MUSIC | A Double Bill of Japanese and British Performances: The Noh Play "Sumidagawa" & Opera "Curlew River"
A Centenary Celebration of Britten – A Dual Performance of Opera and Noh
Noh "Sumidagawa" + Opera "Curlew River" Performance
While Britain was abuzz with the London Olympics this summer, 2013 marks the centenary of the birth of Benjamin Britten (1913-1976), one of Britain's foremost 20th-century composers.
Among his works, the church opera "Curlew River," inspired by the Noh play "Sumidagawa" which Britten saw during a visit to Japan, premiered in June 1964 at St. Bartholomew's Church in Orford, Suffolk, England. This masterpiece, showcasing Britten's new artistic direction in his fifties, was performed simultaneously in London and Orford in September by Tokyo University of the Arts, creating a significant buzz. The church in Orford, in particular, was the very site of the opera's premiere, making the experience deeply moving for the performers.
Following the success of the UK performances, a Tokyo production will be held on October 28th (Sunday) at the Tokyo University of the Arts Concert Hall. "Curlew River," an opera evoking mystery and catharsis, is rarely available on CD in Japan. This autumn, experience a rare and luxurious opportunity to witness a dual performance of this exquisitely crafted, colorfully rich masterpiece alongside the traditional Kanze school Noh play "Sumidagawa," featuring top artists from each field, with Japanese subtitles for the opera. A brief intermission will separate the two.
Text by DAIMON Chizuko
Noh "Sumidagawa" and Opera (Church Allegory) "Curlew River"
The Noh play "Sumidagawa" tells the tragic story of a mother who, after her young son Umewaka Maru is abducted by slave traders, descends into madness and wanders from Kyoto to the Sumida River in Musashi Province, only to learn of her beloved child's death.
In front of St. Bartholomew's Church, Orford. The soloists.
Britten's opera, on the other hand, reinterprets the story within a Christian worldview. The performance begins with the solemn Gregorian chant "Te lucis ante terminum" (Before the light fades), sung in Latin by all performers, including the instrumentalists. The narrative then unfolds in English, starting with the words of the Abbot addressing the congregation.
Towards the end of the opera, as the people sing a hymn and their prayers reach their climax, the voice of the child, now a spirit (a boy soprano in the original production), resonates, bringing a mystical catharsis. For the UK performances in September, a British boy soprano was featured, while for the Tokyo University of the Arts performances in October, a Japanese countertenor took the role. Furthermore, the UK performances in September featured soloists from Tokyo University of the Arts and a chorus of British singers.
The unique use of space, where singers, musicians, and audience become one in the fictional Curlew River in eastern England, and the solemn instrumental accompaniment, effectively utilizing organ, harp, and horn, are remarkable. Like the Noh, all roles, including the soloists and the chorus of eight pilgrims, are performed by male voices. This is a production that offers a profound sense of divine grace, a musical experience not to be missed.
A Message from Jun Suzuki, playing the Madwoman
The role of the Madwoman is performed by Jun Suzuki, whose transparent and beautiful voice perfectly conveys the essence of Britten's work. Suzuki, who is pursuing a doctoral degree at Tokyo University of the Arts focusing on Britten's vocal works, is an ideal artist for this role and received rave reviews for her performance in the UK prior to the Japan dates.
Inside Orford Church. Jun Suzuki stands beside a plaque commemorating the opera's 1964 premiere.
"In 2013, we celebrate the 100th anniversary of Benjamin Britten's birth. Before this significant year, in September, I had the honor of performing the role of the Madwoman in 'Curlew River,' an opera inspired by the Noh play 'Sumidagawa,' in churches in London and Orford. The church in Orford is where this work was first performed. It's a quiet seaside village where the air carries the scent of the sea mixed with smoked delicacies, and the church itself was smaller than I had imagined. The audience gathered there responded to every word, every note of music."
"As I performed the role of the Madwoman, I realized that in such an intimate space, where we could almost exchange breaths, everyone present must have been chosen to 'experience' this miracle of a story. Britten crafted this work with the utmost respect for 'Sumidagawa.' The Christian perspective on life and death, however, gives this opera a different conclusion than the Noh play. By experiencing both works simultaneously, I believe you will be able to feel the core emotions within the Madwoman's lament."—Jun Suzuki
UK Performance Records (http://sumidagawa-curlewriver.com/)
Jun Suzuki's Blog "blue diary" (http://jsblog.typepad.jp/blue/)
Yoshio Tadarada's Blog (http://green.ap.teacup.com/musik/)
Noh "Sumidagawa" + Church Opera "Curlew River" (with Japanese subtitles)
at Tokyo University of the Arts (University Campus) Sogakudo Hall
Sunday, October 28, 2012, 4:00 PM start
Inquiries: Tokyo University of the Arts Performing Arts Center Tel. 050-5525-2300
Official Website: http://www.geidai.ac.jp/facilities/sogakudou/info/2012-1028-14-01.html
Cast
Noh "Sumidagawa" *Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property
Shite (Madwoman): Tomotaka Sekine (*Professor, Department of Japanese Music, Tokyo University of the Arts)
Waki (Ferryman): Shizuka Hōshō (12th Head of Shimotsuke Hōshō School, Living National Treasure)
Waki-tsure (Traveler): Yoshihiro Noguchi
Kokata (Umewaka Maru): Shigemitsu Fujinami and others
Benjamin Britten: Church Opera "Curlew River"
Madwoman (T.): Jun Suzuki (Ph.D., Tokyo University of the Arts)
Ferryman (Br.): Akiya Fukushima (Professor, Vocal Music Department)
Traveler (Br.): Yoshio Tadara (Professor, Vocal Music Department)
Abbot (Bs.): Jun Ito (Part-time Lecturer, Vocal Music Department)
Spirit's Voice: Members of the Tokyo Boys and Girls Chorus
Chorus and Ensemble: Tokyo University of the Arts "Curlew River" Ensemble
Organ: Dominic Wheeler
Studied at Clare College, Cambridge, the Royal College of Music, and the Liszt Academy. He was an Audi Conductor Scholar before serving as guest conductor at the Dartington International Summer School. He has conducted for English National Opera, Opera North, Scottish Opera, Holland Park Opera, and Chelsea Opera Group, and is active internationally, primarily in the UK.
Director: David Edwards
Studied Classical Literature at Cambridge University. After graduating, he worked as a directing staff member at the Royal Opera House, honing his skills through collaborations with renowned directors such as Götz Friedrich, Elijah Moshinsky, and Jonathan Miller, achieving international acclaim. He has also directed Britten's "Albert Herring" and his innovative approach is generating considerable attention for this production.
Set and Costume Design: Colin Mayes