Chieko Teratani (Mezzo-soprano)

Born: Japan

The Japanese mezzo-soprano, Chieko Teratani, got her diploma from Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music and later studied under Professor Polo in the Hamburg School of Music from 1977 to 1980 (diploma). In 1980, she got the 2^nd prize at the Hertoogenbosch International Song Competition in Holland.

Chieko Teratani made her debut at the Stadttheater Bremerhaven in 1981 with the role of Octavian in Der Rosenkavalier. She also sang at that opera house, among other roles, Rosina in The barber of Sevilla, Isabella in The Italian in Algiers and Hansel in Engelbert Humperdinck's fairy tale opera. From 1983, she became a member of the Bonn Opera in Germany where she has been featured as Siebel in Faust, Annius in La Clemenza di Tito, Bersi in Andrea Chenier, Mercedes in Carmen, Fenena in Nabucco, Orlovsky in Di Fledermaus and Suzuki in Madama Butterfly. At the same period, she made her several appearance at the subscription concert of L.v. Beethoven Halle Orchestra and sung the pieces such as L.v. Beethoven's Symphony No .9, J.S. Bach's Mass in B minor (BWV 232), Mozart's Mass Coronation, and George Frideric Handel's oratorio Jephtha. In 1990, she moved to Hamburg and extended her repertories to more dramatic roles such as Preziosilla in La Forza del Destino, and Eboli in Don Carlos.

Chieko Teratani has also sung as guest artist with numerous operas in Europe such as Hamburg, Frankfurt, Bremen and Freiburg Opera in Germany, Strasbourg and Montpellier Opera in France and Innsbruck Opera in Austria. She has a wide repertoire includes Grecki's Symphony No. 3 of which she performed the premiers concerts in several countries such as USA, Germany, Japan and Holland.

From 1993, Chieko Teratani became to be invited to numerous stages also in Japan under the tact of world-wide conductors such as Nello Santi, Seiji Ozawa, Jean Fournet, Ondrej Lenard, Eliahu Inbal, Kazushi Ono, Charles Dutoit, Gary Bertini, Gennadi Rozhdestvensky, Gerhardt Bosse, Pascal Verrot. Now she is acclaimed as one of the most vaunted mezzo-soprano artists. She has a special love for Oratorio and Lieder.

Source: Liner notes to the album ‘J.S. Bach: Messe in H-MOLL’ conducted by Ryuichi Higuchi (BAMG, 2003); Kajimoto Concert Management Website
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (February 2004, September 2005)

Recordings of Bach Cantatas & Other Vocal Works

Conductor

As

Works

Ryuichi Higuchi

Alto

BWV 232

Hanns-Martin Schneidt

Alto

BWV 232

Links to other Sites

Teratani, Chieko Biography (Kajimoto Concert Management)