Asako Ogawa
Asako’s recent album, Handel: 8 Great Suites (First Hand Records, FHR142), received critical acclaim. BBC Music Magazine awarded it five stars, with critic Nicholas Anderson praising her “rhythmic suppleness and lively feeling for characterisation.” Gramophone Magazine’s Jed Distler described her performance as “among the best recorded versions” of these suites, while Fanfare (USA) encouraged listeners to “take a listen—you may hear qualities you never noticed before.” The album was also featured on BBC Radio 3’s Breakfast Show and on Radio France.
Her previous recording, J.S. Bach: 6 Partitas (FHR92), earned four-star reviews from The Independent and BBC Music Magazine. Early Music Review described her as “a capable and sensitive player who draws us into the music.” The album was broadcast by Radio France, where it was praised for its beauty.
Asako performs regularly at leading festivals and venues, including the London Handel Festival, Handel & Hendrix House Museum, and the Halle Händel Festival in Germany. She has also appeared in Handel’s Alcina and Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice with Opera North, Messiah with English National Opera (broadcast on BBC Two), the Brighton Early Music Festival, BBC Radio 3, the British Harpsichord Society recital series, and the Georgian Concert Society in Edinburgh.
Asako completed her postgraduate studies and Fellowship at the Historical Performance Department of the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, where she later taught as a Baroque repertoire coach (2009–2022). She was awarded the Accompanist’s Prize at the London Handel Singing Competition and was a finalist in the Broadwood Harpsichord Ensemble Competition. Her harpsichord studies were with Nicholas Parle, James Johnstone, and Laurence Cummings, with additional training from Bob van Asperen and Colin Tilney. She also studied fortepiano with Steven Devine and has collaborated with numerous Baroque ensembles.
She is currently a member of Linnet Baroque and recently founded the Baroque ensemble Il Capo with Oliver Webber (Baroque violin), Nikolay Ginov (Baroque cello), and Kristiina Watt (theorbo).
Biography
Asako Ogawa is one of today’s most versatile keyboard performers, specialising in a wide range of historical keyboard instruments, including the virginals, harpsichord, fortepiano, and modern piano. Originally from Japan and now based in London, she has built a distinguished career as a soloist, collaborative pianist, and continuo player, performing across the UK, Europe, and Japan.
Asako’s recent album, Handel: 8 Great Suites (First Hand Records, FHR142), received critical acclaim. BBC Music Magazine awarded it five stars, with critic Nicholas Anderson praising her “rhythmic suppleness and lively feeling for characterisation.” Gramophone Magazine’s Jed Distler described her performance as “among the best recorded versions” of these suites, while Fanfare (USA) encouraged listeners to “take a listen—you may hear qualities you never noticed before.” The album was also featured on BBC Radio 3’s Breakfast Show and on Radio France.
Her previous recording, J.S. Bach: 6 Partitas (FHR92), earned four-star reviews from The Independent and BBC Music Magazine. Early Music Review described her as “a capable and sensitive player who draws us into the music.” The album was broadcast by Radio France, where it was praised for its beauty.
Asako performs regularly at leading festivals and venues, including the London Handel Festival, Handel & Hendrix House Museum, and the Halle Händel Festival in Germany. She has also appeared in Handel’s Alcina and Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice with Opera North, Messiah with English National Opera (broadcast on BBC Two), the Brighton Early Music Festival, BBC Radio 3, the British Harpsichord Society recital series, and the Georgian Concert Society in Edinburgh.
Asako completed her postgraduate studies and Fellowship at the Historical Performance Department of the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, where she later taught as a Baroque repertoire coach (2009–2022). She was awarded the Accompanist’s Prize at the London Handel Singing Competition and was a finalist in the Broadwood Harpsichord Ensemble Competition. Her harpsichord studies were with Nicholas Parle, James Johnstone, and Laurence Cummings, with additional training from Bob van Asperen and Colin Tilney. She also studied fortepiano with Steven Devine and has collaborated with numerous Baroque ensembles.
She is currently a member of Linnet Baroque and recently founded the Baroque ensemble Il Capo with Oliver Webber (Baroque violin), Nikolay Ginov (Baroque cello), and Kristiina Watt (theorbo).
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