(Credit: Michal Daniel)

Mezzo-soprano Mika Shigematsu has died of pancreatic cancer in Osaka, Japan.

The mezzo’s husband Shintaro Kobayashi posted a messgae stating, “I am deeply saddened to inform you that my wife Mika Shigematsu passed away in the morning of Oct. 23, 2019 in Osaka. She was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in late September. The funeral service took place in Osaka with family members on Oct. 25. I apologize that I could not reach you out sooner. We are still processing what has happened as everything happened so suddenly. It took her away from us less than a month after the initial diagnosis. We are hoping to have some sort of memorial service in the near future to celebrate her life. We will be in touch with you as soon as we know about the details.”

Shigematsu came to prominence when she was awarded first prize in the mezzo-soprano division of the “Japan Italy Vocal Concorso” in 1988. She went on to win first place at the All Japan Music Competition in 1991 and obtained a fellowship of two years from the San Francisco Opera Center.

In 1993, she received considerable attention internationally with her principal debut in the role of Elvira in Bellini’s “Puritani” in the U.S. premiere of the Maria Malibran version at the Boston Lyric Opera.

From there she went on to perform at the San Francisco Opera, New York City Opera, San Diego Opera, Canadian Opera, Minnesota Opera, Seattle Opera, Carmel Bach Festival, Fort Worth Opera, Opera North Carolina, Augusta Opera, Opera Montreal and Santa Barbara Symphony.