He was a Japanese American countertenor, who began his musical studies at the University of California/Santa Cruz, and earned his bachelor's degree after transferring to the University of California/Los Angeles. He began his graduate work in early music performance at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, but his studies were interrupted by the beginning of his operatic career. That career begain in 1991 when he became the first countertenor to win the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. After a two year association as a young artist with the San Francisco Opera in 1991-92, he became the first countertenor to win the Placido Domingo “Operalia” International Opera Competition (1994) and was chosen Seattle Opera's Artist of the Year (1996-97). His recordings include: Baroque arias and cantatas with mezzo-soprano Diana Tash, Baroque cellist Frederic Rosselet, and harpsichordist Arthur Omura; five solo discs -- “The Dark Is My Delight” (lute songs with David Tayler by Dowland, Campion, and others), “Vocalise” (arias and songs by Medtner, Faure, Rachmaninov, and Villa-Lobos), “Cantatas” by Alessandro Scarlatti with Nicholas McGegan, and two song cycles by Ned Rorem with the LA Chamber Orchestra. He was featured on video as Baba the Turk in Stravinsky’s “The Rake’s Progress” with Swedish Television One, Fyodor in Mussorgsky’s “Boris Gudonov” (Willy Decker production) and l’Umana Fragilita and Anfinomo in Monteverdi’s “Il Ritorno d’Ulisse in Patria” (Pierre Audi production), both with de Nederlandse Opera.
He was survived by his mother; and a sister.
He was survived by his mother; and a sister.
He was a Japanese American countertenor, who began his musical studies at the University of California/Santa Cruz, and earned his bachelor's degree after transferring to the University of California/Los Angeles. He began his graduate work in early music performance at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, but his studies were interrupted by the beginning of his operatic career. That career begain in 1991 when he became the first countertenor to win the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. After a two year association as a young artist with the San Francisco Opera in 1991-92, he became the first countertenor to win the Placido Domingo “Operalia” International Opera Competition (1994) and was chosen Seattle Opera's Artist of the Year (1996-97). His recordings include: Baroque arias and cantatas with mezzo-soprano Diana Tash, Baroque cellist Frederic Rosselet, and harpsichordist Arthur Omura; five solo discs -- “The Dark Is My Delight” (lute songs with David Tayler by Dowland, Campion, and others), “Vocalise” (arias and songs by Medtner, Faure, Rachmaninov, and Villa-Lobos), “Cantatas” by Alessandro Scarlatti with Nicholas McGegan, and two song cycles by Ned Rorem with the LA Chamber Orchestra. He was featured on video as Baba the Turk in Stravinsky’s “The Rake’s Progress” with Swedish Television One, Fyodor in Mussorgsky’s “Boris Gudonov” (Willy Decker production) and l’Umana Fragilita and Anfinomo in Monteverdi’s “Il Ritorno d’Ulisse in Patria” (Pierre Audi production), both with de Nederlandse Opera.
He was survived by his mother; and a sister.
He was survived by his mother; and a sister.
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