[CANCELLED] SUMMER FESTIVAL OPERA 2019-20 Japan ↔ Tokyo ↔ World "Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg"

New National Theatre, Tokyo and Tokyo Bunka Kaikan present the two-year "Summer Festival Opera 2019-20 Japan↔Tokyo↔World". The festive masterpiece "Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg" is the second in the series, following on from "Turandot". This popular piece addresses themes such as the contrast of tradition and innovation in the arts, fatherly tolerance, and the love and gracious understanding by an older man for a younger woman--meticulously played out to the accompaniment of fine music. It is frequently performed at theatres worldwide, despite the number of people and hours needed to bring such performance to life. This is Richard WAGNER's resounding celebration of what it means to be human, and from which emerges art that, both in its respect for the traditional and thirst for the new, has achieved immortality.

Directing will be Jens-Daniel HERZOG, the up-and-coming German director. This is a joint international production together with The Salzburg Easter Festival, Semperoper, and Tokyo Bunka Kaikan. It will premiere in Salzburg on 13 April 2019 and then be performed in Dresden. Performances are also scheduled for Tokyo Bunka Kaikan and New Hyogo Performing Arts Center.

ONO Kazushi, Artistic Director of Opera, will wield the conductor's baton. This festive production is performed by a glamourous cast, including Adrian ERÖD in the fitting role of Sixtus Beckmesser, following on from Salzburg and Dresden; Wagner baritone Thomas Johannes MAYER, no stranger to the NNTT; the rising star, Tomislav MUZEK; MOCHIZUKI Tetsuya; and HAYASHI Masako. In the orchestra pit will be the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, under its musical director, ONO Kazushi.