A frustrated samurai. An unwieldy herd of pigs. A mysterious murder. A woman’s dying wish. Four surreal stories from Japanese author Natsume Soseki’s (1867-1916) Ten Nights of Dream come to life in Four Nights of Dream (2008), a contemporary chamber opera that traverses the subconscious through colorful melodies and piercing emotions. For this new production, New York vocalists and Tokyo instrumentalists come together to perform within a spellbinding and ever-morphing set. Performed in English.

Japan Society celebrates its 110th anniversary and its newly renovated theater with the North American premiere of Four Nights of Dream, a chamber opera by composer Moto Osada; the opera will also be performed in Tokyo at the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan performing arts center, which co-commissioned the work. A truly collaborative production, Four Nights of Dream features a diverse cast of New York-based singers accompanied by the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan Chamber Orchestra under the director of conductor Ken-David Masur, assistant conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.  The rest of the stellar creative team includes scenic designer Mimi Lien, 2017 Tony Award winner for Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, director Alec Duffy (Obie Award for Three Pianos), lighting designer Tuce Yasak and costumes by critically lauded designer Oana Botez. A graduate of New York University and the Manhattan School of Music, Mr. Osada, an award winning Japanese composer of international acclaim residing in New York City has written for many mediums — film, television, theater, dance, and the concert hall — and lately he’s turned his considerable talents to the world of opera.  Incorporating Western m …Read more