At the beginning of this month, I completed my seventh opera
“The Tale of Genji” written in English. The world famous original
novel was written by Lady Murasaki Shikibu, and Colin Graham wrote
the libretto. This opera is commissioned by the Opera Theatre
of Saint Louis and will be world premiered by OTSL on June 15,
17, 21, 23, 25 in 2000.
This opera is quite historical. Lady Murasaki Shikibu had started
to write it in the year 1000. Since the starting point of the
planning of the opera, I thought I should complete the composition
in the last month of 1999, because “The Tale of Genji” will become
a memorial work for the second millennium. I needed three years
to compose this opera, and in parallel with the English version
I also completed the Japanese version.
The duration of “The Tale of Genji” is almost three hours without
intermission. Usually the opera is set in two acts, however there
is possibility to set it in three acts. The story takes place
at a brilliant court in 10th~11th Century Japan, and the original
novel is so loved by international readers,.(there are more than
eight English translations, and some other language translations).
When the stage is limited, the opera can be performed as the
standard version. On the other hand, if the theatre has multi
stages and can bring a Gagaku ensemble and Bugaku (and Gigaku)
dances, it can be performed as the grand opera version.
Standard instrumentation is 2•2•2•2, 2•2•2, 3perc, Pipa(and Qin) solo, Koto solo and Strings.
The characters are:
| Prince GENJI |
Son of the Old Emperor and his concubine, Kiritsubo, a lady-in-waiting.
Baritone |
| The OLD EMPEROR |
Bass or Bass-baritone * |
| The RECLUSE OF AKASHI |
Bass or Bass-baritone * |
| FUJITSUBO |
The Old Emperor’s consort, aunt of: Lyric Soprano ** |
| MURASAKI |
Adopted by Genji, becomes his second wife ** |
| Princess ROKUJO |
Widow of the Old Emperor’s brother:
Genji’s first mistress at age 24. Spinto soprano*** |
| The Lady of AKASHI |
Grand-daughter of the Recluse of Akashi. Spinto soprano *** |
| Princess AOI |
Genji’s first wife; daughter of the Minister of the left Lyric
mezzo |
| TO-NO-CHUJO |
Her brother; Genji’s great friend Tenor |
| KOKIDEN |
Original consort of the Old Emperor, supplanted first by Genji’s
mother, then by Fujitsubo Contralto |
| SUZAKU |
Her son; Genji’s half-brother; successor to the Old Emperor Baritone |
| KOREMITSU |
Genji’s retainer Baritone |
| SHONAGON |
Murasaki’s grandmother, a nun Mezzo-soprano |
| The boy GENJI |
age 12, non-singing |
| The boy SUZAKU |
age 14, non-singing |
| The boy RYOZEN |
son of Fujitsubo and Genji, but thought to be the son of the Old
Emperor. Age 3, non singing |
Chorus of male and female courtiers and retainers
Property men (Actors)
|
** these roles is to be sung by the same singer
* and *** these roles can be sung by the same singer |
The world premiere by the OTSL will be done in the English standard
version.
The staff and the cast are: |
| Conductor |
Steuart Bedford |
| Stage Director |
Colin Graham |
| Set/Costume Designer |
Setsu Asakura |
| Wig and Make-up Design |
Tom Watson |
| Choreographer |
Onoe Kikushiro |
| Associete Designer |
Jun Matsuno |
| Associate Designer |
Robin Verhage Abrams |
| Lighting Designer |
Chrietopher Akerlind |
| English Diction Specialist |
Kathryn LaBouff |
Chorus Master
|
Cary John Franklin |
| General Director |
Charles Mackay |
| |
 |
| St. Louis Symphony Orchestra |
| Pipa and qin solo |
Yang Jing |
| Koto solo |
Reiko Kimura |
| |
|
| OTSL Chorus |
| Genji |
Mel Urich |
| Old Emperor/Recluse |
Andrew Wentzel |
| To-No-Chujo |
Richard Troxel |
| Fujitsubo/Murasaki |
Elizabeth Comeaux |
| Rokujo |
|
| Lady of Akashi |
|
| Shonagon/Kokiden |
Josepha Gayer |
| Aoi |
Jessica Miller |
| Suzaku |
Carleton Chambers |
| Koremitsu |
|
| Ryozen |
|
| The boy Genji |
|
| The boy Suzaku |
|
| |
|
| Assistant Stage Director |
| Stage Manager |
Gretchen Mueller |
|
