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Southeast Asian Performance Tour of “Pinocchio” by Opera Theater Konnyakuza
Southeast Asian Performance Tour of “Pinocchio” by Opera Theater Konnyakuza
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120th Anniversary of Japan-Thailand Diplomatic Relations
Relations and the 50th Anniversary of Japan-Malaysia Diplomatic Relations -
Designed by Yoshihisa Oda
This will be Konnyakuza’s first production in four years in Southeast Asia since “Gauche the Cellist,” which it presented in 2003 as part of the Japan-ASEAN Friendship Year, and “Teto the Robot” in 2001.
In the upcoming tour, Konnyakuza will present “Opera Pinocchio.” Based on the well-known tale, Konnyakuza has created a world that entertains both children and adults.
Schedule
| Malaysia | May 12 (Sat.), 2007, 15:00 and 20:30 May 13 (Sun.), 2007, 15:00 Venue: Actor's Studio Theater Bangsar (Kuala Lumpur) Inquiry: The Japan Foundation, Kuala Lumpur  |
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| Indonesia | May 16 (Wed.), 2007, 20:00 May 17 (Thu.), 2007, 16:00 Venue: TIM/Theater Kuchi ru (Jakarta) Inquiry: The Japan Foundation, Jakarta (Mr.) Tsukamoto |
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| Thailand | May 23 (Wed.), 2007, 19:00 Venue: The Japan Foundation, Bangkok May 25 (Fri.), 2007, 16:30 Venue: Rajabhat University (Nakhon Ratchasima) May 26 (Sat.), 2007, 14:00 Venue: Community Center (KhonKaen) May 27 (Sun.), 2007, 14:00 and 18:00 Start Venue: Udon Thani Rajabhat University (Udon Thani) Inquiry: The Japan Foundation, Bangkok (Mr.) Uchida |
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About “Opera Pinocchio”
“Pinocchio” is a children’s story that is adored by children the world over. Out of this enduring tale of a playful child’s exciting adventures, Konnyakuza has fashioned a fun opera that makes full use of physical expression and percussion instruments. Just four singers accompanied by a single pianist will act out a diversity of enchanting characters, taking audiences through a variety of worlds and times.
“Opera Pinocchio” is made possible by a brilliant script, humorous direction, and the performers’ passion to directly communicate to audiences through song and acting, combined with lively, expressive music as their vehicle. It is a stage that could only have been created by Konnyakuza, which for many years has engaged in creating small-cast operas with greater mobility than the so-called grand opera in pursuit of the true beauty of opera as a fusion of music and drama.
The Opera Theater Konnyakuza was founded in 1971 from the Konnyaku Exercise Club for students at Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. Under the late Mutsuko Miyagawa, a professor emeritus at the university, the club offered training in physical exercise and basic acting techniques. Its members founded Konnyakuza as a professional opera company with a repertoire of Japanese-language opera and embarked on performance tours across Japan.
From the start, Konnyakuza has sought for vocal expression that is clearly audible and understandable. Focusing on the dramatic elements of opera, moreover, it has presented innovative stage direction using physical expression based on the training of the Konnyaku Exercise. With Hikaru Hayashi as the artistic director and Kyoko Hagi as the music director and chairperson, Konnyakuza and its 33 performers give approximately 250 performances each year.
Konnyakuza has received numerous awards, including the Arts Festival Prize for Music (1989), the Yasue Yamamoto Memorial Foundation Prize (1997), the Mitsubishi Trust Music Award (1997), and the Iihatobu Award (2002).