THE鍵KEY The Husband Trio／Photo: Clare Shovelton
THE鍵KEY The Daughter and Kimura ／Photo: Clare Shovelton
THE鍵KEY The Wife／Photo: Clare Shovelton
‘20 years of marriage, yet I can’t speak with my wife’
But the husband is desperate to communicate with his wife about one subject in particular – their mutually unfulfilling sex life. Inspired by the novella of the same name by renowned author Junichiro Tanizaki, “THE鍵KEY” peers in on a secretive family and newcomer Kimura, as their lives take a dramatic turn following the husband’s new year resolution. Audiences become voyeurs as they move freely around a private residence to eavesdrop on small ensembles of singers, a dancer, and Japanese and Western instruments as this intimate drama unfolds…
After sell-out Tokyo shows in traditional Japanese houses, THE鍵KEY was re-imagined in a modern London home at Tête a Tête: The Opera Festival 2019
Performers
The Husband Trio
The husband: Hiroshi Amako (tenor)
Shakuhachi: Clive Bell
Double bass: Mark Lipski
The Wife Trio
The wife: Akane Kudo (soprano)
Sho: Naomi Sato
Cello: Idlir Shyti
The Daughter Trio
The daughter: Akari Mochizuki (mezzo-soprano)
Shimedaiko: Akinori Fujimoto
Violin: Joana Ly
Kimura: Shouzo Ayaka (dancer)
Staff
Composer and director: Francesca Le Lohé
Dramaturg: Alexandra Rutter
Choreographer: Kae Ishimoto
Executive producer (UK): Akiko Yanagisawa (Mu arts/Azuki Foundation)
Producer (Japan): Naoya Yamashita
Production assistants: Fiona Allison and Joanna Pidcock
Venue courtesy of Angus Shepherd and his family
‘Kagi’ Project Executive Committee
The organization was established by composer Francesca Le Lohé and producer Naoya Yamashita in 2017 to stage the world premiere of “THE鍵KEY” at Nakacho House in May 2018. Further critically acclaimed performances were staged at Denchu Hirakushi House and Atelier (revised premiere, May 2019) and at Tête a Tête: The Opera Festival 2019 (London, UK premiere, August 2019)
Francesca Le Lohé
Francesca Le Lohé studied Composition with David Fennessy at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (2013, MMus) and was awarded a Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation Scholarship in 2015. Whilst in Japan, Francesca has pursued the study of shakuhachi, biwa and sho, and collaborated with Japan-based artists on a number of projects, such as Nelke Planning, Whole Hog Theatre and Gorch Brothers adaptation of ‘Tristan and Isolde’ and with Makoto Nomura’s ‘Senju Dajare Music Orchestra’.
Naoya Yamashita
Producer
’Kagi’ Project Executive Committee
thekey.kagi@gmail.com
10 Tollgate Drive, London, UK
