Mitsuko shirai biography definition
Shirai, Mitsuko, notable Japanese soprano, mezzo-soprano, and teacher; b..
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Mitsuko Shirai
Japanese mezzo-soprano (born 1947)
Mitsuko Shirai (born 28 May 1947) is a Japanese mezzo-soprano and music professor.[1]
Biography
Born in Nagano, Shirai first trained in Tokyo before settling in Germany, where she completed her vocal studies with Elisabeth Schwarzkopf.[2] Between 1973 and 1976, she took prizes in competitions at Vienna, Zwickau, 's-Hertogenbosch, Athens, and Munich.
She made her recital début in Tokyo in 1975, her European début in Amsterdam the following year.[1] In 1989 she made her New York début at Carnegie Hall, in Ravel's Shéhérazade.[2]
In 1973 Shirai formed a duo with the pianist Hartmut Höll.
The pair have toured extensively, performing repertory from Scarlatti to the complete vocal works of Anton Webern, and have given masterclasses in Europe, the USA and Israel.[1] In 1997 the two were awarded the ABC International Music Award.[2]
Shirai has made occasional excursion