★OPERA, "PRINCESS FROM THE MOON"★

(KAGUYA-HIME)

(in 2 Acts/ in Japanese with English Surtitles)

Music & Libretto by HIDEAKI HIRAI

<SUMMARY> The opera, “Princess from the Moon" (KAGUYA-HIME), its music and libretto written by Japan's critically acclaimed conductor, Maestro Hideaki HIRAI (www.hideaki-hirai.com), is based on the classic Japanese folktale, “Kaguya-hime”. The story is the Japan's oldest and one of the most well known fairytales. It is the tale of a young princess who descends to 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 3 months, she grows up to be the most beautiful woman in the country, attracting many marriage proposals from dignitaries, including the Mikado (Emperor of Japan). The princess rejects these proposals, knowing in her heart that she must one day return to the moon.

＜CAST＞ The Princess Kaguya Soprano Mikado (The Emperor) Baritone Okina (an old bamboo cutter) Baritone Ohna (Okina’s wife) Mezzo Soprano The Prince Kuramochi Tenor Dainagon (Grand Counsellor) Baritone Chuhnagon (Middle Counsellor) Baritone Kuge (Courtier) Tenor The musical Prince Ishizukuri Tenor (a master of bamboo flute) Sato-no-musume Soprano (A beautiful village maiden) The King of the moon Baritone (Tenor) Villagers, Mikado’s soldiers, Mixed Chorus Young women in the village, The Celestial beings Little Princess Kaguya A little girl (chosen from the Children’s Chorus) Children in the village Children’s Chorus (The Celestial beings) (Female ballet dancers)* *optional

＜DURATION＞

・100 min. (Complete performance)

・60 min. (Highlights with 4 soloists*, chorus and a narrator)

*Princess, Mikado, Okina and Ohna

ex.) Performance in concert-style:

Sat., 18. 4, 2009 at Smetana Hall

・45 min. (Highlights with 2 soloists**, chorus and a narrator)

**Princess, Mikado

＜INSTRUMENTATION＞ 2 Fl 2 Ob 2Cl 2Fg 2Hr 2 Trp 3 Trmb Timp +1 Perc. (Cymbal, Bass

Drum and Glockenspiel) 1Harp

Strings (6-5-4-4-3)***

***Strings may be reduced according to the pit space, etc.

ex.) 6-5-4-3-2 or 4-3-2-2-1

“World-premiere Performance” （FEBRUARY 16, 2003） at Meguro Persimmon Hall, Tokyo, Japan

Semi-staged performance (February 2003 in Tokyo)

Full-staged performance

(July 2006 in Wako-City, Japan)

“2006 AUSTRALIA-JAPAN YEAR OF EXCHANGE” Commemorative Performance （JUNE 16, 2006）

at Llewellyn Hall, Canberra, Australia

Semi-staged performance

Australian children, dressed in Kimonos, sung in Japanese

PRESS REVIEWS

THE CANBERRA TIMES (June 20, 2006)

Different and delightful

“This was a unique operatic event indeed, bringing five principal singers from the Tokyo Opera Production of this

work to join in a highly attractive presentation conducted by the composer, in which the remainder of the singers and

orchestra were from Canberra. This is opera Western-style, and Hirai's score is constantly melodious and

warmly harmonic, with vocal writing that deftly exploits the distinctive tonal qualities of the voices,

whether in solo and duet or in the supporting choral sections.

The story is based on a Japanese folk-tale, Kaguyahime, which tells of a princess who descends from the Moon to

Earth. While the settings were minimal, this was balanced by the colourful costuming brought from the Tokyo Opera

Production, enhanced by effective lighting which highlighted the front-stage action while the large chorus, dressed in

black, made a contrasting dark background.

The first act is lyrical, with the music for the village scenes containing suggestions of Central European folk music, and

here the children of the Woden Valley Youth Choir brought vitality to their pleasing contributions. The fine singing at

the start of this act from baritone Akihito Shikano and mezzo Kazuko Nagai, as the bamboo- cutter and his wife who

give the Princess a home, set the high standard of the solo singing. The second act is more dramatic, and here the

duets between Nagai and Mami Koshigoe as the Princess, and then later between Koshigoe and the powerfully voiced

Katsuｊi Miura as the Mikado, were distinctly Verdian.

