Win a Date Night with pHresh Spa and TomoeArts

Comments 48 by Rebecca Bollwitt Wednesday, October 18th, 2017 — 11:14am PDT

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TomoeArts presents the world premiere of a provocative and heartrending new work, Kayoi Komachi/Komachi Visited, a noh chamber opera, on stage October 26th to 28th at The Cultch.

TomoeArts Presents Kayoi Komachi/Komachi Visited

When: October 26th to 28th, 2017
Where: The Cultch Historic Theatre (1895 Venables St, Vancouver)
Tickets: Available online now from $20.

Heather Pawsey & Yamai Tsunao. Photo by Travan Wong

Master Japanese practitioners of noh – Japan’s 14th century theatre art – combine talents with Western classical musicians in an operatic re-imagining of the classic tale of unrequited love: Kayoi Komachi. This mesmerizing ‘East meets West’ invention exposes the desire, tribulation and mystery between a man and woman caught in the throes of a tumultuous romance.

In Kayoi Komachi/Komachi Visited, audiences will find the noh text more fragmented, and free-flowing, the harmonies and choreography carefully altered, and the rhythm reworked from the conventional eight-beat phrase structure. The classical ensemble will play noh melodies and percussive patterns, and vocalists will sing pitches and perform gestures unlike any repertoire they have encountered. Added to the dynamic interplay between English and Japanese dialogue, this piece brings noh and opera to brand-new territory.

Japanese noh is one of the oldest theatre arts performed today. With highly stylized movement, and vivid text sung through stirring chant, noh plays are traditionally based on legends and literature and focus on themes around the supernatural. The plots typically revolve around two main characters who perform on a minimalist stage backed by chorus and musicians on drum and flute.

Performing a gorgeous score by Farshid Samandari, the ensemble of Kayoi Komachi/Komachi Visited, led by Conductor Jonathan Girard, will include: Melanie Adams (mezzo-soprano); Joseph Bulman (tenor); Peter Monaghan (bass-baritone); noh actors Muraoka Kiyomi and Kashiwazaki Mayuko; Mark McGregor (flute); Western percussionist Brian Nesselroad; guest kotsuzumi (noh shoulder drum) player Omura Kayû; as well as a group of prodigious string players.

Win a Date Night

I have a pair of tickets to give away so a lucky Miss604 reader and their guest can witness this meditative art form in a special presentation.

Along with tickets, the winner will also receive a couple’s massage package from pHresh Spa (valued at $220). Here’s how you can enter to win:

Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
Click below to get another entry by posting on Twitter:

[clickToTweet tweet=”RT to enter to win a date night prize pack from @TomoeArts @pHreshSpa http://ow.ly/TK9f30fY73k” quote=” Click to enter via Twitter” theme=”style6″]

I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Monday, October 23, 2017.

Update The winner is Vera Gibson!