歌曲 Kakyoku

Thursday lunchtime in the RBA saw Teiya Kasahara, Chihiro Yasufuku and Simone Luti perform 歌曲 Kakyoku: Journey in Japanese Song.  It was an interesting contrast with Sam Chan’s exploration of Western representation of Asia and Asian in Western classical music the day before.  This time all the music was by Japanese composers setting Japanese texts but (in some sense at least) in the Western classical style/tradition.  In its way it forms part of the broader “modernisation” of Japan that took place after the Meiji Restoration.

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Satisfying Cendrillon from UoT Opera

UoT Opera’s spring production; Massenet’s 1899 opera Cendrillon, has been transferred to the Elgin Theatre with the MacMillan currently out of commission.  They have made some sensible accommodations to the rather unfriendly Elgin acoustic.  The orchestra is reduced to about thirty players and placed at floor level in front of the stage.  Almost all the stage action takes place right at the front which helped significantly with voice projection.

Pandolfe & Servants

Pandolfe & Servants

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