New National Theatre Tokyo’s Opera “Suor Angelica” and “L’Enfant et les Sortilèges”

The double bill of Puccini’s Suor Angelica and Ravel’s L’Enfant et les Sortilèges which was staged as the 2023/2024 season opener is now available on OperaVision and NNTT Stream until 15 Jun 2024. English, French, Italian, German and Japanese subtitles are available.

Puccini’s Suor Angelica is a touching opera in which the loneliness and despair of Angelica, separated from her child, and the miracles are depicted with the richness of Puccini’s music. Other highlights include the exquisite ensemble of female soloists and chorus, the breathless dialogue between Angelica and La zia principessa, and the dramatic expression of Angelica’s choice to die out of despair.

Suor Angelica (From the performance in 2023) (Photo credit: Terashi Masahiko)

In contrast, called a “Lyric Fantasy” by the composer, L’Enfant et les Sortilèges (The Child and the Spells) by Ravel is a fantasy merging elements of both opera and ballet. The story develops from a child’s perspective and can be enjoyed as a fable for children and adults alike. With brilliant music, the trajectory of a child’s emotional adventures is playfully described.

L’Enfant et les Sortilèges (From the performance in 2023) (Photo credit: Terashi Masahiko)

The production was directed by Aguni Jun, one of Japan’s leading opera directors, renowned for his meticulous reading of the libretto. Please look out for his delicate portrayals of individual characters, spectacular set changes, and playful elements scattered throughout these operas.

Numajiri Ryusuke, one of Japan’s foremost opera conductors, conducted the production. The role of Angelica is performed by Chiara Isotton, who specialises in dramatic roles, and the L’Enfant is performed by Chloé Briot, who has sung this role many times to great acclaim, and La zia principessa/Maman is performed by Saito Junko, renowned for her passionate and resolute expression. We hope viewers will enjoy these two operas with the keyword “love between mother and child” as well as the contrasts created by the double bill.

Suor Angelica (From the performance in 2023) (Photo credit: Terashi Masahiko)

L’Enfant et les Sortilèges (From the performance in 2023) (Photo credit: Terashi Masahiko)

Streaming Details
Viewing Period: 15 Dec 2023 – 15 Jun 2024
Recorded on 4 Oct 2023
Performed at Opera Palace, New National Theatre Tokyo

OperaVision: https://operavision.eu/performance/suor-angelica-lenfant-et-les-sortileges
NNTT Stream: https://www.nntt.jac.go.jp/english/stream/

Cast and Creative Team
Conductor: NUMAJIRI Ryusuke
Production: AGUNI Jun

Set Design: YOKOTA Atsumi
Costume Design: MASUDA Emi
Lighting Design: OSHIMA Masao
Choreographer: ITO Noriko

Chorus Master: MISAWA Hirofumi
Children Chorus Master: KAKEE Midori

Cast [Suor Angelica]: Chiara ISOTTON, SAITO Junko, SHIOZAKI Megumi, GOKE Akiko, KOBAYASHI Yuka, NAKAMURA Maki, ITO Hare, KONNO Sachie, SUZUKI Ryoko, MAEKAWA Yoriko, IWAMOTO Mari, WADA Shihori, FUKUDOME Nagisa, OSAKABE Akiko

Cast [L’Enfant et les Sortilèges]: Chloé BRIOT, SAITO Junko,TANAKA Taiki, MORITA Mao, KONO Teppei, SOGO Shoko, MIYAKE Rie, SUGIYAMA Yuki, HAMAMATSU Takayuki, AOCHI Hideyuki

Chorus: New National Theatre Chorus
Children Chorus: Setagaya Junior Chorus
Orchestra: Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra

The Opening of the Agency for Cultural Affairs, the 78th National Arts Festival