​Motoki Ishii (Tenor)

As a concert soloist, his repertoire includes W. A. Mozart’s Vespers, Franz Schubert’s Mass No. 2 in G major, D.167 and Mass No. 5 in A-flat major, D.678, as well as L. v. Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9.
He made his operatic debut in 2021 as Alfredo in Verdi’s La Traviata at Fresh Opera, presented by Suntory Hall (cond. Toshiaki Murakami). Since then, he has appeared in major productions such as La Bohème with Fujisawa Civic Opera (2022, cond. Ryuichiro Sonoda), Shimane Prefectural Opera (2023, cond. Hiroyuki Mito), Un Ballo in Maschera at Italy Opera Academy in Tokyo Vol. 3 during Spring Festival in Tokyo 2023, NISSAY OPERA 2023 celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Nissay Theatre with Cherubini’s Medea (Japanese premiere), Fujisawa Civic Opera 50th Anniversary production of Rossini’s Otello, and the 2024 National Joint Opera Production of La Bohème (cond. Michiyoshi Inoue). Through these performances, he has steadily expanded his operatic repertoire.

In 2022, he appeared in the “Shun no Meikashu Series 2022–III” presented by the Japan Performing Arts Foundation (NBS) and The Nikkei, performing alongside world-renowned soprano Lisette Oropesa and the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra under Francesco Lanzillotta. In June 2023, he was selected as the first Japanese singer to perform the role of Prince in Tan Dun’s opera TEA: A Mirror of Soul, composed and conducted by Tan Dun, marking his international operatic debut at the Shangyin Opera House. He subsequently performed the same role in Fuzhou (Fujian Province) and Hong Kong, earning high praise for his dramatic interpretation.

He appeared as the Messenger in Verdi’s Aida conducted by Riccardo Muti at Spring Festival in Tokyo 2024; the performance was broadcast on NHK’s Premium Theater. More recently, he received critical acclaim for the title role in Verdi’s Ernani, and for Gabriele Adorno in Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra at Italy Opera Academy in Tokyo Vol. 5 during Spring Festival in Tokyo 2025.

In October 2025, he was appointed Assistant Faculty Member of the Suntory Hall Opera Academy, actively engaging in the education and mentorship of young singers alongside his performance career.
Upcoming engagements include the tenor soloist in Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra (cond. Daichi Deguchi), Des Grieux in Puccini’s Manon Lescaut and Foresto in Verdi’s Attila at Spring Festival in Tokyo 2026. In April 2026, he is scheduled to make his European operatic debut as Prince in Tan Dun’s TEA: A Mirror of Soul at the Palace of Arts Budapest (Müpa Budapest), conducted by the composer himself.

He is regarded as one of the most rapidly rising tenors in recent years.