Work of the Week - Toshio Hosokawa: Matsukaze

On 3rd May, Matsukaze, the new opera by Japanese composer Toshio Hosokawa, received its World Première at the theatre La Monnaie | De Munt in Brussels. To introduce Hosokawa's unique musical language to the audience, his chamber opera Hanjo was presented at the same venue last month.

The opera is directed by renowned choreographer Sasha Waltz and features a spectacular web-like set design by Berlin-based artists Pia Maier-Schriever and Chiharu Shiota.

Matsukaze, Toshio Hosokawa’s third opera, is based on a play of the same name by Zeami, one of the pioneers of traditional Japanese Notheatre. Hosokawa’s concept was to breath new life into the genre of opera using Japanese dramaturgy which takes a very different approach in comparison to western theatre.

I have chosen Matsukaze, one of Zeami’s finest works, as a starting point, reconstructed its libretto, composed music, and by means of new stage directions, tried to create a new opera based on a No- which lives in our own time. Hosokawa

Between the 3rd and 11th May, Matsukaze will receive seven performances in Brussels before embarking on a journey throughout Europe. From 31 May it is presented at Teatr Wielki in Warsaw, from 9 June at Grand Théàtre de Luxembourg and from 15 July at the Staatsoper Berlin.

• Toshio Hosokawa - Profile
• La Monnaie | De Munt