Harakiri

Scene with music

Commissioned by WDR, Cologne

Description

First performance: 22 September 1973, Bonn – Germany
Tokk – Ensemble Tokyo

Language: japanese and homelanguage
Based on the libretto of István Bálint

Written in 1973, Harakiri is based on the libretto providing by a Hungarian poet: István Bálint. He wrote it when he heard about the harakiri committed by Yukio Mishima on 25 November 1970. He committed the ritual suicide crowning his oeuvre focusing on the unity of life and art after five years of preparation.
István Bálint combines the antecedents of the harakiri with a motif well-known from an Andersen tale: the story of the pea put under the mattresses. The main character getting prepared to die returns the seven mattresses to the key figures of his life. The trivial Hungarian sentences were translated into Japanese.

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The second layer of the piece is constituted by the strictly congruent parts of the two Shakuhachis (playable by bassclarinets, too). The composer marks the constantly changing relationship of the two players, which depicts all the basic cases of human communication, by systematically enumerating the German pronouns (INeinander, DURCHeinander, NEBENeinander, AUSeinander – in each other, through each other, next to each other, departing from each other, etc.)

The third layer of the piece has no rational connection to the musical process presented by the wind players and the recital: a lumberjack keeps on cutting wood with imperturbable calmness. The mercilessly repeated strikes of the ax measure the abstract time of the piece while also symbolizing the inevitable nature of the process unfolding on the stage. At the same time the strike of the ax carries a creepy reference to the final moment of the ancient suicide ritual.

Synopsis

Performances

28 May, 2022

Plauen, Germany

Eötvös: Radames, Harakiri

Conductor: Leo Siberski
Stage director: Jürgen Pöckel
Set designer: Andrea Hölzl
Costume designer: Andrea Hölzl
Dramaturge: Bartholomäus Pakulski

Performer (in Japanese): Risa Matsushima
Narrator: Marcus Sandmann
Woodchipper: Johannes Fritsche
Orchestra: Mitglieder der Clara-Schumann-Philharmoniker Plauen-Zwickau

Theatre Plauen-Zwickau

21 May, 2022

Plauen, Germany

Eötvös: Radames, Harakiri

Conductor: Leo Siberski
Stage director: Jürgen Pöckel
Set designer: Andrea Hölzl
Costume designer: Andrea Hölzl
Dramaturge: Bartholomäus Pakulski

Performer (in Japanese): Risa Matsushima
Narrator: Marcus Sandmann
Woodchipper: Johannes Fritsche
Orchestra: Mitglieder der Clara-Schumann-Philharmoniker Plauen-Zwickau

Theatre Plauen-Zwickau

8 May, 2022

Plauen, Germany

Eötvös: Radames, Harakiri

Conductor: Leo Siberski
Stage director: Jürgen Pöckel
Set designer: Andrea Hölzl
Costume designer: Andrea Hölzl
Dramaturge: Bartholomäus Pakulski

Performer (in Japanese): Risa Matsushima
Narrator: Marcus Sandmann
Woodchipper: Johannes Fritsche
Orchestra: Mitglieder der Clara-Schumann-Philharmoniker Plauen-Zwickau

Theatre Plauen-Zwickau

19 Apr, 2022

Plauen, Germany

Eötvös: Radames, Harakiri

Conductor: Leo Siberski
Stage director: Jürgen Pöckel
Set designer: Andrea Hölzl
Costume designer: Andrea Hölzl
Dramaturge: Bartholomäus Pakulski

Performer (in Japanese): Risa Matsushima
Narrator: Marcus Sandmann
Woodchipper: Johannes Fritsche
Orchestra: Mitglieder der Clara-Schumann-Philharmoniker Plauen-Zwickau

Theatre Plauen-Zwickau

30 Mar, 2022

Plauen, Germany

Eötvös: Radames, Harakiri

Conductor: Leo Siberski
Stage director: Jürgen Pöckel
Set designer: Andrea Hölzl
Costume designer: Andrea Hölzl
Dramaturge: Bartholomäus Pakulski

