FABIÁN PANISELLO - Die Judith von Shimoda (2023) 100′

Die Judith von Shimoda

Opera in two partsCommissioned by the Bregenzer Festspiele and Neue Oper Wien

Description

Premiere: 17 and 19 August 2023, Bregenzer Festspiele, performed the Amadeus Ensemble Wien and the Wiener Kammerchor
Conductor: Walter Kobéra + MÁS

Stage director: Carmen C. Kruse
Set design, costumes, and video: Susanne Brendel
Lighting design: Norbert Chmel
Sound direction and live electronics: Christina Bauer
Concept and design of live electronics: Alexis Baskind
Language coach: Stephan Rehmz
Okichi: Anna Davidson
Saito: Alexander Kaimbacher
Ofuku/Clive: Megan Kahts
Tsurumatsu/Kito: Martin Lechleitner
Henry Heusken/Akimura: Harald Hieronymus Hein
Osai/Ray: Gan-ya Ben-gur Akselrod
Townsend Harris: Timothy Connor
Lord Isa: Karl Huml
Chorus master: Bernhard Jaret

Opera based on the play by Bertolt Brecht, adapted from Nyonin Aishi. Akichi Monogatari by Yamamoto Yūzō
Libretto: Juan Lucas
Language: German

Synopsis

The opera tells the story of the first American consul who, upon arriving in Shimoda in 1856, threatens to bombard the city unless the Japanese agree to a trade deal with the United States. In this moment, the geisha Okichi agrees to serve the consul, hoping to save her hometown. However, rather than being hailed as a heroine, Okichi is shunned for her involvement with the foreigner, despite being married to a Japanese man. She descends into alcoholism and returns to her life as a geisha. For Brecht, Yūzō’s story offered the potential to portray ‘a Japanese Judith’. By referencing the biblical figure of Judith, Brecht highlighted society’s role in Okichi’s tragic life trajectory.

Articles and interviews

8 November 2023 – Die Furche: Panisellos „Die Judith von Shimoda“: Eine andere „Butterfly“
6 November 2023 – Theater der Zeit: Neue Oper Wien: Geächtet, aber nicht vergessen
3 November 2023 – Der Opernfreund: Wien: „Die Judith von Shimoda“, Fabián Panisello
3 November 2023 – Online Merker: Vienna / Neue Oper Wien: Die Judith von Shimoda
29 August 2023 – ORF/Ö1: Zeit-Ton: Oper nach Brecht bei den Bregenzer Festspielen: “Die Judith von Shimoda” von Fabian Panisello
28 August 2023 – Orchestergraben: Bregenz Festival: Madame Butterfly vs. Judith von Shimoda
22 August 2023 – Sonograma: Die Judith von Shimona, Fabián Panisello
18 August 2023 – Süddeutsche Zeitung: Bregenzer Festspiele: Geopferte Heldin
18 August 2023 – Südkurier: „Judith von Shimoda“ bei den Bregenzer Festspielen: Von der Heldin zur Hure
10 August 2023 – Puls 24: Bregenzer Festspiele gehen mit Premieren ins Finale
13 July 2023 – Crescendo Magazine: “Die Judith von Shimoda” de Fabián Panisello à Bregenz
27 April 2023 – Scherzo: El Festival de Bregenz estrenará la nueva ópera de Fabián Panisello, ‘Die Judith von Shimoda’

Details

Genre: Opera – Musical theatre
Duration: 100 minutes
Year: 2023

Instrumentation

3S,3T,2Bar,B + SSSAATTBarBB; 1[pic,afl].1[ca].0[I:bcl.II:bcl,cbcl]+2bb-cl.1[cbn].barsx[asx,bsax]/0+f-hn.0.0+btbn.0/2perc/kbd.pf[kbd].hp/egtr[gtr].acn/str(1.0.1.1.1)