Takaoki OnishiTakaoki Onishi

A native of Tokyo, Japan, baritone Takaoki Onishi is quickly gaining recognition as one of the most talented singers of his generation. He joined the prestigious Ryan Opera Ensemble of lyric Opera of Chicago, where he made his debut as Father Arguedas in the World premiere of BEL CANTO (televised on PBS). He remained with the company for three years, singing many roles.
Each season, Mr. Onishi sings a wide variety of opera, concerts and recitals in the US, Japan and Europe.
He sang the title role in EUGENE ONEGIN at the Seiji Ozawa Festival, conducted by Fabio Luisi, and he made his Vienna debut at the Musikverein, in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. He has also made several appearances at Carnegie Hall in Orff’s CARMINA BURANA, Sibelius’ KULLERVO, and Brahms’ A German Requiem.

During the pandemic, he sang a wide variety of repertoire in Japan, including Argante in RINALDO (Bach Collegium Japan), Zemlinsky’s Lyric Symphony, the Herald in LOHENGRIN, Vaughan Williams’ A Sea Symphony, Ben in THE TELEPHONE and Beethoven’s 9th (NHK Symphony Orchestra).

Future repertoire includes Brahms’ A German Requiem (conducted by Sebastian Weigle), Germont in LA TRAVIATA (conducted by Sascha Goetzel), Marcello in LA BOHEME, Kothner in DIE MEISTERSINGER and MESSIAH with Bach Collegium Japan.

Mr. Onishi has won Top Prizes in many vocal competitions, including Opera Index, Gerda Lissner, Giulio Gari, and at the Premiere Opera International Competition, where he received both Grand Prize and the special Dmitry Hvorostovsky Prize, in honor of that great singer.

CD「Dichterliebe」 （Piano Michio Kobabyashi）released from BRAVO RECORDS.

(November 2022)