Hideto Ihara, one of the most remarkable young baritones, studied opera at the graduate school of Osaka College of Music. He pursued his study under the internship of the Agency of Cultural Affairs of Japan. In 1999, he sang the leading role Mizoguchi in Toshiro Mayuzumi's opera "Kinkaku-ji" (conducted by Hiroyuki Iwaki and directed by Masayoshi Kuriyama), which was presented at the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan Hall. His success with this difficult role gave him the Idemitsu Music Award in 2000.

When Toshiro Mayuzumi's opera "Kinkaku-ji" was first performed at the College Opera House in Osaka in 1997, it was the special performance in memory of the composer, who had died earlier that year. This production, which was performed by the same singers and orchestra as the one presented in Tokyo in 1999, was hailed as a heroic attempt in the musical history of Japan. It was recorded and broadcasted by NHK TV, and received the ABC International Music Award, the Mitsubishi Trust Music Award, and the Osaka Performing Arts Award. In 2000, Ihara appeared on the stage of the College Opera House again, singing in Luigi Dallapiccola's "Il prigioniero". This performance was also broadcasted by NHK TV nationwide, and his superb performance and outstanding talent became widely recognized by Japanese opera fans.

Following the success with "Il prigioniero", Ihara's career developed rapidly. He sang Papageno in "Die Zauberflote" in the fifth anniversary of the Yokosuka Arts Theater, Frank and Fritz for the Tokyo premiere of Erich Wolfgang Korngold's "Die tote Stadt" of the subscription concert of the New Japan Philharmonic. He was the baritone soloist for the Japan premier of Krzysztof Penderecki's "Seven Gates of Jerusalem" under the composer's baton and with the Osaka Philharmonic Orchestra. Also, he was a soloist for Beethoven's "Ninth Symphony" and Verdi's "Requiem" with the Asia Philharmonic Orchestra led by Chung Myung-Whun in Japan and Korea.

In 2002 and 2003, Hideto Ihara was highly acclaimed by his superb performance of singing a series of leading roles in the productions including Tchikovsky's "Eugene Onegin", which was a co-production of the Mariinsky Theatre of Russia and the Kansai Opera of Japan, Akira Miyoshi's "Tsunenaga Hasekura - Toi-Ho" in the Kanagawa International Arts Festival, and the world premier of Toshi Ichiyanagi's "Hikari" at the New National Theater in Tokyo. He has become one of the most sought-after artists for modern opera works.

Hideto Ihara's opera repertoires include, in addition to the above, Le nozze di Figaro, Cosi fan tutte, Die Zauberflote, Don Giovanni, Il barbiere di Seviglia, Die Verschworenen, La Traviata, Carmen, Die Fledermaus, Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor, Hansel und Gretel, Orphee aux enfers, La Boheme, Madama Butterfly, Il tabarro, Le villi, Die Dreigroschenoper, Onatsu and Seijuro, and Orpheus of Hiroshima. Also, Ihara is a frequent soloist for Beethoven's Ninth Symphony and religious music by Bach, Handel, Mozart, Rossini, Faure, Verdi, Puiccini, and Durufle.

Hideto Ihara was awarded with Idemitsu Music Award, Muramatsu Award, Kobe City Cultural Award, Kobe Nada Lions Club Music Award, Matsukata Hall Music Award, Blue Mail Award, ABC Music Award, and Crystal Award.

Hideto Ihara is teaching at Doshisha Women's College.


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