|
| |
Opera "Kaguya-Hime" stage shown was held at Wako City in Saitama Prefecture in 2006. (Courtesy of Hideaki Hirai)
|
|
| |
Kaguya-Hime L.A. Chorus takes a major role in Opera "Kaguya-Hime" at Aratani Theatre as the U.S. premiere. (Photo by Yuka Amax)
|
.
Japanese language opera "Kaguya-Hime" (Princess from the Moon) will be performed at Aratani Theatre in Los Angeles on Saturday, Aug. 22, at 7 pm as the U.S. premiere.
The U.S. premiere of "Kaguya-Hime" is materialized by efforts of Opera "Kaguya-Hime" L.A. Committee, the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center, and Maestro Hideaki Hirai who wrote the music and libretto of the opera and will conduct the Aratani stage.
35 pieces music of "Kaguya-Hime" will be performed in two acts in Japanese language with English subtitles.
"Kaguya-Hime" is the tale of a young princess who descends to the earth. An old bamboo-cutter and his wife find the princess in a piece of golden shining bamboo and raise her as their daughter. Merely in three months, she grows up to be the most beautiful woman in the country, attracting many marriage proposals from nobles, including the Mikado or Emperor of Japan. The princess rejects these proposals, knowing in her heart that she must one day return to the moon.
"Kaguya-Hime" or original name "Tale of Teketori" (Tale of the Bamboo Cutter) is considered as Japan's oldest extant prose narrative traced back to the 10th century.
Tickets are $75, $40, $35, $30.
| 
