THE鍵KEY

Instrumentation

Baritone
1
Cello
1
Clarinet
1
Double bass
1
Mezzo soprano
1
Violin
1
shakuhachi
biwa
kotsuzumi and shimedaiko
sho
dancer

Additional Information

 ‘20 years of marriage yet, I can’t speak with my wife’

But the husband is desperate to communicate with his wife about one subject in particular – their mutually unfulfilling sex life. Inspired by the novella of the same name by renowned Japanese author Junichiro Tanizaki, “THE鍵KEY” peers in on a secretive family and newcomer Kimura, as their lives take a dramatic turn following the husband’s new year resolution.

This award-winning, site-specific opera invites audiences to become voyeurs as they move freely around a private residence to eavesdrop on small ensembles of singers, a dancer, and Japanese and Western instruments as this intimate drama unfolds. 

Music and words by Francesca Le Lohé with excerpts from Junichiro Tanizaki’s ‘The Key’ in the original Japanese.

Major performances

3rd-4th August 2019, Tête à Tête: The Opera Festival, 10 Tollgate Drive, London (UK premiere)

19th-26th May 2019, Hirakushi Denchu House and Atelier, Tokyo, Japan (Revised premiere)

19th May 2018, Nakacho House, Tokyo, Japan (World premiere)

Tags

Details

Year

Japan

Minutes
75

Recordings

Date published
2018
Date recorded
May 2018
Performers
Takashi Matsudaira, Jin Rei, Yukiko Siina, Akane Kudo, Atsumi Kojima,Yuri Kubota, Yu Igarashi, Kyouju Hayakawa, Mikako Ogawa, Rikki Metsugi, Kumiko Shuto, Hiroko Miyake
Title
"THE鍵KEY" by Francesca Le Lohé: Trailer from 2018 Tokyo Premiere
Venue
Nakacho House, Tokyo
Date published
2020
Date recorded
August 2019
Performers
Hiroshi Amako, Clive Bell, Mark Lipski, Akane Kudo, Naomi Sato, Idlir Shyti, Akari Mochizuki, Akinori Fujimoto, Joana Ly, Shouzo Ayaka
Title
THE鍵KEY: 2019 UK Premiere (excerpts)
Venue
10 Tollgate Drive, London