Throughout the performance the five Australian singers - Damien Hall, Thomas Millhouse, Gavan Fairclough, Richard

Phillips and Matthew Thomas - made strong contributions in the supporting roles of the five suitors for the Princess's

hand. The singing of the Canberra Choral Society as the chorus was firm and well- balanced, and the conductor

drew fine- toned and constantly expressive playing from members of the Canberra Symphony in the

pit. In every way, this was an operatic presentation that was as delightful as it was different.”

----W.L.Hoffmann

OPERA~OPERA (August, 2006)

“What we experienced was something unique which was totall diverting and entertaining…cleverly staged and filled

with delightfully melodic and , at times movingly beautiful music.”

“…it [music] is melodious and colorfully evocative and at this performance the composer conducted

himself with great distinction, obviously totally involved with the orchestra and the singers.”

----Janet Wilson

The Canberra Times (12 June, 2006)

The Canberra Times (15 June, 2006)

Semi-staged performance* (December 2006 in Niigata, Japan)

*simple stage set with large/small screens: one with a painted bamboo forest and another with a full moon (available for hire)

*costumes: mostly hired from the professional costume company

Synopsis of the Opera, “Princess from the Moon” (Kaguya-hime) Music and Libretto by Hideaki Hirai

Written by Takashi Yokota Translated by Maya Gartner

Act 1 Scene 1: The story begins a long long time ago when a bamboo cutter named Taketori no Okina comes across a shining bamboo tree. When he cuts the tree, he finds a small child of radiant beauty within.

Okina believes that this marvelous little girl is a gift from Heaven and carefully takes her home to his

wife Ohna. The elderly couple decides to bring the child up as their own. As time goes by, the old man often comes across bamboo stalks filled with golden coins and the couple gradually becomes very

wealthy. The little girl is named Nayotake no Kaguya-hime, ‘Shining Princess of the Young Bamboo’. To

the couple’s surprise, in a mere three months, Kaguya-hime becomes as tall as a full-grown lady and proves to be of unworldly beauty.

Act 1 Scene 2: Word of Kaguya-hime’s splendour spreads across the realm and she soon receives marriage proposals from many noble and powerful men. In this opera a beautiful village maiden has been added to illustrate Kaguya-hime’s fascinating allure. The five noble suitors are: the handsome and popular

Prince Kuramochi; the powerful and tyrannical Grand Counsellor (Dainagon); the studious and earnest

Middle Counsellor (Chuhnagon); the spoilt Minister of the Right (Courtier/Kuge); and the musical Prince Ishizukuri. The noblemen directly confront each other in their quest for love. But Kaguya-hime, who

knows her true identity, refuses every proposal. Kaguya-hime decides to assign each of the five noble

suitors an impossible task to find a legendary treasure in order to prove his affection for her. Most people believe that these treasures do not exist and do not tackle the impossible tasks seriously. Some feel

ridiculed, some use their money and power to trick the princess into believing they have accomplished

their tasks, and some courageously take their challenge. The first act ends with Prince Kuramochi embarking on a voyage in search of the wondrous branch.

Act 2 Scene 1: Chuhnagon is fatally injured when falling from a high cliff during his quest for the swallow’s easy-delivery shell. Kaguya-hime hears of this and sends a consolatory song to him. This is followed by the Middle Counsellor’s tragic death. Rumors of Kaguya-hime finally reach the ears of the

Mikado. The Emperor orders Okina to bring his daughter to the royal palace to serve the Mikado’s court.

Nonetheless, the Princess refuses, just as before. Okina decides to plan a meeting between the Mikado and Kaguya-hime under the pretext of an imperial hunt. The Mikado writes her letters and poems of love.

Kaguya-hime slowly opens her heart towards the Mikado, yet as the two grow close, the she grows

solemn and pensive. Kaguya-hime’s time on earth is coming to an end and the thought of leaving her beloved parents and her love on earth is what is causing her great grief. The time has come for her to

return to her palace on the moon. Yet the fully-blossomed Princess bids them farewell in front of a

mid-autumn harvest moon.

