On February 17th, 2008, OOTR held the Charity Concert for Breakthrough Cancer Research, "Michiè Nakamaru Soprano Recital" at Biwako Hall located next to Lake Biwa, Shiga Prefecture.

Before the Soprano Recital, there was a pre-talk show, "On the Frontiers of Cancer Treatment", by Prof. Masakazu Toi, president of OOTR, and Ms. Michiè Nakamaru. Prof. Toi emphasized that cancer is a serious desease but is conquerable. Ms.Michiè Nakamaru appeald to the audience that people in Japan should participate in charity events like western countries. Then she received a letter of appreciation from OOTR (presenter; Dr.Louis Chow, Executive Director of OOTR) .

The Concert was very emotional. The audience concisting of cancer patients and their families, investigators, and the general public received a heart-warming message from her beautiful singing voice.

Cooperation:	Kyoto Cancer Therapy Learners Group / Support Group of Child Patients in Kyoto University Hospital / Breast Cancer Network Japan Akebono Kyoto / Yakult Honsha Co.,Ltd. / Pfizer Japan Inc. / sanofi-aventis K.K.
Sponsor:	Shiga Prefecture / Shiga Prefecture Education Board / The Asahi Shimbun Company / The Chunichi Shimbun / The Kyoto Shimbun Co.,Ltd / THE MAINICHI NEWSPAPERS / The Yomiuri Shimbun / Japan Broadcasting Corporation / Kyoto Broadcasting System Company Limited / Fm-Kyoto Inc.   (Download Article [Japanese])

Photo Album

Pre-Talk　(Utanosuke Katsura, Michie Nakamaru, and Prof. Masakazu Toi)	Letter of Appreciation from OOTR to Michie (Presenter : Dr. Louis Chow, Executive Director of OOTR)	Encore ! A heart-warming message from Michie's beautiful singing voice.	Michie spoke kindly to the audience
Nice view from Biwako- Hall	Biwako-Hall

Program

Pre-Talk "On the Frontiers of Cancer Treatment"

Talk :	Masakazu Toi, M.D., Ph.D. (President, OOTR / Professor, Kyoto University)
	Michiè Nakamaru (Soprano)
M C :	Utanosuke Katsura (Rakugo Performer)

Soprano Recital

Händel: "Lascia ch'io pianga"Rinaldo / Caccini: Ave Maria / Dvořák: "Als die alte Mutter mich noch lehrte" / Dvořák: "Mĕsíčku na nebi hlubokém..."RUSALKA / Charpentier: "Depuis le jour"LOUISE / T.Koshiya: Hatsukoi / Y.Nakata: Kiri to Hanashita / Verdi: "Mercè, dilette amiche"I VESPRI SICILIANI / Verdi: "Addio del passato"LA TRAVIATA / Catalani: "Ebben? ne andrò lontana" LA WALLY / Bellini: "Casta Diva"NORMA

Encore

Y.Nakata : Watashi ni Uta wo kudasai / Morricone : Cinema Paradiso / Puccini : "O mio babbino" GIANNI SCHICCHI / Chopin : Douze etudes Op.10-3 / Catalan ballad~CASALS : Song of the birds

Michiè Nakamaru, Soprano

Michiè Nakamaru is a graduate of Toho Gakuin Daigaku University, Japan , where she studied singing and took master’s course. Also she studied under Rose Bampton and Daniel Ferro at Julliard School of Music and Mr. Egger in the Academia Mazarteum in Salzburg, Austria.

In 1986, she made her operatic debut by the title role in R.Sutrauss’ Electra conducted by Seiji Ozawa.

In 1987 she went over to Italy, where she studied singing with Giulietta Simionato, Magda Oliver , Arrigo Pola and Antonio Tonini and became the winner in 3rd Luciano Pavarotti International Vocal Competition then she made her Europe debut. She was also winners of 4th Maria Caniglia Competition and shortly after winning 27th Francesco Paolo Neglia International Music Competition, she entered a contract with La Scala, Italy.

In 1989, she made her US debut by Donizetti’s L’Elisir d’Amore with Luciano Pavarotti. She was the winner of 4th Maria Callas Vocal Competition (presented by RAI) in 1990 as the first non-Italian.

Since then she has been invited by numerous opera houses. Her operatic roles includes Parsifal (Wagner), Giulietta in I Capuleti e I montecchi (Bellini), Violetta in La Traviata (Verdi), the title role in Madame Butterfly (Puccini), the title role in Iris (Mascagni).

In 1994, she made an appearance representing France at Charity Gala Concert for children presented by UNESCO at Palace of Versailles, France.

Michiè Nakamaru has released 20 CDs including a opera recording of Rome National Opera with Jose` Cura and Daniela Dessy and Recordings with Die 12 Cellistedn der Berliner Philharmoniker.

She has been invited by number of world-leading orchestras such as Philharmonia Orchestra, Hungarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and Slovak National Radio Symphony Orchestra as a soloist for their concert tour in Japan.

She is also frequently invited to international events including opening ceremonies of Major League Baseball Match, Japan / Korea baseball game, and 50th anniversary of San Francisco Peace Treaty.

Apart from her operatic activities, since 1998 Michie` Nakamaru has been devoting herself into charity concert project for infantile cancer, which is highly acclaimed. (as of April 2005)