<<Back Page Next Page>> The musical "Candide" which is originally produced by Leonard Bernstein, modified and directed by Amon Miyamoto, will raise its curtains on the 26th of April. For Akinori Nakagawa, this will be his third leading part for musical after "Mozart!" and "PURE LOVE". Akinori is a 21 years old star with slender body and quiet voice, which is energetic enthusiastic inside. We asked his enthusiasms and feelings towards this coming musical "Candide". Text: Yukiko Komine /Photo: Fumio Saito I was very much attracted to this entertainment with both common and artistic touches. "When I had this offer of performing in Candide, I listened to Bernstein's CD and felt that this was going to be very difficult. Every score of Bernstein had its turn and conclusions. It has both common touches and artistic touches. I was a little anxious of performing this difficult play. But I felt that there is a lot to learn by pushing myself to my capacity. I decided to spring forward this anxious feeling and accepted this role. There for, Candide is going to be a great challenge for me. I am a musician as well as a stage actor. There for I have two faces. Candide is a challenge to go ahead and become an independent entertainer. I am looking forward to see various characters of the director Amon Miyamoto and other talented people from classic fields, to combine and create one masterpiece. As an entertainer, I wish to hunt for more presence on the stage. "By performing the leading part in both "Mozart!" and "PURE LOVE", I realized that musicals work out by an ensemble of both music and acting. The neither should outstand the other. The harmony of both is the essence of a good performance and enjoyment. I had a struggle before I was aware with that fact. It is difficult but that balance itself is the brilliance of musical. By learning the joy of musical, I was able to find my next goal as an entertainer. "Candide requires more entertainment and presence on the stage than my two previous musicals. My main issue was to add my own essence in the story to make it even more dramatic. A beloved son Candide loses his lover in sudden disappearance and gets involved in various situations. He then realizes that love is something you gain with your strong will through your life, and not something you just give. The bane, disappointment and suffer of Candide has many in common with myself. By playing Candide, my fifth part has changed toward a new possibility. By performing my part in satisfaction, I would like to give myself a harder job and broaden my possibility. The time of age 2004 should love this play. I feel a shivering sense of tension to be able to perform. "My most favorite in this play is the song "Make Our Garden Grow". When I first heard this song, I couldn't sleep. It will be one of the songs that will remain in my heart forever since I believe it is the song that expresses Bernstein's feeling the most. The hidden theme inside entertainment of common and artistic touch is very deep and difficult. But to create and pass on the message is a life-long calling for a creator. If you neglect that, you can't go further. So I try to be strict to myself as possible. I feel a shivering sense of tension and I also feel the passion of the staffs every time we practice. We all the same goal, that is to make this play a success. I believe that Candide has meaning to be played in this time age 2004, and is the lovable play of this time of age." Akinori Nakagawa ●Born 5th November 1982 in Sendai. Shows great talent as a singer, lyricist, composer, pianist, and orchestrator. In 2001 he made his debut as a singer with " I WILL GET YOUR KISS". The song was used as the theme song in "MARIA" a TV drama of TBS, and sold over 200000 copies. Akinori won rookie award in drama section of the National Arts Festival, best male actor and Haruko Sugimura award in Yomiuri Drama Awards, by performing in the musical "Mozart!" in 2002. He performed his second musical "PURE LOVE" in 2003, which also ended in a great success. Released his 4th single "Matador" in January 2004. His second album "himself" released on 17th March is also in the charts. ● See Preview for schedules and details.