Performer (in Japanese): Risa Matsushima
Narrator: Marcus Sandmann
Woodchipper: Johannes Fritsche
Orchestra: Mitglieder der Clara-Schumann-Philharmoniker Plauen-Zwickau

Theatre Plauen-Zwickau

25 Mar, 2022

Plauen, Germany

Eötvös: Radames, Harakiri

Conductor: Leo Siberski
Stage director: Jürgen Pöckel
Set designer: Andrea Hölzl
Costume designer: Andrea Hölzl
Dramaturge: Bartholomäus Pakulski

Performer (in Japanese): Risa Matsushima
Narrator: Marcus Sandmann
Woodchipper: Johannes Fritsche
Orchestra: Mitglieder der Clara-Schumann-Philharmoniker Plauen-Zwickau

Theatre Plauen-Zwickau

20 Mar, 2022

Plauen, Germany

Eötvös: Radames, Harakiri

Conductor: Leo Siberski
Stage director: Jürgen Pöckel
Set designer: Andrea Hölzl
Costume designer: Andrea Hölzl
Dramaturge: Bartholomäus Pakulski

Performer (in Japanese): Risa Matsushima
Narrator: Marcus Sandmann
Woodchipper: Johannes Fritsche
Orchestra: Mitglieder der Clara-Schumann-Philharmoniker Plauen-Zwickau

Theatre Plauen-Zwickau

19 Mar, 2022

Plauen, Germany

Eötvös: Radames, Harakiri

Conductor: Leo Siberski
Stage director: Jürgen Pöckel
Set designer: Andrea Hölzl
Costume designer: Andrea Hölzl
Dramaturge: Bartholomäus Pakulski

Performer (in Japanese): Risa Matsushima
Narrator: Marcus Sandmann
Woodchipper: Johannes Fritsche
Orchestra: Mitglieder der Clara-Schumann-Philharmoniker Plauen-Zwickau

Theatre Plauen-Zwickau

4 Mar, 2022

Plauen, Germany

Eötvös: Radames, Harakiri

Conductor: Leo Siberski
Stage director: Jürgen Pöckel
Set designer: Andrea Hölzl
Costume designer: Andrea Hölzl
Dramaturge: Bartholomäus Pakulski

Performer (in Japanese): Risa Matsushima
Narrator: Marcus Sandmann
Woodchipper: Johannes Fritsche
Orchestra: Mitglieder der Clara-Schumann-Philharmoniker Plauen-Zwickau

Theatre Plauen-Zwickau

9 Mar, 2019

Tokyo, Japan

Eötvös: Secret kiss, Harakiri

Tokyo Bunka Kaikan
Ryoko Aoki
9 March, Tokyo, Japan

19 May, 2017

Tokyo, Japan

Eötvös: Harakiri

Thomas Piercy / Storyteller
Christopher Yohmei Blasdel / Shakuhachi
Reison Kuroda /Shakuhachi
Go Mochizuki / Hyoshigi

9 Aug, 2016

New York, USA

Eötvös: Harakiri

Hidejiro, Honjoh, Thomas Piercy, Elizabeth Brown, Jun Ando
"Tokyo to New York" Concerts. NYC

22 Sep, 2015

Budapest, Hungary

Eötvös: Harakiri

The Japan Foundation
Budapest Music Center
Ryoko Aoki

24 Aug, 2015

Prague, Czech Republic

Eötvös: Harakiri

Prague Shakuhachi Festival 2015
Kuniyoshi Sugawara, Yuji Kikuo and Christopher Yohmei Blasdel

