Vietnam-Japan team excited about historical joint opera project

Soprano Bui Thị Trang. - Courtesy of the singer

HANOI (Vietnam News/Asia News Network): A joint opera project titled 'Princess Anio' between Japan and Vietnam is underway that aims to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

It gathers the most popular artists and art producers of the two countries like Honna Tetsuji, the Japanese principal conductor at the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra, who has been acting as a general director of the opera project, and Vietnamese opera singer Bùi Thị Trang.

Trang, who is now a soprano of the Vietnam Opera and Ballet Theatre, is one of two artistes who will play the role of Princess Ngọc Hoa in the project.

The opera is based on a real story of the love of Japanese merchant Araki Sotaro and Princess Ngọc Hoa in the early 17th century.

During the Nguyễn Dynasty in Vietnam, Princess Ngọc Hoa was the daughter of Lord Nguyen Phuc Nguyen, who reigned from 1613 to 1635.

In the story, Araki goes to Hoi An to trade and meets the princess.

They fall in love and get married. In 1620, he takes her to Nagasaki, where locals liked her due to her beautiful appearance and gentle character.

Today, locals still stage a palanquin procession ceremony to welcome Princess Anio at Nagasaki Kunchi Festival in Nagasaki.

The show is expected to premiere at the Hanoi Opera House in September 2023, and will open in Japan in the beginning of November.