Mono Opera “Hearn’s Sunflower” by Fujieda Mamoru

A requiem for the sea world -- the reminiscence of the summer days in Ireland

 

This opera is inspired by Lafcadio Hearn’s short story “Sunflower.”  It is among the stories in Kwaidan, Hearn’s masterpiece containing Japanese ghost stories.  

 

“Sea world” is an essential element for the opera.  Sea world is a kind of sacred boundary between this world and the other. Songs with harp lead us beyond the sea world as memories of the past and a requiem for Robert, Hearn’s friend.  Also, Ariel’s song from the tempest by Shakespeare will be sung.  It is quoted at the end of Hearn’s sunflower.

 

Fujieda Mamoru composed this opera and will be premiered on June 26th, 2021 at Moromoto Noh Theater in Fukuoka, Japan. Noh Theater is built to perform Japanese traditional Noh opera.  In this performance, a heroin sings and dances with a chamber ensemble (harp, violin, violoncello, and clarinet) will perform at Noh theater to combine the western culture with Japanese through Lafcadio Hearn’s story.

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Structure:

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ACT I   Sea Boundary 

M-01: Prelude 〜the Sea Boundary  (Pattern of Plants 22th collection Pattern A) <cl, vn, vc>

M-02: The Primordial Mother <harp solo> 

M-03: The Primordial Mother <song+dance、cl, vn, vc, hp>

M-04: Interlude I 〜Toward the Ocean」(Pattern of Plants 13th collection Patttern D) <cl, vn, vc, hp> 

M-05: Beyond the Sea Boundary  <song+dance、cl, vn, vc, hp> 

M-06: Interlude II 〜the Sea Boundary (Pattern of Plants 22th collection Pattern A) <cl, vn, vc> 

M-07: The Song of Aerial  <song+dance、cl, vn, vc, hp> 

 

ACT II   Hi-Mawari (Sunflower)

Pattern of Plants 22th collection 〜Hearn’s Hi-Mawari

M-08: pattern A  <cl, vn, vc>

M-09: pattern B  <dance, cl, vn, vc, hp>

M-10: pattern C  <cl, vn, vc, hp>

M-11: pattern D  <dance, cl, vn, vc, hp>

Pattern of Plants 30th collection ~ Song of Hi-Mawari

M-12: pattern A ~The Round of Hi-Mawari 

M-13: pattern B <cl, vn, vc, hp> 

<song, cl, vn, vc, hp> 5min 

M-14: Interlude III  ~The Olive Jig」 <vn, vc> 3

M-15: Believe Me, if All Those Endearing Young Charms <song+dance、cl, vn, vc, hp> 

M-16 Postlude 〜Beyond the Ocean」(Pattern of Plants 22th collection Pattern A) <cl, vn, vc> 3min

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Venue:

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Morimoto Noh Theater

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Composed by Fujieda Mamoru

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【Dance / Voice】Koga Honami
【Ensemble】Fukuoka Kammer Philharmonie
   Clarinet: Tanamachi Yukinori 

   Violin: Oba Hideki 
   Violoncello: Uchikoshiyama Shuta

​   Harp: Nakamura Rie

 

 

【Concert Schedule】
June 26th (Sat), 2021 Open: 13:00 Start: 14:00  Venue: Morimoto Noh Theater

June 26th (Sat), 2021 Open: 18:00 Start: 19:00  Venue: Morimoto Noh Theater

July 4th (Sun), 2021   Open: 13:00 Start: 14:00  Venue: Hakozaki Suizokukan

 

【Admission Fee】

￥3,000 yen

 

【Online Ticket】 

￥2,000 yen

* online performance will be available on July 10th.

Those interested in this opera can watch it on the Internet!  

Those living in Japan can order the online ticket from:PIA LIVE STREAM (P code: 781859)

Those living outside Japan  please email to (tanamachi07@gmail.com).  Further information will be sent to you. 

 

【Management】

  Fukuoka Kammer Philharmonie
【Grant】

  Zenkoku Zeirisi Kyoueikai  Foundation　

​  Fukuoka City Cultural Arts Promotion Foundation

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