Kazuko Hara facts for kids
Kazuko Hara (原 嘉壽子, Hara Kazuko, 10 February 1935 – 30 November 2014) was a very active and important Japanese opera composer. She wrote many operas that were performed in Japan and even one in Italy.
Her Life and Musical Journey
Kazuko Hara was born in Tokyo, Japan. She loved music and studied it at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. Her teacher there was Tomojiro Ikenouchi. She finished her studies in 1957.
After that, she traveled to France to learn even more about music. In France, she studied with two famous composers, Henri Dutilleux and Alexander Tcherepnin. When she returned to Japan, she started teaching music at the Osaka University of Music.
Composing Operas
Between 1978 and 1999, Kazuko Hara wrote 18 operas! Many of these operas were performed in Tokyo by groups like the Nihon Opera Kyokai or the Nikikai Opera. One of her operas was even performed in Italy.
She often chose Japanese stories and themes for her operas. However, she also wrote an opera about the famous detective Sherlock Holmes. She also created a large opera based on Dostoevsky's famous book Crime and Punishment. This opera was performed at the New National Theatre, Tokyo in 1999.
Kazuko Hara passed away on November 30, 2014.
Her Operas
Here are some of the operas Kazuko Hara composed:
- The Case-book of Sherlock Holmes (Confession) (1981) – based on stories by Arthur Conan Doyle
- Iwai Uta ga Nagareru Yoruni (1984)
- Shita wo Kamikitta Onna (1986)
- Sute Hime (1989)
- Yosakoi Bushi (1990)
- Petro Kibe (1991)
- Tsumi to batsu (Crime and Punishment) (1999) – based on the book by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Other Musical Works
Besides operas, Kazuko Hara also wrote other types of music:
- Sonatine for piano (1957)
- Preludio, aria e toccata for guitar (1970)
Recordings
Her opera Yosakoi Bushi was recorded and released on Laserdisc, so people could watch and listen to it at home.
