The Summer Festival has been celebrating contemporary music since 1987. This year, The Producer Series will be programed by Toshiro Kido, an artist whose creativity blows a breath of life into traditional music through his new Gagaku pieces in classical musical instruments. As a stage manager at the National Theatre of Japan, Kido once commissioned “LIGHT: The Seven Days of the Week” by Karlheinz Stockhausen, premiered in 1977, which will be revived after 37 years. It will be performed in the Gagaku style, together with the same performance with an orchestra (Japan premiere), both choreographed specially for the event. It is unprecedented that two versions of the same piece are performed in succession. In tandem with the event, two Japanese composers will present their respective theatrical pieces newly commissioned.

Message from 20th Century
Karlheinz Stockhausen: Der JAHRESLAUF aus LICHT (Gagaku Version)
Music Director: Toshiro Kido
Co-Director: Toshiro Kido & Makoto Sato
Toshi Ichiyanagi: Still Time for Gagaku, World Premiere, commissioned by Suntory Foundation for Arts

Response in 21st Century
Karlheinz Stockhausen: Akt JAHRESLAUF vom DIENSTAG aus LICHT, Japanese Premiere (European Version)
Music Director: Kathinka Pasveer
Co-Director: Makoto Sato
Masahiro Miwa: 59049 Jahreszähler, World Premiere, commissioned by Suntory Foundation for Arts