谷中のCOUZT CAFEでワイン会
オペラ歌手の私・小鉄和広がワイン会を始めたきっかけは、マケドニアという国を2013年から何回も訪問したことから。マケドニアはバルカン半島の真ん中に位置する小さな山国で、美しいオフリド湖が国の誇り。正式名称は「北マケドニア共和国」ですが、私は愛着と尊敬を込めて「マケドニア」と呼んでいます。
これまで、2014年の日本とマケドニアの国交20周年を記念した音楽交流のための企画や、現地の歌劇場での出演、そして日本からの合唱団引率等をしているうちに、マケドニアの豊かな自然や、そこで生み出される民謡や踊り、そしてワインが大好きになりました。
ヴラネッツ等、バルカン半島の葡萄の様々な固有種による個性豊かなワインを、日本で広めたい、そしてマケドニアの文化や自然に注目して欲しい、そんな思いで2022年7月より東京オペラ ワイン会 at COUZT CAFE というシリーズを始めました。
https://pesna.org/
東京オペラのワイン会やコンサートのお問い合わせは：
参考までに、夕刊紙インタビューのために準備した英文を以下に載せておきます。
Vecer Questions from the daily newspaper Vecer
（19, 20 Feb. 2022)
1. For those who have not heard of you in Macedonia, about the Japanese opera singer who performs Macedonian songs with great fervor, although I believe that there are few of them, tell us something more about yourself.
I was born and grew up in a small fishing town facing Japan sea, and then came to Tokyo for studying opera when I was 18 years old. From then, I stay in Tokyo expect study abroad in Italy and visits to many cities in the world to attend operas/concerts. I started opera singing on professional stage from 28 years old. From then, more than 30 years have passed and my dairy activities are becoming to focus on concert production rather than attending opera as a singer.
2. You are currently in Macedonia. What was the occasion to visit our country again and will you attend the gala opera concert on Saturday at the Macedonian Opera and Ballet, where your friend Blagoj Nacoski will perform?
From the begining of the pandemic, I remain in Japan till now. Yesterday Mr.Nacoski wrote me that he will sing a Japanese song with chorus and orchestra at the gala concert. I hope that the audience enjoy it.
2. For the past two years, you have literally conquered the Macedonian public with music videos in which you perform famous Macedonian songs, which Nacoski posted on his Facebook profile. Tell us how you came up with this idea?
When I visited Macedonia at first time in 2013, I sang The song “Bolen mi lezhi Mile Pop Jordanov” in concerts in Macedonia. After this experience, I found the video of my performance on Youtube uploaded by someone else. And it surprized me that many peaple watched the video and enjoyed it. Therefore I started to study other Macedonian songs and this genre started to fascinate me.
3. When did you first hear about Macedonia and visit it, and did you have any previous knowledge about our country and Macedonian music?
I collaborated with Mr.Nacoski to realise some productions of opera/concerts for celebrating the 20 years anniversary of the Macedonia-Japan diplomatic relationship. From then, I started to know the country and its culture and history. Before this, I didn’t know very well about the country and I must confess that I didn’t know nothing about Macedonian music.
4. Your performance of the songs "If I Die" and "Macedonian Girl" literally causes a storm of emotions and admiration in everyone who listens to them. What was actually the first Macedonian song you sang, when did it happen and why did you decide to record videos with Macedonian folk songs?
As I said, my first Macedonian song is “Bolen mi lezhi Mile Pop Jordanov”. I sung this in Macedonia becouse Mr.Nacoski recommended me. After this, I continued to find the songs that may fit my voice. In this work, I found a Macedonian impressive singer/composer. He was the great Jonche Hristovski. I decided to record “Ako umram” for YouTube non only becouse his voice is low like me, but also because his song and singing are very emotional for me. After this song, I recorded “Makedonsko Devojche” that has the strangely same pathos as Japanese “folk song” of 1970’s, in my adolescence.
5. How many Macedonian songs have you learned and recorded so far and was it difficult for you to sing them since you do not know the Macedonian language well? By the way, which of those songs is your favorite?
I learned/sung about 30 songs. It is certainly difficult to sing in a unfamiliar language, but it is also joy of discovering a new world. I think that my experience as opera singer helps me to learn the pronunciation of languege. My favorite song changes everyday. Today it is “Na chetvrti maj devetsto i treta”(Goce Delchev’s death), because I rehearsed the song 10 times in this morning.
6. All these songs are emotional, related to the Macedonian past, to the Macedonian patriotism. What emotions do the songs and the Macedonian rhythm evoke in you while you sing, but also in the Japanese audience while listening to them?
Honestly, seven-eight rhythm was not natural for me. But now it feels me comfortable and very powerful. I didn’t know very well the history of your country. I’m learning it by singing songs. I was deeply shocked by the serious history of your country. Sometimes the lyrics make me too much emotional and difficult to sing them. In Japan, when I sing a Macedonian song, “Bolem mi lezhi Mile Pop Jordanov” for example, I try to explain the meaning of lyrics to the audience, before singing. After my singing, they stand up very often, with the rispect for your country.
7. How many times have you visited Macedonia, which places besides Skopje did you manage to see and what did you like in our country? Did you like the food in Macedonia and which, given that it is very different from the Japanese?
I visited Macedonia 5 times (2013-2016). Visited Skopje,Bitola and Ohrid. I like The lake Ohrid and the main street of Bitola. I hope to visit also other locations in the next occasion. I like all Macedonian foods in my experience. The chicken soup is one of my favorites. You didn’t ask me about the drinks, but I must say that the Macedonian wine, the rakija and the Skopje’s beer are fantastic. Anyway, I would like to discover more in the country, because I didn’t enjoyed enough, always visiting for concerts/operas, not for tourism/eating/drinking.
8. How would you describe the Macedonian people, did you make friends and is the mentality very different from that of the Japanese? What do you think is very similar, but also very different in the two countries?
The first (and till now) impression of the peaple is warm hospitality from bottom of the heart. Japanese peaple is generally too shy to make friend. Now, staying in japan, I have many Macedonian friends by social networking service. Macedonian peaple, sometimes, seem me too loose in time, but in Japan, we are extremely severe in it. In Japan, if you arrive at an appointment 3 minutes late, you must explain the reason.
9. How did you spend this period of the pandemic and what is the current situation in Japan with the possibility of performing concerts on stage. And in general, is life in Japan returning to normal?
Like as many artists, I had to cancel many concerts/productions in the pandemic situation. In this period, the recording of Macedonian songs comfort my sadness. In Japan, now the number of infected peaple is increasing. So the number of audience in concerts must be limited. But I personally hope that the situation shall be changed in spring.
10. What are your plans for the next period in terms of concert performances? Do you plan to perform on the Macedonian stage, to intensify the cooperation with Macedonian artists and will you continue to record new videos with Macedonian songs and promote them in Japan?
In Japam, I have some program of concert/opera in March and beyond. And I’m thinking about a concert with Macedonian repertoire a Tokyo, maybe in summer. In parallelI, I will continue to record Macedonian songs for YouTube. But now I don’t have any program for visiting Macedonia. Now I am thinking about how to do that.
11. Finally, what would you say to the readers of the newspaper "Vecer"?
I’m very happy and honored because you Macedonian peaple accept my singing of your beloved songs. I hope to visit Macedonia again, and to sing for you and with you. I can’t clearly promise when I do, but I will absolutely do that!
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