Watanabe, Yoko (1953– )

Japanese soprano. She studied in Tokyo and Milan. She made her debut in 1978 at Treviso, as Nedda, and first appeared at La Scala, Milan in 1985, as Liu. She was most often heard as Butterfly, which she sang with the Royal Opera at Manchester (1983), the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London (1989), Chicago (1986), and the Metropolitan Opera House, New York (1987). Other roles include Suor Angelica, Donna Elvira, Micaela, and Mimi. She performed Margherita in Mefistofele at Zurich, in 1988.