Contemporary Opera | World Premiere

NOTE TO A FRIEND

January 12* & 14* at 7:30pm | January 15th at 3pm at Japan Society | 60 minutes
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In response to Japan Society’s commission for a new chamber opera, Pulitzer Prize-winning composer David Lang combined and reimagined three texts by iconic Japanese novelist Ryunosuke Akutagawa. The result is this stunning and haunting monodrama, note to a friend, addressing our eternal human fascinations with death, love, family and suicide. Theater luminary Yoshi Oida, Paris-based opera director and longtime member of Peter Brook’s international theater company, directs this world premiere for the legendary New York vocalist Theo Bleckmann. The musicians are from Japan, and have been selected by Tokyo Bunka Kaikan in Japan, co-producer of this production. Don’t miss this meetup of international gems!

*Please note the performance on Thursday, January 12 will be followed by a MetLife Meet-the-Artist Reception, and the performance on Saturday, January 14 will be followed by an artist conversation.

note to a friend is co-produced by Japan Society and Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, and is supported by Doug and Teresa Peterson, with special cooperation from The Japan Foundation, New York. Additional support is provided by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. This project, commissioned and presented by Japan Society, makes its world premiere as part of PROTOTYPE Festival 2023.

Tickets from $60.

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333 E 47th St
New York, NY 10017
212.715.1258

PUBLIC TRANSIT
Subway: 4,5,6,7 and S at Grand Central Station; 6 at 51st Street and Lexington Avenue, E,M at Lexington Avenue and 53rd Street.
Bus: M15, M101, M102, M50

Public Parking nearby

David Lang

Yoshi Oida

Theo Bleckmann

Akutagawa Ryunosuke