Art Encouragement Prize for Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
1 appearances
-
Edition 59 (2009) award
Masaaki Suzuki
すずき まさあき
Suzuki Masaaki
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1954-04-29 （Kobe, Hyōgo, Japan）
- Nationality
- Japan
- Languages
- Japanese
- Religion
- Protestant (Japan Reformed Church)
- Residence History
- Kobe → Tokyo → Amsterdam (study)
Career
- Occupations
- Harpsichordist, Organist, Conductor, Composer, Music Director, Music Educator
- Active Years
- 1970-
- Affiliations
- Bach Collegium Japan (Music Director), Tokyo University of the Arts (Professor Emeritus, former professor), Kobe Shoin Women's University (former associate professor / visiting professor), Yale Institute of Sacred Music (Visiting Professor)
- Influenced By
- Ton Koopman, Piet Kee, Tsugio Hirono, Motoko Nabeshima
- Influenced
- Bach Collegium Japan (dissemination of Bach performance through choir and ensemble), Yuto Suzuki (son, conductor)
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nada Junior and Senior High School | — | — | — | — | Japan |
| Tokyo University of the Arts (Undergrad & Graduate) | Faculty of Music (Composition) / Graduate School of Music (Organ) | Composition / Instrumental (Organ) | — | — | Japan |
| Sweelinck Conservatory (Amsterdam Conservatory) | — | Harpsichord & Organ | — | — | Netherlands |
Nada Junior and Senior High School
Country:
Japan
Tokyo University of the Arts (Undergrad & Graduate)
Faculty of Music (Composition) / Graduate School of Music (Organ)
/ Composition / Instrumental (Organ)
Country:
Japan
Studied with Tsugio Hirono; studied harpsichord in Motoko Nabeshima's early music seminar
Sweelinck Conservatory (Amsterdam Conservatory)
Harpsichord & Organ
Country:
Netherlands
Studied with Ton Koopman (harpsichord) and Piet Kee (organ). Earned soloist diplomas in both harpsichord and organ
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | ENEOS (Mobil) Music Award | Work with Bach Collegium Japan | — | ENEOS (associated organization) | 受賞 |
| 1999 | Iue Cultural Award (Arts & Culture) | — | — | Iue Foundation | 受賞 |
| 2000 | Ongaku no Tomo Award | — | — | Ongaku no Tomo Sha | 受賞 |
| 2001 | Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (Cross of Merit, Verdienste) | — | — | Federal Republic of Germany | 受章 |
| 2001 | Mainichi Art Award | — | — | Mainichi Newspapers | 受賞 |
| 2009 | Art Festival Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award | — | — | Agency for Cultural Affairs / MEXT | 受賞 |
| 2011 | Medal with Purple Ribbon | — | — | Government of Japan | 受章 |
| 2012 | Leipzig Bach Medal | — | — | City of Leipzig | 受賞 |
| 2012 | Royal Academy of Music Bach Prize | — | — | Royal Academy of Music | 受賞 |
| 2014 | Suntory Music Award | Joint award with Bach Collegium Japan | — | Suntory | 受賞 |
| 2024 | Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette | — | — | Government of Japan (Cabinet Office) | 受章 |
ENEOS (Mobil) Music Award
1999
Work:
Work with Bach Collegium Japan
Organization:
ENEOS (associated organization)
Result:
受賞
Iue Cultural Award (Arts & Culture)
1999
Organization:
Iue Foundation
Result:
受賞
Ongaku no Tomo Award
2000
Organization:
Ongaku no Tomo Sha
Result:
受賞
Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (Cross of Merit, Verdienste)
2001
Organization:
Federal Republic of Germany
Result:
受章
Mainichi Art Award
2001
Organization:
Mainichi Newspapers
Result:
受賞
Art Festival Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award
2009
Organization:
Agency for Cultural Affairs / MEXT
Result:
受賞
Medal with Purple Ribbon
2011
Organization:
Government of Japan
Result:
受章
Leipzig Bach Medal
2012
Organization:
City of Leipzig
Result:
受賞
Royal Academy of Music Bach Prize
2012
Organization:
Royal Academy of Music
Result:
受賞
Suntory Music Award
2014
Work:
Joint award with Bach Collegium Japan
Organization:
Suntory
Result:
受賞
Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette
2024
Organization:
Government of Japan (Cabinet Office)
Result:
受章
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
J.S. Bach: Complete Church Cantatas (recording series)
1990 Classical / BaroqueA recording series of Bach's church cantatas led by Bach Collegium Japan. Highly regarded for historically informed performance practice and its devotional interpretive approach.
Bach interpretationHistorically informed performanceSacred/church music
Bibliography
- Gifts from Bach (with Hiroko Kato, Shunjusha)
- My Soul's Rest, Oh Bach! (Ongaku no Tomo Sha)
- Bach, Between God and Man (Ongaku no Tomo Sha)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Respect for historically informed performance practiceDevotional / liturgical interpretationMeticulous attention to detail
- Recurring Motifs
- Return to Bach's originsBalance between choir and instrumentsUnion of text and music
Legacy
An internationally acclaimed conductor and harpsichordist in the field of Bach scholarship and performance. Through Bach Collegium Japan he popularized recordings and performances of Bach's church cantatas and passions worldwide. Also influential as an educator.
Academic Societies
- Japan Organ Research Society
Archives
- National Diet Library (writings and recording materials)
- Various national libraries and music archives (recorded materials)
Trivia
- Raised in a Christian family and served as a church organist from age 12.
- One of the first Japanese musicians to earn soloist diplomas in both harpsichord and organ at the Amsterdam conservatory.
- Founded Bach Collegium Japan in 1990 and serves as its music director.