Murasaki’s Moon
Available for Production
ORCHESTRATION:
8 players
String quartet, percussion, taiko, flute, koto
CHORUS:
None
ROLES:
3 Singers
LADY MURASAKI (Mezzo Soprano)
GENJI (Tenor)
BUDDHIST PRIEST (Tenor)
DURATION:
55’
Opera in One Act
HISTORY:
World Premiere:
May 2019
The Metropolitan Museum of Art | New York, NY
“Murasaki’s Moon is an operatic experience unmatched anywhere else in the city.”
An opera for audiences of all ages, Murasaki’s Moon is inspired by the life and work of Lady Murasaki, author of the world’s first novel, The Tale of Genji.
The sequestered life of a lady-in-waiting in the Imperial Court of 11th century Japan feels suffocating to the imaginative yet introspective Lady Murasaki. To escape the boundaries of the Emperor’s palace, she begins to write an epic tale of love and freedom. Murasaki’s life in the palace helps to shape the world of her novel, The Tale of Genji, which catapults her to fame, yet creates tension within the palace. Murasaki’s Moon tells the story of her struggle to find a balance between the relationships with those around her, the characters she creates, and the far-reaching impact of her writing.
Press
“…scored for string quartet with percussion, koto, and Japanese flutes, Wiancko’s music blends Japanese and European instruments in ways that seem to evoke the inner thoughts of the characters.”
“An enchanting and accessible introduction to this ancient work and its author, with an uplifting feminist slant.”
“Murasaki’s Moon has much to say about our modern world…[the authors create a] deeply appealing and dramatically consistent musical world.”
“A feminist spin on The Tale of Genji’s author, Murasaki Shikibu.”
“Brevoort successfully captured the essence of The Tale of Genji (which spans 1100 pages and 54 chapters) in a libretto for a chamber opera with only three roles... Wiancko’s score struck a balance between the sounds of traditional Japanese music and those of Western opera. The Japanese ensemble of koto, flutes, percussion and taiko was almost a character in itself, embodying the court in all its grandeur…”
Materials
Libretto
Piano Vocal Score
Orchestra Score
Perusal Materials and Recording Available Upon Request
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