Nicolas Joel’s 2016 production of Massenet’s Werther made a welcome return to Tokyo’s New National Theatre for its third revival, seen on 30 May. High expectations surrounded this revival, which…
Author: Natsuko Hirakura
A Pop-Up Potion: L’elisir d’amore Leaps from the Page at the NNTT
The New National Theatre Tokyo recently presented the fifth revival of Cesare Lievi’s popular 2010 production of L’elisir d’amore. At the 16 May matinee, the foyer buzzed with an audience…
The Last Laugh of a Liberated Woman: La traviata at the New National Theatre Tokyo
The fact that La traviata has been historically known in Japan as Tsubaki-hime (The Camellia Princess), involves a misleading conception. The suffix -hime suggests a delicate, well-born maiden rather than…
A Revelation of Restraint: Rigoletto at the New National Theatre Tokyo
The magnificent revival of Emilio Sagi’s 2013 production of Rigoletto, seen at the New National Theatre, Tokyo, on 23 February, proved an arresting experience. While the staging remained consistent with…
Japonisme and Jollity: Heinz Zednik’s Die Fledermaus returns to the New National Theatre Tokyo
The New National Theatre Tokyo ushered in the year with the seventh revival of Heinz Zednik’s celebrated 2006 production of Die Fledermaus. At the 24 January matinée, the auditorium shimmered…
The Triumph of Abstract Beauty: Saburo Teshigawara’s Orfeo ed Euridice returns to the New National Theatre Tokyo
The much-awaited revival of Saburo Teshigawara’s 2022 production of Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice, seen on December 6, truly embodied the spirit of “less is sometimes more.” First presented in Vienna…
A Captivating Il barbiere di Siviglia at the New National Theatre Tokyo
Josef E. Köpplinger’s 2005 production of Rossini’s Il barbiere di Siviglia celebrated its fifth revival in Tokyo this year. At the matinee on June 1st, the NNTT was filled with…
Kentridge’s Die Zauberflöte adds Christmasy touches at the New National Theatre, Tokyo
In December, Japanese theatres and concert halls customarily perform two blockbusters: Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. Now, a third seasonal piece might have been discovered: certainly William Kentridge’s 2005…
Rossini’s Guillaume Tell Triumphs at the New National Theatre Tokyo
To most Japanese, the overture of Guillaume Tell (William Tell) is familiar, evoking memories of Sports Day at elementary school. Nevertheless, this was the first full-scale staged production of Rossini’s…
The New National Theatre Tokyo opens its season with Bellini’s La Sonnambula
The NNTT’s 2024/2025 season opened with Vincenzo Bellini’s bel canto masterpiece, La Sonnambula (The Sleepwalker), seen on October 12. A co-production with Madrid’s Teatro Real, Barcelona’s Gran Teatre del Liceu…