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Lady Sarashina (opera)

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Lady Sarashina
Opera by Péter Eötvös
The composer in Gáspár Stekovics's photo
LibrettistMari Mezei
Based onAs I crossed a Bridge of Dreams
Premiere3 March 2008 (2008-03-03)
Opéra National de Lyon

Lady Sarashina is an opera in nine tableaux by Hungarian composer Péter Eötvös to a libretto by Mari Mezei, based on As I crossed a Bridge of Dreams, fragments of an 11th-century diary (Japan, 1008) by Takasue's daughter, also known as Lady Sarashina. It premiered on 4 March 2008 at the Opéra National de Lyon. The opera is the result of a commission by the opera in Lyon; it was broadcast in full on France Musique on 27 September 2008.

Libretto

Lady Sarashina lived in Japan in the eleventh century, a time of high civilization where Japanese women held an essential role in social, economic and cultural life. She is the author of a classic piece in Japanese literature, The Journal of Sarashina. In her diary, she writes about her love of Japanese nature and landscapes, describes the sites she visits, the pilgrimages, dreams and monologues about life and death. In the opera, Lady Sarashina narrates her life. All the other roles are portrayed by three other singers, the Vocal Trio.

Roles

Role Voice type Premiere cast, 4 March 2008
Conductor: Peter Eötvös
Lady Sarashina soprano Mireille Delunsch
Trio vocal:
Le Garde, Le Bouffon, Le Messager, Le Père, Le Chat, Le Bonze, Le Gentilhomme		 baritone Peter Bording
Trio vocal:
La Princesse, La Jeune Lady, Une dame du rêve		 soprano Ilse Eerens
Trio vocal:
L'Impératrice, La Mère, La Sœur, Une dame du rêve, La Dame d'honneur		 mezzo-soprano Salome Kammer
Orchestra Orchestre de l'Opéra de Lyon
Director Ushio Amagatsu
Set Natsuyuki Nakanishi
Costumes Masatomo Ota
Lighting design Yukiko Yoshimoto

The staging was a co-production with the Théâtre national de l'opéra-comique, where it was staged in February 2009. In April 2013, the same production was mounted by the Polish National Opera in Teatr Wielki, Warsaw.

Instrumentation

The instrumentation calls for: 2 fl (both + Piccolo, second + altfl.), 1 ob (+ Eng.horn), 3 clar. (third + basscl.), 2 bassoon (second + contrabassoon), 1 sax (S-A-T-Bar), Winds: 3 - 2- 3- 1, 2 percussion, 1 harp, 1 sampler keyboard Strings: 6 - 5 - 4 - 3 - 2

Critical reception

In 2008, the opera received the prestigious Prix du Syndicat de la critique for Best Musical Creation. The world premiere drew wide international attention from the press. Reviews ranged from favorable to triumphant.

References

  1. "Lady Sarashina". Opéra National de Lyon.
  2. "Fiche spectacle Lady Sarashina". Opéra National de Lyon.
  3. "Fiche spectacle Lady Sarashina". Théâtre national de l'opéra-comique.
  4. "Lady Sarashina". Polish National Opera.
  5. "Lady Sarashina (2007)". Peter Eötvös.
  6. "MEILLEURE CRÉATION MUSICALE: Lady Sarashina". Prix du Syndicat de la critique. Archived from the original on 2016-03-13. Retrieved 2013-03-27.
  7. "FT.com, Arts". Financial Times.
  8. "L'ÉPURE DU RÊVE". ResMusica. 11 March 2008.
  9. "Het verdriet van een Japanse hofdame". De Standaard.
  10. "Le journal nippon d'Eötvös". La Libre Belgique. 11 March 2008.

External links

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