Theatre Opera “The Italian Turk” 2026, Tokyo, Japan

• October 2, 2026
  Event date:
• October 12, 2026
  Event end:

What to expect in 2026

Theatre Opera “The Italian Turk” 2026 brings Gioachino Rossini’s comic opera Il Turco in Italia to the New National Theatre, Tokyo for its first production at the theatre. The new production opens the New National Theatre’s 2026/2027 opera season and runs from October 2 to October 12, 2026, at the Opera Palace in Hatsudai, Tokyo. The opera is performed in Italian with Japanese and English surtitles and has an expected running time of approximately three hours including an interval.

Rossini’s opera follows a complicated chain of romantic encounters involving Fiorilla, her husband Geronio, the Turkish prince Selim, Narciso, Zaida and the poet Prosdocimo. Rather than presenting a simple love story, the work develops through misunderstandings, disguises, flirtation and shifting relationships, with duets, trios, quartets and larger ensemble scenes driving the comedy.

The 2026 staging is particularly notable because it is a new production for the New National Theatre but was created through a co-production with Teatro Real of Madrid and Opéra National de Lyon. Laurent Pelly’s production originally premiered in Madrid in 2023 and uses the idea of the “photonovel,” a melodramatic romance story combining photographs, speech bubbles and heightened romantic fantasy. The concept expands the opera’s existing metatheatrical structure and places Fiorilla’s imagination at the centre of the production.

New National Theatre debut: This production marks the first staging of Rossini’s Il Turco in Italia at the New National Theatre, Tokyo.

International co-production: The production is a collaboration with Teatro Real of Madrid and Opéra National de Lyon.

Italian opera buffa: The work combines Rossini’s fast-moving comic writing with elaborate ensembles and a deliberately theatrical storyline.

Photonovel concept: Laurent Pelly develops the story through the visual language of romantic photo novels, creating a stylised world where characters appear to move between reality and imagination.

2026/2027 season opener: The production officially opens the New National Theatre’s 2026/2027 opera season.

Event dates

The production is scheduled for five performances between October 2 and October 12, 2026. Each performance takes place at the Opera Palace of the New National Theatre, Tokyo.

Friday, October 2, 2026: 6:00 PM

Sunday, October 4, 2026: 2:00 PM

Wednesday, October 7, 2026: 2:00 PM

Saturday, October 10, 2026: 2:00 PM

Monday, October 12, 2026: 1:00 PM

The October 2 performance is the premiere and the opening performance of the 2026/2027 opera season. The October 12 performance is scheduled as a holiday afternoon performance and is also associated with the theatre’s child-audience support programme.

The theatre estimates the complete performance at approximately three hours including an interval. The published running time may change, so visitors should leave sufficient time after the performance if they have restaurant reservations, transport connections or other activities planned.

Doors normally open approximately 45 minutes before the performance. Latecomers may be required to wait for an appropriate break before entering the auditorium.

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Venue & performance locations

All five performances take place at the Opera Palace inside the New National Theatre, Tokyo.

Venue: New National Theatre, Tokyo – Opera Palace

Address: 1-1-1 Hon-machi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 151-0071, Japan

Nearest station: Hatsudai Station on the Keio New Line

The New National Theatre is directly connected to Hatsudai Station via the Central Exit. The Opera Palace is the theatre’s principal opera auditorium and is specifically designed for large-scale opera productions.

The Opera Palace auditorium is designed with substantial oak finishes on its walls and ceiling, contributing to the acoustic environment. The New National Theatre also provides Japanese and English surtitles for opera performances, making the production accessible to international visitors who do not speak Italian.

There are no separate outdoor festival areas or multiple concert venues for this production. The entire performance takes place inside the Opera Palace.

Full programme

Rossini’s Il Turco in Italia is an opera buffa in two acts. The story is set around the Neapolitan coast and revolves around Fiorilla’s romantic adventures, the arrival of Turkish prince Selim and the efforts of the poet Prosdocimo to turn the tangled events into a successful comedy.

Act I: The opening act introduces Zaida, Selim, Fiorilla, Geronio, Narciso and Prosdocimo. Selim arrives in Naples and becomes involved with Fiorilla, while her husband Geronio struggles to understand and control the situation. Zaida’s previous relationship with Selim further complicates the developing romantic triangle.

Act II: The romantic confusion intensifies through disguises, mistaken identities and the involvement of the poet Prosdocimo. A masked-ball sequence creates further confusion before the characters ultimately move toward reconciliation.

