Giacomotti” (Pavia 2012), “Black Sea” Conducting Festival (Constanţa 2012), “Virginia Zeani” International Vocal Competition (Târgu Mureş, 2017, 2018)

In april 2013 he conducted in Verdi 200 International Festival (Aida, La Traviata, Verdi Gala) with the Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre from Almaty, Kazakhstan and in the ”River of the Sound” Festival in Astana (La Traviata).

Between 2014-2016 Cristian Sandu was a permanent guest conductor of Bucharest National Opera, where he conducted the premiere of Verdi’s Rigoletto in the company of the British director Stephen Barlow. In 2015 he collaborated with great names from the international ballet world, such as Alina Cojocaru and Johan Kobborg, but also Yana Salenko, Osiel Guneo, Xander Parish or David Trzensimiech and in the same year, he signed the musical leadership of the DSCH/The Dream ballet production, on Shostakovics and Mendelssohn music.

In 2017 he made his japanese debut in front of Tokyo New City Orchestra and in june 2018 he conducted the national premiere of Bellini’s La Sonnambula with Kishinev State Philharmonic Orchestra in the company of hungarian director Kürthy András.

In present, Cristian Sandu is Associate Professor at Gheorghe Dima Music Academy in Cluj Napoca, conductor of the ”Antonin Ciolan” Orchestra and vocal coach and conductor within the Opera Studio.