概要

1979年に初演し、その後演出を変えながら1986年まで全国で旅公演を行った、幻の名作を40年ぶりに上演。

林光がこんにゃく座の座付作曲家として作曲した４作目のオペラが、大石哲史の演出で生まれ変わる！

overview

This legendary masterpiece, which premiered in 1979 and toured nationwide until 1986 with various production changes, is being staged again after 40 years.

Hikaru Hayashi's fourth opera as the resident composer for Konnyaku-za is reborn under the direction of Tetsushi Oishi!

こんにゃく座初期の象徴的な作品

1979年に初演し、その後、演出を変えながら1986年まで全国で旅公演を行ったオペラ『べっかんこ鬼』を40年ぶりに上演します。創立より、新しい日本オペラの創造を目指し、民話オペラをレパートリーとして奮闘していたこんにゃく座が、ブレヒトの『白墨の輪』（1978年初演）を経て、再び民話を題材とし、愛と差別という人間の心を問い直した、こんにゃく座初期の象徴的な作品です。特定のオペラファンではない一般の市民感覚をもった観客を求めるこんにゃく座の思想的基盤の礎を築いた作品のひとつでもあります。

こんにゃく座の原点ともいえるピアノ・オペラ

音楽は、林光が深く影響を受けたヤナーチェク的な音やリズム、また沖縄の音楽が取り入れられ、地域や時代を越えた広がりがあります。オーケストラの代替えではなく、ピアノ１台で上演することをはじめから想定して作曲されました。創立当初から、ごまかしの利かないピアノ１台のオペラで芸を磨いてきたこんにゃく座の原点ともいえるピアノ・オペラ。創立55周年を迎えるいま、改めて、ピアノ１台のオペラ『べっかんこ鬼』に真っ向から挑戦します！

音楽と芝居の両方でもって登場人物の心の機微を描き出す

演出は、こんにゃく座の歌役者であり、数々のオペラ演出も手掛ける大石哲史。こんにゃく座での演出は、『そしてみんなうそをついた』（2008）、『想稿・銀河鉄道の夜』（2010・2016）、『森は生きている』（2012）、『末摘花』（2020）など多数。音楽を頼りに言葉を読み解くことに長け、音楽面、特に日本語での歌唱を重視する演出が高く評価されています。出演する役者の持ち味を知り尽くす大石が、役者ならではの自由な発想で作品の新しい魅力を引き出します。

人間の心が生み出す鬼という存在

他者へ対する不寛容、孤独のつらさ、分かち合える喜び、行き違いのもたらす断絶の悲しさなど、人間の本質を浮き彫りにする本作は、今を生きる私たちにこそ必要な物語。理解できない相手に対する、容赦のない攻撃が加速する現代において、他者との共生について現代社会に問いかけます。

【公演ホームページ】https://www.konnyakuza.com/produce/

An iconic early work of Konnyakuza

We will be staging the opera "Bekkanko Oni," which premiered in 1979 and toured nationwide until 1986 with changes in direction, for the first time in 40 years. Since its founding, Konnyakuza has strived to create a new kind of Japanese opera, with folk tale operas as its repertoire. After Brecht's "The Chalk Circle" (premiered in 1978), they once again took folk tales as their subject matter, and this is an iconic early work of Konnyakuza that re-examines the human heart, specifically love and discrimination. It is also one of the works that laid the foundation for Konnyakuza's ideological base, which seeks an audience with the sensibilities of the general public, not just specific opera fans.

The piano opera that can be called the origin of Konnyakuza

The music incorporates Janáček-esque sounds and rhythms that deeply influenced Hikaru Hayashi, as well as Okinawan music, giving it a breadth that transcends region and era. It was composed from the beginning with the intention of being performed with just one piano, not as a substitute for an orchestra. The piano opera that can be called the origin of Konnyakuza, which has honed its artistry with piano operas that leave no room for deception since its founding. Now, as we celebrate our 55th anniversary, we will once again take on the challenge of piano opera "Bekkanko Oni" head-on!

The direction, which depicts the subtle nuances of the characters' hearts through both music and acting, is by Tetsushi Oishi, a singer and actor of Konnyaku-za and also directs numerous operas. His many directorial works with Konnyaku-za include "And Then Everyone Lied" (2008), "Imaginary Draft of Night on the Galactic Railroad" (2010, 2016), "The Forest is Alive" (2012), and "Suetsumuhana" (2020). He is skilled at interpreting words by relying on music, and his direction, which emphasizes the musical aspects, especially singing in Japanese, is highly acclaimed. Oishi, who knows the strengths of the actors intimately, will bring out new charms of the work with the free-thinking ideas unique to actors.

The existence of demons born from the human heart

This work, which highlights the essence of humanity, such as intolerance towards others, the pain of loneliness, the joy of sharing, and the sadness of separation caused by misunderstandings, is a story that we who live today need. In a modern age where merciless attacks against those who cannot be understood are accelerating, it asks modern society about coexistence with others.

[Performance Homepage]https://www.konnyakuza.com/produce/