As part of the Catalonia-Japan Year 2025, Mu:Arts Japan, with te collaboration of Liceu Conservatory Foundation, present a unique encounter between two artistic worlds: classical Japanese Noh theatre and the music of Catalan composer Frederic Mompou.
The program brings together the Noh masterpiece Matsukaze (Zeami Motokiyo, 14th century) and piano works performed by Yoko Suzuki, exploring shared themes such as silence, nature, memory, and inner emotion.
Program
- Frederic Mompou: Música callada I, Impressions íntimes I–IV, Paisajes: La fuente y la campana, Suburbis: El carrer, el guitarrista i el vell cavall, Cançó i Dansa VII, Cançó i Dansa IX
Piano: Yoko Suzuki
Noh dance: Kanji Shimizu - Matsukaze (Wind through the Pines) by Zeami Motokiyo
Shite (main actor): Kanji Shimizu (Kanze School)
Accompanied by: Jiutai chorus, Noh flute (nōkan), and traditional drums
The Artists
- Yoko Suzuki – Pianist and composer
- Kanji Shimizu – Shite (Kanze School)
- Takao Nishimura – Jiutai – chorus (Kanze School)
- Haruhiko Hasegawa – Jiutai – chorus (Kanze School)
- Satoshi Tsukitaku – Nohkan – Noh flute (Morita School)
- Naoya Toriyama – Kotsuzumi – small hand drum (Kanze School)
- Mitsuhiro Kakihara – Ōtsuzumi – large hand drum (Takayasu School)
About Matsukaze
This revered Noh play tells the story of two ghostly sisters, Matsukaze and Murasame, former saltmakers in Suma, who appear under the moonlight as they recall their lost love for the exiled poet Ariwara no Yukihira. Woven with themes of memory, longing, and the sacred pine (matsu), the play embodies the poetic spirit of Noh: a bridge between the earthly and the spiritual.
About Noh
Recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, Noh interweaves music, dance, literature, and drama. Its foundations were formalized in the 14th century by Zeami Motokiyo, and many of his works are still performed today. This performance is part of Noh Reimagined 2025, a festival that explores the intersection of classical Noh and contemporary creativity through performances, new commissions, and international collaborations.
This event is supported by Agency for Cultural Affairs, Japan, and Colaborated by, Japanese Consulate, Casa Asia, the Frederic Mompou Foundation, and the TESSENKAI Public Interest Incorporated Association.
More information:
https://noh.muarts.org.uk/what-is-noh/
https://noh.muarts.org.uk/10-things-know-noh/
