Aya Wakizono

Born in Tokyo, Japanese mezzo-soprano Aya Wakizono earned her Master’s degree in Opera Performance from Tokyo University of the Arts.

Aya was awarded a scholarship from the Japanese government to further her studies at the Conservatorio “Arrigo Boito” in Parma, Italy. In 2014, she joined the Accademia Rossiniana at the Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro, where she performed in Il viaggio a Reims.

Later that year, she became a member of the Accademia del Teatro alla Scala in Milan, making her debut at La Scala in the role of Angelina.

Aya’s repertoire focuses particularly on the works of Rossini and Mozart, with roles including Rosina (Il barbiere di Siviglia), Angelina (La Cenerentola), Cherubino (Le nozze di Figaro). She received critical acclaim for her portrayal of Rosina at Teatro alla Scala and Angelina at Teatro Filarmonico in Verona.

In this season: La Cenerentola at La Scala, Il barbiere di Siviglia in Bologna, Dido and Aeneas in Palermo, Roméo et Juliette in Rome and Werther in Tokyo.

In the upcoming season: L'Enfant et les Sortilèges, Der Rosenkavalier among others.

Recent highlights include Roberto Devereux in Genève, Il barbiere di Siviglia in Tokyo, Bianca e Falliero at Rossini Opera Festival, Nabucco in Koln and La straniera in Catania.