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The Japanese mezzo-soprano, Makiko Yamasshita [Japanese: 山下牧子]: graduated from the Hiroshima University and continued her studies at the Tokyo University. She won of the 1st place at the Tokyo Music Competition vocal music department, and 3rd place at the Japan Music Competition. Among her voice teachers was Makoto Okuda.
In 2002, Makiko Yamasshita sang in Carmen at the Nissay Theatre opera classroom (Japanese Version), making her opera debut in the title role. From 2004, she appeared at the New National Theatre, Tokyo, where she has performed roles as Beppe in Mascagni's L'amico Fritz (small theater series), Lola in Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana, A high-school boy (Der Gymnasiast) in Alban Berg's Lulu, Arsamene in George Frideric Handel's Xerxes (small theater series), Kate Pinkerton in Puccini's Madama Butterfly, Mercedes in Georges Bizet's Carmen, Ein Page der Herodias in Strauss' Salome, Charlotte in Bernd Alois Zimmermann's Die Soldaten, Giovanna in Verdi's Rigoletto, Roßweiße in Wagner's Die Walküre, Margret in Alban Berg's Wozzeck. Tebaldo in Verdi's Don Carlos, Brigitta in E.W. Korngold's Die tote Stadt, Boy in Matsumura Teizo's Silence, Kusano in Ikebe Shinichiro's Rokumeikan. She also appeared in Umberto Giordano's Andrea Chenier as Bersi. In 2005 she widened her operatic repertoire with performances also at Tokyo Nikikai Opera, with roles as Flora in Verdi's La Traviata, the title role in G.F. Handel's Julius Caesar, Dorabella in W.A. Mozart's Così fan tutte , Suzuki in Madame Butterfly, Herodias in R. Strauss' Salome. Currently she is a Nikikai member
In concert, Makiko Yamasshita began to appear as a soloist in 1998, singing Berlioz' Les nuits d'été, followed by such works as L.v. Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, J.S. Bach's Mass in B minor (BWV 232), Magnificat (BWV 243), Christmas Oratorio
(BWV 248) and St. Matthew Passion (BWV 244), G.F. Handel's Messiah, Antonio Vivaldi's Gloria, Haydn's Mass in Time of War, W.A. Mozart's Requiem and Missa brevis, Maurice Duruflé's Requiem, Verdi's Requiem, etc. She often starred with domestic orchestra in particular in L.v. Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 and G.F. Handel's Messiah. She has often participated with early music performances of groups such as the Bach Collegium Japan (Director: Masaaki Suzuki), participating in the concert tours and recordings. In recital, she sings songs of different styles and languages, and is working on an ambitious programme. |
