The Eccentric Opera

The Eccentric Opera started in 1992; it was founded by Nami Sagara and Nahoko Kakiage. They both had just graduated from the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, Nami on vocals (soprano) and Kakiage on composition. They decided to name the group simply Opera but later changed it to The Eccentric Opera.

Their first release was in 1996; their self-titled album The Eccentric Opera. This album is their most bizarre and is filled with slick dance songs and S&M-related imagery. A third member, tenor Yutaka Kawasima briefly joined and participated in this album, but a little later he left the group and The Eccentric Opera became a duo once more.

In 1997 they released their second album, Hymne, which is considered their best work to date. Being less bizarre than their first album, it appealed to more people. The development of their skill and technique could be seen in the improved mixing of the classical and techno aspects to their songs. Next to re-worked compositions of classical songs, the album also contains a song composed by Nahoko Kakiage herself, with lyrics made up of three different poems by different authors.

At the end of 1997 they released their mini-album, Noel, which showed a completely new side to the group. As the title suggests, the mini-album contained various re-arranged Christmas songs. However in contrast to the very electronic and dance-able songs of the former albums, which are indeed rather eccentric, the Christmas album showed a new and much gentler side to the duo. The album contains very beautiful compositions; the arrangements are vastly improved and Nami’s voice is a jewel shining on top of all of this.

Paradiso was the next album, released in 1998 which bears some similarities with the Hymne album. With this album, The Eccentric Opera managed to reach more people, especially when two of the songs were featured on the soundtrack from the anime series "Nazca". Ai no Fugue, a new version of Bach's Fuge g-moll in particular received much attention as it was used as the opening theme of the anime.

It was silent around the two for quite a long time and finally in 2001 they released another album, Yorokobi. After that, they stopped their activities together. Their last release as The Eccentric Opera was released in 2004, a best-of album and since then the members have been working on their own solo projects.