Act 2 Scene 2, Finale: The Mikado sends his grand army to the bamboo cutter’s house to stop the people from the moon from taking Kaguya-hime away. The King of the moon does not even give Kaguya-hime a

choice between life on earth with Okina and Ohna or life on the moon where she was born. Princess Kaguya entrusts an elixir of immortality to her loved ones and writes a final letter to her beloved Mikado.

They were destined to part. The townspeople and the Mikado’s soldiers cannot resist the magical powers

of the Moon King. Kaguya-hime rises into the sky and disappears from earth, never to return again. * The names of the central characters and of the legendary treasures are mostly based on Donald Keene’s 1956 translation of

Taketori monogatari.

HIDEAKI HIRAI, conductor

■Management (Japan): Million Concert, Co. Ltd. Tel. +81-(0)3-3501-5638 Fax. +81-(0)3-3501-5620 E-mail: classic@millionconcert.co.jp http://www.millionconcert.co.jp

♪ Hideaki Hirai’s Official Website: http://www.hideaki-hirai.com

HIDEAKI HIRAI has “a talent deeply ingrained in his genes” (The Den), is one of the most gifted young conductors to emerge from Japan. He is currently Music Director and Conductor of the Tokyo Opera Experimental Theatre and Conductor of the Tokyo Opera Production. Prior to this he has held the position of Conductor at Tokyo New City Orchestra, Co-founder of the Czech Virtuosi and Music Director of the Capital Young Artists Orchestra (Washington, D.C.) and the CYAO International Summer Music Festival (Virginia). In 1997 he was the first prize-winner of the Sixth International Conducting Competition in Hradec Kralove (Czech Republic). In 2001 Mr. Hirai was chosen by Lorin Maazel as one of the ten promising conductors in Asia. In 2002 Mr. Hirai was nominated among the Stars of Tomorrow in Japan to conduct the All-Tokyo Symphony Orchestra (all-star members from the top orchestras in Tokyo including NHK Symphony Orchestra). He has conducted many leading orchestras including the Cadaques Chamber Orchestra, Canberra Symphony Orchestra, Croatian Radio-TV Symphony Orchestra, Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Finnish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Janacek Philharmonic, Karlsbad Symphony Orchestra, Moravian Philharmonic, Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, Silesian Philharmonic and most of the major orchestras in Japan such as Japan Philharmonic, New Japan Philharmonic, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, and Tokyo Symphony Orchestra. His recent festival appearances include Martinu Festival, Young Prague Music Festival” in the Czech Republic, Japan Festival (U.S.A.) and Martha Argherich Music Festival (Beppu, Japan). In 2009 Maestro Hirai will appear at the Sydney Opera House as well as the Smetana Hall (Prague). Acknowledged as opera conductor, Hideaki Hirai has been a frequent guest with the prestigious New National Theatre, Tokyo. Following his successful debut with Mitridate and Lucio Silla (Mozart) in November 2003, Maestro Hirai was immediately offered re-engagements with Marriage of Figaro in April 2005 and with Serse (Handel) in January 2006. His recent opera performances include productions of La Boheme, Carmen, Madame Butterfly, La Traviata and a sensational success as “conductor, composer and librettist” of his own opera, Princess from the Moon in Tokyo (2003). In June 2006, the Canberra Times (Australia) praised Hirai’s opera as constantly melodious and warmly harmonic and Puccini-Japanese style upon its performance in Australia as main event of the “2006 Australia-Japan Year of Exchange”. The work has become in much demand as one of the most popular Japanese operas in Japan and constantly scheduled for future productions. He had a great honour to receive a special commission to write a new opera, “TRUE LOVE of KOMACHI” for the prestigious National Cultural Festival 2008 in Japan. A sold-out world premiere performance received rave reviews. Mr. Hirai, born into a celebrated musical family, studied piano, violin and composition with his grandfather, eminent composer Kozaburo Hirai and cello with his father, Takeichiro Hirai, noted cellist whom Pablo Casals designated as his successor. Hirai’s first public presentation was his own works for children’s chorus and school plays at age 7. As a cellist, he has performed frequently in recitals and chamber concerts in Tokyo, New York, Washington, D.C., and in Europe (Spain, France and Italy) while he participated in the Juilliard Summer School in Mallorca, Spain. Hideaki Hirai graduated from the University of Rochester (New York) with a Bachelor’s degree in political science, where he studied conducting under David Effron at the Eastman School of Music. He completed his Master’s degree in conducting at the Peabody Conservatory of the John’s Hopkins University under Frederik Prausnitz, followed by further studies under Otakar Trhlik at the Janacek Academy of Music (Czech Republic) and his mentor Sir Colin Davis in London. [2/2009]

