2015年3月アーカイブ

Once every three years, the world's top dancers gather in Tokyo for several days of splendid joint performances at the World Ballet Festival, which will be held this August for the 14th time. The first of what could be referred to as "Ballet Olympics" took place 39 years ago, and since then, it has become the stuff of legends and has featured numerous renowned performances.

The memorable first World Ballet Festival was held in 1976. That first Festival was an unprecedented event at that time, not only for Japan but also for the international ballet community, as it brought together more than 20 of the world's greatest dancers for joint performances. The presence of three of the world's finest ballerinas--Maya Plisetskaya of the former Soviet Union, Margot Fonteyn of the United Kingdom, and Alicia Alonsoof Cuba--on the same stage in all their splendor attracted a large audience and astonished the Japanese and international ballet communities. Since then, the WBF has created an ongoing legacy as a model for gala ballet festivals worldwide. 

In honor of the upcoming 14th World Ballet Festival, we will be presenting a series of thirteen videos, a new one every day, depicting the curtain calls from all the Festivals, from the first, held in 1976, to the thirteenth, held only three years ago. We hope you will enjoy these "hidden video treasures" as you watch legendary dancers of the past and present take their bows.

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Please send all inquiries through english@nbs.or.jp

We look forward to hearing from you, and seeing you at the theatre!

Movies

In just six months, the Birmingham Royal Ballet will perform in Japan for the first time in four years. The performances in Japan will feature Cinderella, choreographed by the BRB's Artistic Director David Bintley, and Swan Lake, choreographed by the man whom Bintley reverently refers to as "Britain's most eminent producer of classical ballet," Sir Peter Wright. There are many versions of Swan Lake, but Wright's version has continued to be a favorite since its premiere more than 30 years ago. It was also very well received when the BRB performed it during its 1988 appearances in Japan. Here you can see a digest of treasured video footage taken during those 1988 performances.

Here is the preview video for the Royal Opera's production of Don Giovanni. 

Kasper Holten's production of this opera created a stir when it was first performed last year. It uses currently popular projection mapping technology for a visual reconstruction of Mozart's musical world. 

The September performances in Japan will feature a star-studded cast, including Ildebrando D'Arcangelo, Joyce DiDonato, Alex Esposito, Rolando Villazón, and the sensational new singer Julia Lezhneva.

This year the Royal Opera's performances of Don Giovanni will feature the up-and-coming soprano Julia Lezhneva. In an autumn tour of Japan she will appear in the role of Zerlina. She recently wowed audiences at the Kanagawa Kenritsu Ongakudo with her performance in the Baroque opera L'Oracolo in Messenia.

Trasimede, the role she sang in that opera, is a comprimario, but the character sings arias that feature overwhelmingly compelling and technically complex passages. As she began to sing in the second act, it was clear that the audience was immediately enthralled, and the moment she finished, the hall erupted in shouts of "brava!" The applause continued for so long that one wondered whether she would be forced to sing an encore. During the intermission after Act 2, people rushed to the CD sales counter in the lobby, and a complete recording of the opera that contained Lezhneva's aria virtually flew off the shelves. It seemed that no one could resist the impulse to hear the aria again. That is how wonderful Lezhneva's singing was. 

Twenty-four-year-old Julia Lezhneva was born on the island of Sakhalin. At the age of 17, she attracted the world's attention by winning a prize in the Elena Obraztsova Competition for Young Opera Singers. Since then, she has performed alongside many veteran singers, including performing works of Rossini with Juan Diego Flórez and works of Handel with Placido Domingo. The New York Times praised "the angelic beauty" of her voice, while Opernwelt mentioned her "pure tone," and The Guardian lauded her "flawless technique." The entire world anticipates a bright future for this young soprano. 

In an interview before her performance, Lezhneva's expression and voice radiantly conveyed her love of singing. Concerning her role of Zerlina in Don Giovanni, she said, with a mischievous look on her face, "[Zerlina] is young and cute. She is surrounded by friends and happily anticipating her wedding, and that's me exactly!" There is no doubt that Julia Lezhneva will astound audiences with her sweet beauty and amazing vocal ability. She will arrive in Japan after her debut with the Royal Opera in June. 

Miyako Yoshida's position as a principal dancer with Britain's Royal Ballet brought her legions of admirers, first in the United Kingdom and then around the world. Currently unaffiliated with any company, she is continuing her international career. Now the Birmingham Royal Ballet (BRB) has designated her as its Japan Performance Ambassador, and she will be providing support for the BRB's performances in Japan. 

She began her career with the BRB, formerly known as the Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet. We will let her tell you about the appeal of a dance company that she describes as "a wonderful company, as warm-hearted as a family." 

Sir Peter Wright's production of Swan Lake, which the BRB will perform in Japan, is a work that holds a special place in Yoshida's heart. 

"Actually, Wright's production of Swan Lake was the first ballet in which I danced the lead. I was still a youngster of 20, and as the understudy for the principal, I had only a brief two weeks of rehearsals before I stepped onto the stage. That's where it all began. That work was my starting point."

She praises the work, describing it as "very English, with strong dramatic elements."

"One is drawn into the worldview of Sir Peter's Swan Lake from the very beginning. As it unfolded in a natural way, I was easily able to enter into the role of Odette/Odile. After seeing me in Swan Lake, Sir Peter began casting me in a variety of other leading roles. If he hadn't been there, I probably wouldn't be what I am today." 

As Artistic Director, Wright always watched over his dancers with a warmly parental attitude, and under his direction, Yoshida starred in a number of productions as a principal dancer until moving to the Royal Ballet in 1995. 

"When the company moved to Birmingham in 1990, it expanded its scope a bit, and later, the role of Artistic Director passed from Sir Peter to David [Bintley], so I thought that its unique, warm atmosphere would change. Yet when I performed with them as a guest artist during the 2008 performances in Japan, it hadn't changed at all! It was exactly the same atmosphere as when I was a member of the company! That makes me very happy. It may be because the BRB is a touring company, and everyone always works together." 

The Royal Ballet and the BRB are said to be sister companies. 

"At the same time, they're also rivals. They have the same repertoire, but they're also completely different on some points. During the tour right after I entered the company, we performed major works at the beginning of the week and smaller works on the weekend, most of the time, for example, the small-scale works of people like Ninette de Valois and Leonid Massine, which were suitable for small theaters and which would have been difficult to stage in large opera houses. Incidentally, David, the current Artistic Director, played the role of the King in de Valois's Checkmate, and I remember that he did a fantastic job. I always used to look forward to watching him from the wings. The BRB may have a lot of people who are such skilled performers." 

Yoshida is eagerly awaiting the BRB's performances in Japan, when she can see Wright's Swan Lake for the first time in a long time. 

"The BRB is located in the same country as the Royal Ballet, but it's a wonderful company with a slightly different tone. I really want everyone to see it!" 

This video features highlights from the Royal Opera's production of Macbeth. 

Verdi loved Shakespeare, and his version of Shakespeare's psychological drama is vividly brought to life by such acclaimed singers as Simon Keenlyside and Liudmyla Monastyrska. We know you will enjoy these opera performances from a nation renowned for its theatrical heritage.