Metatheatrical element: Prosdocimo acts as a narrator-like figure who wants to create a successful comedy from the events taking place around him.

Musical structure: The opera is notable for its succession of arias, duets, trios, quartets and large ensemble passages, giving the production a continuously changing dramatic rhythm.

The performance is sung in Italian, with Japanese and English surtitles displayed for the audience.

Featured productions & performers

The 2026 production brings together an international creative team and a cast with experience in Rossini and Italian opera.

Conductor – Alessandro Bonato: The Italian conductor leads the Tokyo performances and makes his New National Theatre debut. He has conducted orchestras and opera companies in Italy and internationally, including work connected with the Rossini Festival in Pesaro.

Director and costume design – Laurent Pelly: Pelly is responsible for the production concept and costume design. His staging was originally created for Teatro Real in Madrid and subsequently developed through the international co-production with Opéra National de Lyon.

Set design – Chantal Thomas: Thomas creates the visual environment for Pelly’s production, supporting the photo-novel-inspired world.

Lighting design – Joël Adam: The lighting contributes to the transition between the realistic and imagined worlds of the story.

Revival director – Christian Räth: Räth supervises the revival of the existing international production for its Tokyo presentation.

Associate costume designer – Jean-Jacques Delmotte: Delmotte assists with the costume design.

Selim – Alejandro Baliñas Vieites: The Turkish prince is performed by Alejandro Baliñas Vieites. He replaced Giorgi Manoshvili, who withdrew from the role for personal reasons. The New National Theatre officially announced the change in May 2026.

Donna Fiorilla – Claudia Muschio: Fiorilla is sung by Claudia Muschio, who previously attracted attention at the New National Theatre in La Sonnambula.

Don Geronio – Paolo Bordogna: Bordogna takes the role of Fiorilla’s husband and is particularly associated with comic baritone and buffo repertoire.

Don Narciso – Ruzil Gatin: Gatin performs the role of Narciso.

Prosdocimo – Bruno Taddia: Taddia portrays the poet who attempts to transform the unfolding romantic chaos into a theatrical comedy.

Zaida – Yuka Tajima: Tajima performs Zaida, Selim’s former lover.

Albazar – Yasuhiro Yamamoto: Yamamoto completes the principal cast as Albazar.

Chorus: New National Theatre Chorus

Orchestra: Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra

Shows & performances

The central performance is a comic romantic opera in which no relationship remains straightforward for long. Fiorilla is bored with her married life and becomes interested in Selim when the Turkish prince arrives in Naples. At the same time, Zaida has a previous connection with Selim, while Geronio and Narciso become caught in Fiorilla’s romantic games.

The character of Prosdocimo gives the work an additional theatrical dimension. Rather than simply observing events, the poet attempts to shape them into a comedy, creating a story within a story.

The production’s “photonovel” concept turns this metatheatrical quality into a visual language. Characters can appear to move between the everyday world and the fantasy world imagined by Fiorilla, creating opportunities for stylised costumes, comic poses and theatrical transformations.

The performance is therefore built around both musical and visual comedy. Rossini’s ensemble writing allows several characters to interact simultaneously, while Pelly’s direction emphasises the playful theatrical possibilities of the story.

Performance schedule

The complete 2026 performance schedule is:

October 2: 6:00 PM – Premiere

October 4: 2:00 PM – Afternoon performance

October 7: 2:00 PM – Weekday matinee

October 10: 2:00 PM – Saturday matinee

October 12: 1:00 PM – Holiday matinee

Each performance runs for approximately three hours including an interval. The October 10 performance offers a dedicated childcare service, while October 12 is associated with a child-audience invitation programme.

Visitors should arrive before the auditorium opens because admission after the performance has started can be restricted until an appropriate break. The theatre generally opens the Opera Palace approximately 45 minutes before the scheduled start.

Ticket types

The New National Theatre offers several seating categories for Il Turco in Italia. The published standard prices, converted to approximate US dollars using an exchange rate of about ¥158.05 per US dollar in September 2026, are as follows. The exchange rate can change, so the dollar equivalents are approximate.

S Seat: approximately $201.83

A Seat: approximately $167.04

B Seat: approximately $121.80

C Seat: approximately $76.56

D Seat: approximately $52.20

Z Seat: approximately $12.53

Z seats are day-of-performance seats and have restricted views. They are sold on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to availability.

The theatre also provides discounted programmes for eligible younger audiences.

U25: approximately $34.80 for visitors from elementary-school age through 25.

