Eiko Hiramatsu (Soprano)

Born: Japan

The Japanese soprano, Eiko Hiramatsu, graduated from the Tokyo University of Fine Arts and Music; then received her master's degree from the same university and further studied as a DAAD student at Hochschule für Musik in Munich. While attending its master-classes, she made her debut singing a solo part in J.S. Bach's St. John Passion (BWV 245) with the Bach Collegium München.

Afterwards, Eiko Hiramatsu entered into contracts with several theaters in West Germany, and made her opera debut singing Pamina in Mozart's Die Zauberflöte. Highly valued as a soloist in the religious music of J.S. Bach, George Frideric Handel, Haydn, Mozart, and Johannes Brahms, she was featured together with Hermann Prey, Peter Schreier and Edith Mathis. Back in Japan, she made her debut singing Änchen in Weber's Der Freischütz and became active thoughout the country not only in opera, but also in oratorio and lieder performances. With a wide repertoire ranging from Classical works to contemporary music, she gained praise from conductors all over the world, including the late maestro Giuseppe Sinopoli.

As one of the best lyrical sopranos in Japan, Eiko Hiramatsu now attracts considerable attention and has recorded many CDs including 4 Madrigales Amatorios (Rodrigo), Lieder der Ophelia (R. Strauss), Creation (Haydn), and Deutsche Requiem (Brahms). A new album, The Complete Works of Mahler's Songs (with pianist Ichiro Nodaira) is to be released next year.

Winner of the Giraud Opera New Face Award, Eiko Hiramatsu now works as Associate Professor at Ferris University, and as Lecturer at Tokyo University of Fine Arts and Music.

Source: Ferris University Website
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (September 2005)

Recordings of Bach Cantatas & Other Vocal Works

Conductor

As

Works

Hanns-Martin Schneidt

Soprano

BWV 232

Links to other Sites

Eiko Hiramtsu (Ferris University)

Eiko Hiramatsu (MusicScape - Official Website) [Japanese]
Music Tower [Japanese]