OPERA, "PRINCESS FROM THE MOON"　(Music & Libretto by HIDEAKI HIRAI) 　　　

MUSIC TITLE CAST

Act １ Scene 1　 　１ Music for Full Orchestra Overture N/A

2 Aria Bamboo Cutter's Song Okina (an old bamboo cutter) Recitative A Mysterious Bamboo Tree Okina・Ohna (Okina's wife)3 Duet The Birth of Princess Kaguya Okina・Ohna

Recitative A Blessed Day Okina・Ohna4 Mixed Chorus The Celebration Villagers

5 Children and Female Chorus A Little Princess Kaguya Little Princess Kaguya・Princess Kaguya・Children in the village・Mothers of the children

Scene 2　　　 Recitative Prince Kuramochi's Adoration Prince Kuramochi・Okina・Ohna・Sato-no-musume　(a beautiful village maiden)6 Aria A Marriage Proposal of Prince Kuramochi Prince Kuramochi

Recitative I wish I could see her Prince Kuramochi・Okina・Ohna・Sato-no-musume7 Aria The Village Beauty in Love Sato-no-musume

Recitative Many Noble Suitors Princess Kaguya8 Recitative Visit of the Noble Suitors Prince Ishizukuri・Okina・Chuhnagon・Dainagon・Princess Kaguya9 Aria I am the world's most powerful General Dainagon

10 Duet Prince Kuramochi and Dainagon's battle Prince Kuramochi・Dainagon11 Aria A Marriage Proposal of a Courtier ( Kuge ) Kuge (a courtier)

Recitative What a strange guy he is Prince Kuramochi・Dainagon12 Aria The Princess's Confusion Princess Kaguya

Recitative Five Assignments Okina・Ohna・Princess Kaguya13 Duet Overwhelmed by the impossible tasks Prince Kuramochi・Chuhnagon

Recitative These tasks are really impossible Prince Kuramochi

14 Mixed Chorus The Song of Embarkment Villagers・Okina・Ohna・Princess Kaguya・Prince Kuramochi・Dainagon・

Chuhnagon・Kuge・Prince Ishizukuri・Sato-no-musume～ intermission～

Act ２ Scene 1　　15 Music for String Orchestra Prelude to the Act Ⅱ N/A

16 Aria A Song of Consolation Princess Kaguya17 Aria The Middle Counsellor's Last Song Chuhnagon18 Mixed Chorus The Song of Mourning Chuhnagon's retainers

Recitative All the rewards are mine Kuge・Okina・Princess Kaguya19 Incidental Music The Hunt N/A20 Duet The Mikado and Kaguya-hime's Encounter Mikado・Princess Kaguya21 Aria The Mikado's Love Mikado22 Aria Ohna's Worries Ohna23 Aria A Farewell Aria Princess Kaguya

Finale 24 Male Chorus We must fight Mikado's soldiers

25 Female・Male Chorus, etc. Descent of the Celestial Beings The Celestial beings・Young women in the village・Mikado's soldiers・The Kingof the moon

26 Duet・Mixed Chorus, etc Love Duet Mikado・Princess Kaguya・The King of the moon・Okina・The Celestial beings・Young women in the village・Mikado's soldiers

27 Mixed Chorus & Soloists Kaguya-hime's DepartureThe Celestial beings・Young women in the village・Mikado's soldiers・Mikado・

Okina・Ohna・Prince Kuramochi・Dainagon・Kuge・Prince Ishizukuri・Sato-no-musume

(as of April 1, 2009)