U39 general: approximately $76.56 for eligible visitors aged 39 or younger.

U39 Atre members: approximately $69.60 for eligible Atre members aged 39 or younger.

The theatre states that U25 and U39 tickets are available for all performances, subject to the relevant eligibility and registration requirements.

Ticket release & booking

Advance booking for the production opened in stages.

Atre member advance sales: June 27 to July 6, 2026

New National Theatre Members advance sales: June 28 to July 6, 2026

General public sales: July 11, 2026 from 10:00 AM

Tickets are available through the New National Theatre Box Office as well as major Japanese ticket services including Ticket Pia, e-plus and Lawson Ticket. The Ticket Pia listing supplied for this event corresponds to the Tokyo production at the Opera Palace.

The New National Theatre Box Office can be contacted at +81-3-5352-9999, with published telephone service hours of 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

Visitors should check seat availability before travelling, particularly for the premiere and weekend performances.

VIP & premium seating

No separate VIP package or backstage-access package has been announced for this production.

The standard premium experience is based on the seating category selected inside the Opera Palace.

S seats: The highest standard seating category and the most expensive regular tickets.

A and B seats: Mid-range seating categories offering alternatives across the auditorium.

C and D seats: Lower-priced standard categories.

Z seats: Restricted-view day tickets offered at a significantly lower price.

The theatre also provides eligible youth and age-related discount schemes, allowing some audiences to access S- or A-level seating through special ticket programmes.

Event rules

Visitors should follow the New National Theatre’s standard opera attendance regulations.

Age restriction: Preschool children are not permitted to enter the performance.

Late admission: Audience members arriving after the opera has started may have to wait until an appropriate break before entering the auditorium.

Photography and recording: Photography, video recording and other unauthorised recording inside the performance area are not permitted.

Tickets: Every audience member who meets the age requirement needs an appropriate ticket.

Ticket changes: Tickets generally cannot be changed or refunded except when a performance is cancelled.

Cast changes: Performers or programme details may change because of unavoidable circumstances. The replacement of Giorgi Manoshvili by Alejandro Baliñas Vieites is one confirmed example for this production.

Seat restrictions: Some ticket categories have specific purchase limits, and Z seats are restricted-view seats sold according to availability.

Visitors should also avoid disturbing other audience members with phones, conversation or movement during the performance.

How to get there

The New National Theatre, Tokyo is located at 1-1-1 Hon-machi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, and is directly connected to Hatsudai Station on the Keio New Line.

From Shinjuku: Take the Keio New Line from Shinjuku to Hatsudai Station. Hatsudai is one station from Shinjuku, making the theatre particularly convenient for visitors staying in the Shinjuku area.

From Hatsudai Station: Follow the signs for the New National Theatre and use the Central Exit for the standard route. The Opera Palace can be reached through the theatre’s main entrance.

By taxi: The theatre is close to the Yamate-dori and Koshu-kaido intersection and can be reached by taxi from Shinjuku and central Tokyo.

For wheelchair users, the theatre recommends the East Exit at Hatsudai Station because it provides a smoother step-free route using elevators.

Public transport & parking

Public transport is particularly convenient because Hatsudai Station is directly connected to the theatre.

Train: Hatsudai Station on the Keio New Line provides direct access to the New National Theatre.

Bus from Shibuya: Keio Bus routes including Shibuya 61, Shibuya 63 and Shibuya 66 serve the New National Theatre area.

Bus stop: The nearest major stop is Shin-kokuritsu-gekijo, meaning New National Theatre.

Parking: The theatre shares an underground car park with Tokyo Opera City. The facility has approximately 860 spaces and operates from 7:00 AM to 11:30 PM. The published standard parking rate is approximately $1.90 per 30 minutes based on the September 2026 exchange rate.

The theatre states that performance visitors can receive a parking discount, with the applicable parking ticket presented at the theatre information counter. Vehicles over 2.1 metres high cannot enter the car park.

Accommodation areas

Visitors travelling to Tokyo for the opera have several convenient neighbourhoods to consider.

Shinjuku: Shinjuku is one of the most practical areas because Hatsudai is only one station away on the Keio New Line. The district offers a wide range of hotels, restaurants and transport connections.

Hatsudai: Staying close to Hatsudai allows visitors to walk or take a very short train journey to the theatre. The area is quieter than central Shinjuku while remaining well connected.

Shibuya: Shibuya provides extensive accommodation, shopping and dining options and is connected to the theatre by train and bus.

Yoyogi: Yoyogi is convenient for visitors combining the opera with central Tokyo sightseeing.

