- NYU Skirball will present the North American premiere of Toshio Hosokawa’s Hanjo, directed by Luca Veggetti and produced by Catapult Opera, on Friday, September 30 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, October 2 at 2:00 pm at NYU Skirball. Neal Goren conducts.

An example of Japanese storytelling brilliantly realized by one of Japan’s most important living classical music composers, Toshio Hosokawa’s mesmerizing and haunting opera is based on Hanjo from Yukio Mishima’s “Five Modern Nō Plays” which was inspired by a 14th-century Noh play. First performed in Aix-en-Provence in 2004, this internationally celebrated opera has since received numerous productions throughout Europe and Asia. This new production is directed by the renowned Italian choreographer Luca Veggetti, a frequent collaborator of Hosokawa, who has staged critically acclaimed productions of Hanjo in Germany and Tokyo. Neal Goren, Catapult Opera’s Founding Artistic Director, will conduct the Talea Ensemble. The production also features lighting/scenic design by Clifton Taylor, visual design by Moe Yoshida, and costume design by Peter Speliopoulos.

The cast is headed by soprano Eri Nakamura in the role of Hanako (who last month created a sensation for her portrayal of Madam Butterfly at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden), with mezzo-soprano Abigail Fischer as Jitsuko, and baritone Adam Richardson as Yoshio. Silent Figure will be performed by theater artist Saori Tsukada. Hanjo will be performed in English with a libretto by Hosokawa based on Mishima’s Hanjo translation by Donald Keene.

Catapult Opera’s mission is to expand the operatic canon by presenting masterpieces from non-Western and under-represented cultures in order to build new audiences while engaging and retaining existing audiences. Hanjo is the company’s first live production. Talea Ensemble is comprised of nineteen of New York City’s finest classically trained musicians, with a mission to champion musical creativity, cultivate curious listeners, and bring visionary new works to life with vibrant performances that remain in the audience’s imagination long after a concert.

Toshio Hosokawa is Japan’s pre-eminent living composer and is among the foremost opera composers of our time. His opera Matsukaze received its American premiere at the Lincoln Center Festival in 2013 to rapturous reviews. He has composed operas, oratorio and instrumental music and is co-founder and artistic director of the Japanese Festival for Contemporary Music.

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