Japanese Literary Awards

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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

Keio University
Country: Japan

Awards

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 Opera

A 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 Opera

A 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

  • Cirrhosis
    2000s-2011
    Affected 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.