Shinjuku West: The western side of Shinjuku is particularly practical for reaching Hatsudai without crossing the busiest parts of central Tokyo.

Visitors attending an evening performance on October 2 may prefer accommodation near Shinjuku or Hatsudai to simplify the journey after the three-hour performance.

Dining & refreshments

The New National Theatre provides dining and refreshment options within the theatre complex. The venue specifically highlights Italian cuisine on the third floor as an option before or after opera performances.

The production is an Italian opera, making the theatre’s Italian dining options particularly appropriate for visitors who want to extend the theme of the performance into their meal.

Before the performance: Visitors attending the 2:00 PM matinees can plan an early lunch around Hatsudai or inside the theatre complex.

Interval: The performance includes an interval, although visitors should follow the theatre’s instructions regarding refreshments and return to their seats.

After the performance: Shinjuku is close enough to provide extensive choices for dinner, cafés and evening activities.

The surrounding Tokyo Opera City complex also provides additional restaurants and cafés, making the area convenient for visitors who want to eat without travelling far from the theatre.

Accessibility

The New National Theatre, Tokyo is designed as a barrier-free venue, with slopes, elevators and other facilities for visitors with mobility requirements.

Wheelchair spaces: All three theatres at the New National Theatre provide wheelchair spaces for public performances.

Wheelchair discounts: For performances presented by the New National Theatre, special discounted wheelchair seating is available, with one accompanying helper admitted free of charge. Visitors should contact the Box Office for the applicable arrangements.

Accessible route: Wheelchair users arriving by train should use the East Exit of Hatsudai Station because the route provides elevator access without the standard stairs.

Accessible toilets: A wheelchair-friendly toilet is located near the Information Centre on the fifth floor.

Hearing and visual assistance: The theatre provides usher assistance for guests with visual or hearing impairments.

Children’s support: A supervised children’s room, Do-Re-Mi, is available for eligible performances and requires advance reservation. The October 10 performance is specifically marked as having childcare service available.

Best performances to attend

All five performances present the same production, cast and creative team, so the main difference is the date and performance time.

October 2: The premiere performance is the opening event of the New National Theatre’s 2026/2027 opera season. It is the first public presentation of this production at NNTT.

October 4: The Sunday afternoon performance provides a convenient weekend option for visitors who want to combine the opera with Tokyo sightseeing.

October 7: The weekday matinee may suit visitors with flexible daytime schedules and those looking to avoid a weekend performance.

October 10: The Saturday afternoon performance is convenient for a weekend Tokyo itinerary and is marked for childcare service availability.

October 12: The holiday performance begins at 1:00 PM and is associated with the theatre’s child-audience programme.

For international visitors, the performance date should also be chosen according to accommodation and sightseeing plans because the opera itself is presented in Italian with Japanese and English surtitles.

Previous year’s highlights

Because Il Turco in Italia is a new production at the New National Theatre, Tokyo, there is no previous NNTT staging of this production to use as a direct 2025 comparison.

The most relevant previous highlight is the international production’s original premiere at Teatro Real in Madrid in 2023. The staging was created as a co-production with Opéra National de Lyon and subsequently became the production being presented at the New National Theatre for the 2026/2027 season.

2023 Madrid premiere: Laurent Pelly’s production was first presented at Teatro Real in Madrid.

International production: The staging was developed as a collaboration involving Teatro Real and Opéra National de Lyon.

Photonovel concept: The production uses the visual idea of Italian photonovels to reinterpret the opera’s metatheatrical comedy.

Tokyo presentation: The New National Theatre brings this production to Japan as a new production for its 2026/2027 opera season.

The New National Theatre’s 2026/2027 season includes three new productions in total, with Il Turco in Italia opening the season in October, followed by Britten’s Peter Grimes and Verdi’s Macbeth later in the season.

Official tickets

Tickets for Il Turco in Italia can be purchased through the official New National Theatre ticketing system and authorised Japanese ticket services.

New National Theatre Box Office: The theatre’s official Box Office handles telephone and in-person ticket sales and can provide information about discounts, accessibility and seating.

Ticket Pia: The event is listed on Ticket Pia under the event supplied for this production.

Other authorised sellers: The New National Theatre also lists e-plus and Lawson Ticket among its official ticket channels.

The official New National Theatre page should be checked for the latest information because cast, programme and performance details may change. The theatre has already confirmed one cast change, with Alejandro Baliñas Vieites replacing Giorgi Manoshvili as Selim.

Location

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