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The Japanese mezzo-soprano [Japanese: 永島陽子], Yoko Nagashima, graduated in singing from the Toho Gakuen School of Music of Music in spring 1976, From 1976 to 1980 she studied in Austria, at the Vienna Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien (University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna), oratorio department, graduating in 1980 with the best results. In 1980, she won female voice 5 at the International Bach Competition in Leipzig in the former East Germany. From 1980 to 1986 she studied in Germany, at Detmold Kunitachi College of Music, vocal music department, graduating in in 1983 with the best results. In 1986 she completed the musicians national examination with best results. She also attended master-classes with Hagiya Wolfgang Steinbruck, Roman Ortner, Helmut Deutsch, Helmut Kretschmar, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau.
Since 1980 Yoko Nagashima appeared in Europe mainly in Germany, Israel, continued to her activities in the oratorio field in Japan from the spring of 1997, when she returned home. After returning she performed J.S. Bach's St. Matthew Passion (BWV 244) in Sapporo, Nagoya, Okaya, Narita, Toky; St. John Passion (BWV 245) in Hamamatsu, Tokyo; Mass in B minor (BWV 232) in Mishima, Nagoya, Hamamatsu, Tokyo; Magnificat (BWV 243) in Nagoya, Yokohama, Tokyo, Kanazawa; Christmas Oratorio (BWV 248) in Nagoya, Yokohama; and numerous cantatas mainly in Tokyo.
Yoko Nagashima has also performed a large number of works of Heinrich Schütz; George Frideric Handel's Messiah is Tokyo, Yokohama, Tokorozawa, six performances in Chiba; Felix Mendelssohn in Tokyo performance. She has sung alto solos under such conductors as Kazuyoshi Akiyama, Misawa Hiroshi, Awano Yumiko, Ryuichi Higuchi, Christian Kanin, Rolf Beck, and Joshua Rifkin.
In 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005, Yoko Nagashima appeared in "4 sing Bach cantata in person" produced by Isoyama at Izumi Hall in Osaka. In 1999, 2001, 2004 and 2006, she sang Advent concerts in Tokyo. In December 2005, she sang alto solo parts in J.S. Bach's Cantata BWV 63 and Christmas Oratorio (BWV 248) under the baton of Rudolf Kerber at the Jacobi Church in Hamburg, Germany.
Currently, Yoko Nagashima is part-time lecturer at Toho Gakuen School of Music of Music. |
