Warsaw: Return of Toshio Hosokawas Matsukaze directed by Sasha Waltz

Matsukaze and Murasame. Two sisters in love with one man. A poetic tale dating back to the 14^th century Japanese art of n?. Warsaw?s Polish National Opera will present the piece in an operatic form, directed and choreographed by Sasha Waltz, and performed to the music composed by Toshio Hosokawa.

The Polish premiere of Matsukaze took place at the Polish National Opera in 2011. Back then, the Berlin-based Sasha Waltz was already considered one of Europe?s most popular dancers and choreographers. The label may have stuck, yet the artist continues to be listed amidst the dance avant-garde. Her auteur choreographic opera style, which subtly blends together several components of the total work ? movement, song, instruments, lighting ? compounding them into brand new artistic quality.

The romantic Japanese tale is thus a perfect match for Waltz?s discrete aesthetics, even more so because the piece is performed against a wall woven of string, which divides the audience from the stage, where the dancers and singers move using ropes. The whole is accompanied by Hosokawa?s music, whose composition combines the European world with the delicacy of its Eastern counterpart. Its musical precision is evocative of veritable calligraphy, nimbly balancing the proportions between sound and silence.   

Presentations will take place on 21 and 22 April (7 pm) and on 23 April (6 pm).

Making of:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oh46uxdfbs

Comic strip: https://youtu.be/SDk_8qcPpPU

More about the piece: http://teatrwielki.pl/en/repertoire/calendar/2016-2017/matsukaze/

REALISED BY:

Conductor: Basem Akiki

Directed and choreographed by: Sasha Waltz

Stage design: Pia Maier Schriever, Chiharu Shiota

Costumes: Christine Birkle

Lighting design: Martin Hauk

Dramaturge: Ilka Seifert

CAST:

Matsukaze ? Ilse Eerens

Murasame  ? Charlotte Hellekant

Monk ? Frode Olsen

Fisherman ? Kai-Uwe Fahnert

Dancers: Sasha Waltz & Guests
Choir: Vocalconsort Berlin
Orchestra of the Polish National Opera

Coproduced by: Sasha Waltz & Guests GmbH; La Monnaie, Brussels; Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg; Staatsoper Unter den Linden, Berlin

Opera in one act
Libretto: Hannah Dübgen based on Motokiyo Zeami

Polish premiere: 31 May 2011, Polish National Opera, Moniuszko Hall