Collaborative Production by Biwako Hall, iichiko Culture Center, Sapporo Concert Hall Kitara and Yamagin Kenmin Hall
Opera Taketori Monogatari (Bamboo Princess) composed by Ryusuke Numajiri
What does Princess Kaguya think of on a moonlight night? – a beautiful, fragile Japanese story told with songs
- KitaraPresents
- Main Hall
Summary of Bamboo Princess
Once upon a time, there lived an old man and his wife. One day, when the old man went to the bamboo forest, he came across a shining stalk. When he cut it open, he found inside it a cute little girl. He and his wife decided to raise her as their own child, and named her Kaguya-hime. The little girl grew into such a beautiful young lady, that she was known for her beauty throughout the village. Before long, five princes came to ask for Kaguya-hime’s hand in marriage. Kaguya-hime replied, saying “I shall marry the one who is able to bring me the treasure I ask for”. But none were able to comply with her wishes. Eventually, news of the beautiful princess reached the Emperor’s ears. However, she refused to see him. The Emperor wrote many letters to Kaguya-hime asking her to marry him. After three years had passed in this way, Kaguya-hime began to gaze at the moon every night with tears in her eyes. When the old man asked her what was the matter, she revealed to him, “I come from the moon, and must return when messengers from the moon come to take me back on the night of the next full moon. That is why I am crying.” This revelation shocked and saddened the old man and his wife. The Emperor, upon hearing about Kaguya-hime’s plight, even dispatched his troops on the night of the full moon to drive away the messengers, so determined was he not to let them take Kaguya-hime away. However, alas, the heavenly entourage could not be bested. Kaguya-hime bid a sad farewell to the old man and his wife, gave the Emperor an elixir of immortality as a parting gift, and ascended to the moon. With Kaguya-hime gone from his life, the Emperor saw no need for an elixir of immortality, so he took it to the highest mountain and burned it. From then on, the mountain came to be called the mountain of immortality, or Mount Fuji (fuji/fushi means immortality in Japanese).
Bamboo Princess 2024 Director’s Notes (Nakamura Keiichi, Stage Director)
There have been many operas created in Japan, starting with Yamada Kosaku’s “Ochitaru Tennyo (The Fallen Celestial Maiden) ” and “Kurofune (Black Ships).” However, those that stand shoulder to shoulder with the usual Western productions and remain in repertoires––like Dan Ikuma’s “Yuzuru (Twilight Crane)” or Matsumura Teizo’s “Chinmoku (Silence)”––are very few. The reasons for this are several, but the primary causes are a lack of good librettos (opera scripts) and an insufficient knowledge of opera among composers. In fact, as the story of “Princess Kaguya” is a familiar one for Japanese people, numerous composers have tried adapting it, but unfortunately, we have not yet seen a version of it become part of repertoires with repeated performances across the country. With this production of “Bamboo Princess,” however, we have a conductor, Mr. Numajiri who knows opera inside and out, and the libretto he has written is excellent. This is an operetta that gives hope for opera becoming a popular entertainment choice for people. The premiere of this work was blessed with direction by Mr. Kuriyama Masayoshi, a man who lived the history and forged a path for Japanese opera. His stagecraft is characterized by its skillful fusion of elements of Japanese theatrical traditions, like Kabuki and Noh, and the revue-like splendor of postwar plays and musicals. As Mr. Kuriyama’s appointed successor, I’ve retained this flavor and endeavored in my direction to bring out Japanese expressions of stillness balanced with movement. Much like a Noh stage, the acting area for this work is a densely occupied, not particularly large space. Also, the orchestra performs not in a pit but on stage. Like Noh’s hayashikata musical accompaniment, the conductor and musicians appear on the stage space like actors. The dialogues between singers and musicians as they exchange glances and get in tune with each other, and also the presence of the conductor, should be observed as part of the stage. The greatest challenge facing those of us in the opera world is creating productions that will make people think “Let’s go to an opera today” as readily as they feel like going to the movies. I believe this dream could become a reality with this work, and I look forward to its performances everywhere.- Hall / Date
- Main Hall
Saturday, Dec. 7 2024
Doors open 14:15
15:00
Performance ends at 17:00 - Performer
Conductor: Tetsuro Ban
Production: Keiichi Nakamura (original production: Masayoshi Kuriyama)
Performers: Biwako Hall Vocal Ensemble
Kaguya-hime (Princess Kaguya, Bamboo Princess): Ryoko Sunakawa*
Okina (Old man, Bamboo-Cutter): Tadatoshi Mukai
Ouna (Old woman): Tokiko Mori
Mikado (The Emperor): Kohei Nishida
Ishitsukuri-no-Miko (Prince Ishitsukuri): Yasuto Arimoto
Kuramochi-no-Miko (Prince Kuramochi): Kohsei Ohno
Abe-no-Miushi (Minister of the Right): Toshimasa Ichikawa
Otomo-no-Miyuki (Grand Counselor): Masahiko Hare*
Isonokami-no-Marotari (Middle Counselor): Yoshifumi Taira
Taisho (General): Tomoki Arigaya
Tsukiyori-no-Shisha (Envoy from the moon): Asahi Tokuda
Shisha of Isonokami-no-Marotari (Envoy from Middle Counselor): Hiroya Ishige (Boy soprano from Sapporo chorus groups)
Shokunin (Craftsmen): Tomoki Arigaya, Tokiya Okumoto, Akihisa Furuya, Masumi Goto, Takuya Sunaba, Takashi Hayashi
Chorus: Biwako Hall Vocal Ensemble, Sapporo chorus groups
Orchestral music: Sapporo Symphony Orchestra
*Guest performers- Program
Ryusuke Numajiri: Opera Taketori Monogatari (Bamboo Princess) (all five scenes)
- Price
Reserved seating (Incl. tax)
SS: 8,500 yen
S: 7,000 yen
A: 5,500 yen
B: 4,000 yen
U25 (S, A & B): 2,000 yen
*U25 seats are open to anybody born in 1999 or later. (Preschoolers not admitted)
Pair S: 12,000 yen
Pair A: 10,000 yen
*Kitara Club members can get a better deal by purchasing two tickets at member’s prices rather than a pair seat ticket.
Kitara Club members
SS: 6,500 yen
S: 5,000 yen
A: 4,500 yen
B: 3,000 yen
Notes for this performance:
*Guests who require English subtitles should purchase seats on the right side facing the stage.
*The sale of obstructed view seats (an estimated price of 3,000 yen) will be determined based on seat sales status and production changes. Once decided, an announcement will be made on this page, via social media, and through other channels. Please note, however, that such seats may not be available.
*Tickets will not be refunded unless the concert is cancelled due to force majeure. Please take this into full consideration before purchasing tickets if there is any concern for your health or possible changes in circumstances.
*Please contact Kitara Ticket Center (Email: eigyo_s@kitara-sapporo.or.jp) for requests related to wheelchair seats.【Seating Chart】 Click to enlarge
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- Kitara Ticket Center
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Pre-sales start date for Kitara Club gold members: August 7 (Wed.)
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Pre-sales start date for Kitara Club general members: August 8 (Thu.)
Pre-sales start date for Kitara app members (Web only): August 9 (Fri.)
Ticket sales start date for the general public: August 10 (Sat.)
Phone/online reservation deadline: 18:00 on December 6 (Fri.)Tickets for today : Undecided
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Email: eigyo_s@kitara-sapporo.or.jp- PDF Download
