Praised for his “soaring lines” and “particularly lyrical” singing (Boston Musical Intelligencer), tenor Taka Komagata performs “with earnest gusto” (The Boston Globe), brightening classical music internationally with his sincere vocal style. His colorful voice and genuine expressions bring new life to his repertoire.
This season 2022/2023, Taka made a role debut as Nemorino in The Elixir of Love with the Hawai’i Opera Theatre. As a resident artist at the Hawai’i Opera Theatre, Taka previously performed the role of Colin Craven in Nolan Gasser’s opera The Secret Garden, Goro in Madama Butterfly and Bastien in a studio version of Mozart’s Bastien und Bastienne. Taka also performed as the tenor soloist in Mozart’s Requiem in D minor with MidAmerica Productions conducted by Peter Tiboris.
In his 2021/2022 season, Taka made his company debut in the role of Manny in Gabriele Vanoni’s Ellis, a world premiere multimedia and immersive opera with Guerilla Opera. In December 2020, he made a Japanese debut in Tokyo and performed the male leading role in an original Christmas musical, I’ll Be Home for Christmas with Asakusa Kyugeki Theater. Also, he recently made his European debut as Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi with Varna International Opera Academy, conducted by Gregory Buchalter from the Metropolitan Opera and directed by Dale Morehouse in Varna, Bulgaria. He also performed the tenor solo in Mozart’s Great Mass in C minor with Varna International Music Academy Orchestra at The Festival and Congress Centre. In Halifax, Taka performed his Canadian debut at Halifax Summer Opera Festival as Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni, conducted by Peter Oleskevich. Recent engagements include Ferrando (Così fan tutte), King Kasper (Amahl and the Night Visitors), Baron Zsupán (Countess Maritza), the title role in Zemlinsky’s Der Zwerg, the leading male role of Charles in The Finishing School by Franz von Suppe, Le Surintendant des plaisirs in Cendrillon, and Federico in L’amico Fritz.
Mr. Komagata co-founded Balcony Series, an artistic troupe delivering timeless classical compositions to unsuspecting listeners through impromptu performances. The series builds spontaneous bridges between everyday life and the experience of classical music by catering to audiences who would otherwise not seek out the genre. Balcony Series has appeared at Boston landmarks such as the Prudential Center, MIT, and the Stillman Willis House. Most recently, with Balcony Series collaborators, the Story Street project has provided intimate community experiences with classical music through story-telling and participatory physical and musical activities at community events.
As an active recitalist, he has had numerous opportunities to perform with distinguished organizations. His recent recital, Aria Night, sponsored by MIT CTL, allowed the audience to learn and enjoy a collection of arias from some of the world’s most popular operas while relating the storylines to their lives through spoken word. He also co-produced Uta, a sold-out all-Japanese recital at the historic Arlington Street Church in Boston.
Mr. Komagata also has a great passion for contemporary music and has worked with renowned contemporary composers. In addition to the performance of Ellis composed by Gabriele Vanoni and The Secret Garden by Nolan Gasser, he’s performed the role of Mr. Foster in Timothy Peterson’s The Séance with the Harford Opera Theater and the role of Friend in a virtual production of Felix Jarrar’s The Fall of the House of Usher.
Taka holds a Graduate Performance Diploma in Opera Performance (‘19) and a Master of Music in Vocal Performance at Longy School of Music of Bard College (‘18), studying under Carol Mastrodomenico; a Certificate of Merit in Voice at New England Conservatory of Music (‘16); and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at Hawaii Pacific University (‘15). He received an encouragement award from the 7th K Vocal Competition (‘22) and a third prize from the Yokohama International Music Competition (‘16).