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World Premiere of Toshio Hosokawa's Matsukaze at La Monnaie

Feb. 11, 2012

World Premiere of Toshio Hosokawa's <em>Matsukaze</em> at La Monnaie

Toshio Hosokawa’s third opera Matsukaze is based on a play of the same name by Zeami, one of the pioneers of traditional Japanese No theatre.  Hosokawa’s concept was to breathe new life into the genre of opera using Japanese dramaturgy which is completely different to western principles.  The composer comments:

I have chosen Matsukaze, one of Zeami’s finest works, as a starting point, reconstructed its libretto, composed music, and by means of new stage directions, tried to create a new opera based on a No which lives in our own time."

The world premiere of Matsukaze takes place in Brussels at La Monnaie on May 3, 2011 with further performances in Warsaw, Luxembourg and Berlin through July, 2011. Soprano Barbara Hannigan sings the title role of Matsukaze (Wind in the Pines) and mezzo-soprano Charlotte Hellekant sings the role of her sister Murasame (Autumn Rain). The opera is directed and choreographed by Sascha Waltz. Pablo Heras-Cassado conducts.

Learn more about Matsukaze and the music of Toshio Hosokawa at www.schott-music.com.

Toshio Hosokawa
Matsukaze (2011)
Libretto (Ger) by Hannah Dübgen, based on Zeami’s "Matsukaze" (2010)
Commissioned by La Monnaie, Brussels
Duration: 80’
Roles: Matsukaze · soprano - Murasame · mezzo soprano - Priest · bass - Fisher · baritone - SATB Chorus (2.2.2.2)
Orchestra: 1(afl,bcl&pic).1(ca).2(2.bcl).1(cbsn)-1.1.1.1-2perc(b.d, 4tom-t,4bng, mar, cym.ant, tam-t [large], 3trgl, 4Japanese wind bells, 4rinson, timp, guiro, marac, wdbl, whip, sleigh bells)-hp.pno(cel)-str(2.2.2.2.1[min.]/8.8.8.6.4[max.])

World Premiere: May 3, 2011 · La Monnaie, Brussels
Conductor: Pablo Heras-Casado
Staging: Sasha Waltz
Set Design: Pia Maier-Schriever & Chiharu Shiota
Costumes: Christine Birkle

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