Princess Anio: An Opera Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Japan-Vietnam Diplomatic Relations

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News

07/26/2023: Princess Anio Japanese Premiere Confirmed: You can view the press conference report in PDF format here.
06/30/2023: Ticket sales for Vietnam shows (September 23-24) will start on July 20 (Thu). Please note the performance on the 22nd will be by invitation only, following discussions with the Japanese and Vietnamese government agencies. We appreciate your understanding.
05/26/2023: Click here to view the report for the press conference and promo event
05/18/2023: Press conference and promo event

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Princess Anio Opera Channel

Princess Anio Opera Project

A story of love between a Vietnamese princess and a Japanese merchant passed down
between generations in both Vietnam and Japan.

Nagasaki Kunchi Festival “The Red Seal Ship”

Araki Sotaro was a Red Seal ship trader from the Azuchi Momoyama period to the Edo period. He traveled from Nagasaki to Dang Trong (in central Vietnam), gained the trust of King Nguyen Phuc Nguyen of Dang Trong, and married his daughter, Princess Ngoc Hoa. Sotaro brought Princess Ngoc Hoa to Nagasaki as his wife, and the princess became familiar to the people of Nagasaki as Anio-san, spending the rest of her life in Nagasaki. Princess Anio's arrival in Japan is traditionally celebrated once every seven years at the annual Nagasaki Kunchi Festival in Nagasaki from October 7 to 9 with a float replicating the Red Seal ships that traders such as Sotaro used.

Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Vietnam, the opera stands as a symbol of future diplomacy that taps into the ancient history of friendship and mutual respect between the two countries.

What is opera?

Synopsis

Amid the raging sea during the early 17th century, known as the "Age of Discovery", Princess Ngoc Hoa, a princess of Quang Nam and Araki Sotaro, a Japanese merchant, met on board a red seal ship (Japanese trading ship) en route between the two countries – Vietnam and Japan. Ten years after this meeting, fate reunited them, they fell in love and expressed their desire to get married. The king of Quang Nam opposed his daughter to get married with a foreigner. Still, after seeing their deep love and steadfast determination, he allowed them to marry and saw them off to Nagasaki, Japan.

In the town of Nagasaki, the innocent Princess Ngoc Hoa cheerfully called out to Sotaro in the words of Quang Nam – "Anh Oi!". The observant people of Nagasaki heard this and began to call her "Anio-san." She was loved by the people of the town, had a daughter, and was full of happiness.

However, the tides of history threatened to splinter their love in Japan’s shores as the Nagasaki magistrate issued the closure of Japan under the sakoku system. What has become of the lovers?

Two people who loved each other as equals, regardless of their nationality and class differences. An ancient love story linking Vietnam and Japan has been revived as an opera for the modern age.

What is opera?

Supervised by: Oyama Daisuke (Director, Librettist, Opera singer)

It is a form of theater that centers on singing. Born in Italy at the end of the 16th century, it spread to all parts of Europe. It is translated as kageki in Japanese.

Some may think it is different from musicals, but musicals are derived from the opera. The opera was created for the enjoyment of the nobility and spread to the public. In the process, dialogue and dance scenes were added to the repertoire. Operettas (musical comedies) became lighter in content. By the time it reached the United States, it had included elements of a show and developed into a musical style.

Opera singers developed their bodies as instruments since there were no microphones and enhanced their expressive power through their unique singing style. Various arts have also developed together, including the performing techniques and music played in orchestras, the literary spirit and drama, and the stage design that adorn them. We encourage you to appreciate not only the voices and performances of the singers, but also the details of the costumes and stage sets.

The best part of opera is live entertainment, where you can feel the raw sound on the spot. In other words, it is a "once-in-a-lifetime art form" that can only be encountered at that time and place. We hope you will enjoy the stage where the singers, conductor, performers, chorus, director, production staff, and all the people involved in the performance have brought their thoughts and feelings to fruition.

Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra

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