Work of the Week – Toshio Hosokawa: Hanjo

By Christopher Peter
25 Nov 2024

An elegant geisha in a beautifully embroidered kimono takes center stage, adorned with floral patterns in soft pink and green tones, with a red ribbon accentuating her waist.

Between Dream and Reality: On November 29, 2024, the 20th new staging of Toshio Hosokawa’s opera Hanjo premieres at the Mecklenburg State Theatre Schwerin. Directed by Judith Lebiez and conducted by Aki Schmitt, this production brings a hauntingly beautiful story to life.

A Love Story of Longing and Isolation

Hanjo tells the story of Hanako, a geisha who waits in vain for her lover Yoshio. Her daily longing isolates her from the world, until she is bought by the embittered Jitsuko. When Yoshio unexpectedly returns, a power struggle ensues, blurring the lines between love, possession, and freedom. Hanako ultimately makes a surprising choice that challenges expectations.

Blending Tradition with Innovation

Hosokawa describes Hanjo as an opera that bridges dream and reality. Drawing inspiration from Japanese Nô theater, the piece blurs the boundaries between fantasy and the real world. With its lack of specific settings and times, Hanjo evokes a sense of detachment, allowing Hosokawa’s music to weave an intricate narrative between madness and clarity.

“I wanted to create a drama that continuously crosses the border between dream and reality, between madness and reason.”
– Toshio Hosokawa

Experience Hosokawa’s Music live

Following its premiere on November 29, Hanjo will be performed in Schwerin until January 25, 2025. Hosokawa’s music can also be heard in December, with his violin concerto Genesis performed in Cologne and Valencia, and his orchestral piece Ferne Landschaft II featured in the Vienna State Ballet’s Sleeping Beauty. Additionally, the German premiere of Voice from the Ocean will be presented by the Osnabrück State Orchestra.

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