2026 VL Concert

Thank you so much for joining us for Voice Lab’s concert today.
All of us are truly grateful to be able to share this time and music with you.

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Over many years, Voice Lab has quietly cultivated a collection of music that we genuinely love. Many of the pieces you will hear today are works we have treasured and sung within our rehearsals for a long time, but have never had the opportunity to share publicly until now. It brings us great joy to finally present them to you.

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Today’s program features music that crosses cultures and languages, including works by Takatomi Nobunaga, music from Okinawa, English repertoire, and the world of Italian art song and opera.

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Though each work comes from a different background, they all share a common warmth — a desire to express the human heart through music. We hope that through these performances, you will be able to experience the unique landscapes and stories found within each piece.

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We are also honored to feature soprano Niko Murakami and tenor Hart Chen in scenes from the opera L’elisir d’amore (The Elixir of Love). Together with the members of Voice Lab, we hope to share both the joy of music-making and the richness of storytelling through music.

 

Today’s program begins with the quiet resonance of Japanese poetry and music. These works delicately portray the movements of the human heart through scenes of nature and fleeting moments of everyday life. In Miyakowasure, the gentle image of the flower evokes a world tinged with nostalgia. The following piece, On a Quiet Rainy Night, paints a reflective and introspective atmosphere found within the stillness of a rainy evening. We hope you will enjoy the subtle beauty and delicate colors unique to the Japanese language and its musical expression.

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The following English set consists of works that we rehearsed throughout the COVID pandemic. During that time, gathering together to sing was often difficult, yet we continued holding onto the desire to stay connected through music. Many of these works are being performed publicly for the first time today. Among them, How Can I Keep from Singing remains especially meaningful to us, as it was also recorded during that period. Its message of continuing to sing even through hardship reflects the spirit that runs throughout today’s entire program.

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The set featuring soloist Niko Murakami includes works that have accompanied various seasons and experiences of life. Aisareteiru (“Loved”) conveys warmth and gentleness through simple and sincere words, while Autumn Hydrangeas quietly reflects the passage of time through the changing seasons. These works value the natural resonance of words and melody rather than outward display or virtuosity.

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The next work, Tubarama, is a traditional folk song from the Yaeyama region of Okinawa and holds a special place within Voice Lab’s repertoire. This arrangement was written specifically for Voice Lab by Okinawan composer and arranger Takeshi Teruya, who is known for his extensive work with Okinawan music. At one point, we spent significant time studying Okinawan music and immersing ourselves in its unique language, melodies, and sonorities. Tubarama is beloved as a folk song that expresses deep human emotion and inner thoughts, leaving a lingering resonance within its spacious and flowing melody.

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The works of composer Takatomi Nobunaga have long been central to Voice Lab’s repertoire. Many of these pieces have appeared repeatedly in our past concerts and have stayed with us over the years. This set brings together some of the works that have become especially dear to us. Alongside Hana Sakura (Cherry Blossom), which we also recorded, Sora (Sky) captures the expansiveness and energy of the sky, with a brightness and openness that reminds us of the South Bay’s sunny landscapes and coastal atmosphere. Cosmos offers soft colors and lyricism, while Like Bamboo expresses our wish for children to grow strong, resilient, and graceful like bamboo itself. These works share a common ability to reflect human life and emotion through images of the natural world.

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In the second half of the program, we enter the world of Italian art song and opera. Opera has always been an important part of this ensemble’s repertoire and is also the conductor’s area of specialization. Before the pandemic, South Bay Singers had planned to present excerpts from L’elisir d’amore, though the performance was unfortunately never realized. Today, we are happy to finally share a small portion of that program and invite you into the dramatic storytelling and musical flow unique to opera.

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Composed by Gaetano Donizetti, L’elisir d’amore (The Elixir of Love) is beloved for its lighthearted humor and charming characters. The protagonist, Nemorino, turns to a supposed “love potion” in hopes of winning Adina’s affection, but as the story unfolds, he gradually realizes that human hearts are moved not by magic, but by sincere and honest love. Among the opera’s most famous moments is the aria Una furtiva lagrima (“A Secret Tear”), in which Nemorino realizes Adina’s true feelings for him.

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We conclude today’s concert with a medley of Japanese children’s songs centered around Shabondama (“Soap Bubbles”). Singing in Japanese remains an important part of this ensemble’s mission, and many beloved Japanese songs are featured throughout today’s program. Within these melodies and words live the landscapes, memories, and atmosphere of another time. We hope these songs, cherished across generations, will leave you with a gentle and peaceful resonance as the concert comes to a close.

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Thank you very much for joining us today!

All of us performers are deeply grateful to have been able to share this time of music with you.

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We would also like to express our sincere appreciation to everyone who supported and contributed to this concert. This performance would not have been possible without the help of the many staff members and volunteers who assisted with preparations and stage operations, as well as all those who continually support our activities behind the scenes.

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Above all, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to each member of Voice Lab. Despite their busy lives, every singer devoted their time and energy to music with sincerity and care, helping to shape this concert together. Today’s performance is the result of all of those shared efforts and countless hours spent growing together through music.

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We hope this concert marks a meaningful milestone as we continue moving forward into a new season of growth. Through music, we hope to keep learning, discovering new experiences and connections, and continuing to build something even more meaningful together.

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We would be truly grateful for your continued support and encouragement in the years ahead.

Thank you again for being with us today.

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Naoko Suga
Director