Art Encouragement Prize for Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
1 appearances
-
Edition 51 (2001) award
Keisuke Suzuki
すずき けいすけ
Suzuki Keisuke
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1934-06-28 （Tokyo）
- Died
- 2011-08-22 age 77
- Nationality
- Japan
- Languages
- Japanese
Career
- Occupations
- Opera director, Stage director, Stage manager, Visiting professor
- Active Years
- 1961-2011
- Influenced By
- Gustav Rudolf Sellner, Oscar Fritz Schuh
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keio University | — | — | — | — | Japan |
Keio University
Country:
Japan
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Suntory Music Award | Mozart: Four Major Operas (productions) | — | Suntory | recipient |
| 1992 | Jiro Opera Award | Mozart: Six Major Operas (200th anniversary productions) | — | Jiro Opera Award Committee | recipient |
| 2001 | Arts Award (Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology) | Parsifal (production) | — | Agency for Cultural Affairs / MEXT | recipient |
| 2002 | Medal with Purple Ribbon | — | — | Government of Japan | recipient |
| 2008 | Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays | — | — | Government of Japan | recipient |
Suntory Music Award
1983
Work:
Mozart: Four Major Operas (productions)
Organization:
Suntory
Result:
recipient
Jiro Opera Award
1992
Work:
Mozart: Six Major Operas (200th anniversary productions)
Organization:
Jiro Opera Award Committee
Result:
recipient
Arts Award (Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology)
2001
Work:
Parsifal (production)
Organization:
Agency for Cultural Affairs / MEXT
Result:
recipient
Medal with Purple Ribbon
2002
Organization:
Government of Japan
Result:
recipient
Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays
2008
Organization:
Government of Japan
Result:
recipient
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
The Coronation of Poppea (directorial debut)
1966 OperaA production of Monteverdi's work for the Nikikai–Nissay Theatre collaboration; marked his full-scale start as an opera director.
Respect for traditionIntegration of music and stagecraft
Die Walküre (Nikikai 20th Anniversary)
1972 Music drama (opera)A Wagner production staged for Nikikai's 20th anniversary at Tokyo Bunka Kaikan; known as a large-scale, highly praised staging.
HeroismMythic motifs
The Magic Flute (Mozart)
1979 OperaA Mozart production staged in 1979 for Nikikai that received high acclaim in collaboration with the conductor.
Morality and learningAllegorical elements
Parsifal (production)
2001 Music drama (opera)A production of Wagner's Parsifal for which he received the Arts Award (Minister of Education).
Religious symbolismRedemption and renewal
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Stagecraft faithful to musical valuesModern interpretations woven into classical works
- Recurring Motifs
- Tight integration of music and directionEmphasis on full-scale stage rehearsals
Health
-
Cirrhosis2000s-2011Affected his later-life activities and was the cause of death in 2011.
Legacy
A prominent opera director who had a major influence on Japan's opera scene for decades. Through numerous productions at Nissay Theatre, Nikikai and other major venues, he influenced many singers and directors across generations.
Quotes
-
It is not an exaggeration to say that everyone who has in any way been involved with opera in Japan has had some connection with the name 'Keisuke Suzuki'.
Source: Taijiro Iimori (memorial remarks) (2011)
Trivia
- In 1995 he built a rehearsal studio, 'Studio Amadeus', in the basement of his home in Setagaya (later run by his wife).
- Reportedly fond of drinking and described as a composed free spirit; he had a homemade pizza oven in his garden.