Tamaki Miura Japanese opera singer Date of Birth: 22.02.1884 Country: Japan

Biography of Tamaki Miura

Tamaki Miura, a Japanese opera singer, gained fame for her rendition of the role of Cio-Cio-San in Giacomo Puccini's opera "Madama Butterfly." John Luther Long, the author of the story on which the opera is based, referred to her as the ideal Madam Butterfly.

Tamaki Miura was born on February 22, 1884. She made her operatic debut in Tokyo in 1911 and the same year traveled to Europe to study and perform. She was first selected for the role of Cio-Cio-San in a groundbreaking production by Russian opera director Vladimir Rosing during his "Allied Opera Season" in May and June 1915 at the London Opera House.

On October 6, 1915, Tamaki made her American debut. She first sang as Cio-Cio-San in Boston, attracting a large audience due to the novelty of a genuine Japanese geisha portraying the role. The press published numerous positive reviews, which led to further performances by Tamaki in New York, San Francisco, and Chicago, singing both the role of Cio-Cio-San and the Japanese beauty Iris in Pietro Mascagni's opera "Iris."

After her American tour, she returned to London and worked in the theatrical company of impresario Thomas Beecham. In 1918, Tamaki Miura once again traveled to the United States, where she spent two seasons singing the lead role in "Madama Butterfly" and the leading role in "Madame Chrysanthème" by composer André Messager. Interestingly, the second opera did not receive the same warm reception as "Madama Butterfly," even though it was based on a similar literary source, Pierre Loti's novel "Madame Chrysanthème."

In 1920, she was invited to perform in opera theaters in Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Florence, and Rome. After this tour, Tamaki returned to Japan in 1922 and stopped in Nagasaki to visit the places associated with the opera "Madama Butterfly" and give a concert. In 1924, Tamaki Miura once again traveled to the United States to perform with the "San Carlo Opera" company. Two years later, she visited Chicago again and participated in the world premiere of Aldo Franchetti's opera "Namiko-San," performing the lead role. In 1927, "Namiko-San" premiered on Broadway but did not gain wide recognition.

Afterward, she performed in several touring concerts and also sang in Italy. In March 1931, Tamaki performed at Teatro Verdi in Pisa alongside the famous tenor Armando Bini. She then sang in Sassuolo, Modena, Livorno, Florence, Lucca, Turin, Rimini, and other cities. In 1932, she returned to her homeland and continued performing for some time.

Tamaki Miura passed away on May 26, 1946. In Nagasaki's Glover Garden, a park named after her, there is a statue in her honor (along with one of Puccini). Several Japanese national awards are named after her. Critics had varying opinions about her vocal abilities. While her authenticity in portraying Cio-Cio-San was often highly praised, some wrote that her voice was too thin, unstable, small, and lacked drama.