12 Oct, 2014

Budapest, Hungary

Eötvös: Harakiri

October 12, 2014

cafeBudapest
Contemporary Music Festival
Ryoko Aoki

14 Jul, 2014

Szombathely, Hungary

Eötvös: Two poems to Polly, Cadenza, Harakiri

Alter Ego Ensemble (Roma)
International Bartók Festival

21 May, 2014

Opera City, Tokyo

Eötvös: Harakiri

21 May, 2014
Ryoko Aoki

2 Nov, 2012

Paris, France

Eötvös: Harakiri

le Balcon ensemble
Musical Director: Maxime Pascal
Église Saint-Merry

4 Jul, 2012

Rheingau, Germany

Eötvös: Harakiri,Two poems to Polly, Natasha, Sonata per sei

Rheingau Music Festival

Eötvös: Harakiri
Eötvös: Two poems to Polly
Eötvös: Natasha
Eötvös: Sonata per sei

Cond: Peter Eötvös
Ensemble Modern

Schloss Johannisberg Geisenheim

8 Mar, 2012

Berlin, Germany

Eötvös: Radames, Harakiri

Berliner Kammeroper

Staging: Kay Kuntze

Cast:
Radames/Aida: Tim Severloh
Film director: Nicholas Isherwood
Theater director: David Schröder
Opera director: Annette Schönmüller
Conductor and E-piano: Philip Mayers
Philipp Krüger (Tuba), Christian Raake (Sopransaxophon) and Anton Richter (Horn)

7 Mar, 2012

Berlin, Germany

Eötvös: Radames, Harakiri

Berliner Kammeroper

Staging: Kay Kuntze

Cast:
Radames/Aida: Tim Severloh
Film director: Nicholas Isherwood
Theater director: David Schröder
Opera director: Annette Schönmüller
Conductor and E-piano: Philip Mayers
Philipp Krüger (Tuba), Christian Raake (Sopransaxophon) and Anton Richter (Horn)

6 Mar, 2012

Berlin, Germany

Eötvös: Radames, Harakiri

Berliner Kammeroper

Staging: Kay Kuntze

Cast:
Radames/Aida: Tim Severloh
Film director: Nicholas Isherwood
Theater director: David Schröder
Opera director: Annette Schönmüller
Conductor and E-piano: Philip Mayers
Philipp Krüger (Tuba), Christian Raake (Sopransaxophon) and Anton Richter (Horn)

4 Mar, 2012

Berlin, Germany

Eötvös: Radames, Harakiri

Berliner Kammeroper

Staging: Kay Kuntze

Cast:
Radames/Aida: Tim Severloh
Film director: Nicholas Isherwood
Theater director: David Schröder
Opera director: Annette Schönmüller
Conductor and E-piano: Philip Mayers
Philipp Krüger (Tuba), Christian Raake (Sopransaxophon) and Anton Richter (Horn)

3 Mar, 2012

Berlin, Germany

Eötvös: Radames, Harakiri

Berliner Kammeroper

Staging: Kay Kuntze

Cast:
Radames/Aida: Tim Severloh
Film director: Nicholas Isherwood
Theater director: David Schröder
Opera director: Annette Schönmüller
Conductor and E-piano: Philip Mayers
Philipp Krüger (Tuba), Christian Raake (Sopransaxophon) and Anton Richter (Horn)

3 Feb, 2012

Berliner Kammeroper

Eötvös: Harakiri

3, 4, 6, 7, 8 Februar, 2012
28 April, 2012

Stage director: Kay Kuntze
Annette Schönmüller, soprano
Dietmar Herriger and Christian Raake

7 Dec, 2011

Rome, Italy

Eötvös: Harakiri

Ryoko Aoki (artist)
Cond: Peter Eötvös
Ensemble Alter Ego

Japanese Institute of Culture

19 May, 2011

Budapest Chamber Opera

Eötvös: Harakiri

May 19-20, 2011

17 Jun, 2007

Lugano, Switzerland

Eötvös: Harakiri

Conservatorio della Svizzera Italiana

Mizue Furukawa
Giulia Matteucci
Julia Garanikova
Luigi Gaggero
Silvana Torto

9 Jun, 2006

Strasbourg, France

Eötvös: Harakiri

Musée d'Art Moderne Linea Ensemble

Kiyoko Okada
Mario Caroli
Keiko Murakami
Michael Pattmann

23 Feb, 2005

Budapest, Hungary

Eötvös: Music for New York, Harakiri, Drei Madrigalkomödien

Eötvös:

