– Nicolas Krusek (Vancouver Classical Music)

Praised for his “well-projected, heroic baritone” (Opera Canada), Nikkei-Canadian baritone, Luka Kawabata is a recent graduate of the Yulanda M Faris Young Artists Program at Vancouver Opera. Recent seasons highlights include two company debuts as Schaunard in La Bohème (Edmonton Opera) and Escamillo in Carmen (Saskatoon Opera). He previously appeared with Vancouver Opera as Peter Quince in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, as Dmitri in The Music Shop, as Escamillo in Carmen: Up Close and Personal and as Bill Bobstay in Gilbert and Sullivan’s HMS Pinafore.

Luka’s ongoing recital series, “The HAFU ハーフ Project”, explores the themes of identity, memory and culture through classical music. “Paueru-gai パウエル街” (Manitoba Opera DEAP) premiered during IndieFest 2021, faciliated by re:Naissance Opera. The most recent chapter 希望 was produced through Pacific Opera Victoria’s Civic Engagement Artist Residency in June 2023.

As an impassioned interpreter of contemporary works, Luka has frequented roles in new operas including Lieutenant Audebert in Silent Night, Tadeusz in the Canadian Premiere of Pasażerka, Owl in The Flight of the Hummingbird, and the Asahi Baseball Player in Shadowcatch. Last season, Luka covered the role of Mr XE in the co-production of Angel’s Bone (Sound the Alarm, re:Naissance Opera, Loose Tea Theatre). In the 2023-2024 season, Luka joins Opera on the Avalon’s newly minted Young Artist Program to cover the role of John in Laura Kaminsky’s February.