Music for New York (Ladányi, Horváth Csaba)
Harakiri (Csengery)
Drei Madrigalkomödien (Tomkins Ens., Dobra)

Katona József Theatre

27 Oct, 2003

Budapest, Hungary

Eötvös: Insetti Galanti, Hochzeitsmadrigal, Harakiri, Music for New York

Cond: Péter Halász
Budapest Chamber Opera

October 27-31, Várszínház

4 Jul, 2003

Vitasaari, Finland

Eötvös' portrait

Eötvös' portrait

Kosmos (Jukka Tiensuu)
Kosmos (Emil Holmström, Joonas Ahonen)
Derwishtanz (Päivi Kiljala, Heikki Nikula, Kaisa Koivula)
Psy (Mikael Helasvuo, roi Ruottinen, Joonas Ahonen)
Drei Madrigalkomödien (Finnish Radio Chamber Choir)
Harakiri (Mikael Helasvuo, Lauri Toivio, Piia Komsi, Kari Kaarna, Reijo Kela)
Windsequenzen (Uusinta - Zagros Ensemble, cond. Susanna Mälkii)
Two poems to Polly (Roi Ruottinen)

July 4-6, Time of Music Festival

6 May, 1998

Budapest, Hungary

Eötvös: Harakiri, Drei Madrigalkomödien, Radames

Budapest Chamber Opera

5 May, 1998

Budapest, Hungary

Eötvös: Harakiri, Drei Madrigalkomödien, Radames

Budapest Chamber Opera

30 Dec, 1997

Budapest, Hungary

Eötvös: Madrigalkomödien, Harakiri

Madrigalkomödien:

Budapest Tomkins Choir

Conductor: János Dobra

Director: Peter Halász

Harakiri:

Adrienne Csengery, recitation

Director: István Bálint

Castle Theater

29 Dec, 1997

Budapest, Hungary

Eötvös: Madrigalkomödien, Harakiri

Madrigalkomödien:

Budapest Tomkins Choir

Conductor: János Dobra

Director: Peter Halász

Harakiri:

Adrienne Csengery, recitation

Director: István Bálint

Castle Theater

1 Jan, 1993

Hungarian Television

Eötvös: Harakiri

Video: Hungarian Television 1993

30 Nov, 1988

Theater im Depot, Stuttgart

Eötvös: Harakiri

30 November 1988

15 Mar, 1987

Franz Liszt Academy of Music, Budapest

Eötvös: Harakiri

15 March, 1987

22 Nov, 1986

Theater am Neumarkt, Zürich

Eötvös: Harakiri

22 Sep, 1973

Bonn

Eötvös: Harakiri - World premiere

September 1973

Tokk Ensemble Tokyo

Details

Genre:

Opera - Music Theatre

Duration:

20 minutes

Date:

1973

Publisher information

Edition Ricordi München (Sy 3225)

https://www.ricordi.com/en-US/Catalogue.aspx/details/441402

Cast

1 performer (in Japanese), 1 Narrator (home-language)

Orchestration

TITLE Dur. Soloists & choir fl ob cl bcl bn hn tpt tbn tba perc pf hp vn1 vn2 va vc db Other Tech

Harakiri
Opera - Music Theatre 20' 2nar 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 wood-cutter or hyoshigi

Orchestration to shakuhachi
or
2 bassclarinets, 1 wood-cutter or hyoshigi (performer or musician).
The composer prefers the bass clarinet version.

Further information

Sound

Recordings

Video

Ryoko Aoki, Manuel Zurria – part 1.

Ryoko Aoki, Manuel Zurria – part 2.

Image gallery

eotvosadmin2022-07-09T14:05:47+02:00

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