Commission to Toshio Hosokawa

Made possible by the Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation, Natasha is an opera commissioned by the New National Theatre Tokyo to Toshio Hosokawa. The opera was composed as a reflection on the relationship between humans and nature. Following the 2011 Great Eastern Japan Earthquake, Hosokawa’s music has taken on a more spiritual quality, acting as a prayer or requiem that addresses humanity’s history of destruction.

The opera’s libretto was written by acclaimed author Yoko Tawada, who explores themes of national borders and languages in her novels. The text is multilingual—featuring Japanese, German, and Ukrainian. It follows the journey of Natasha, an immigrant, and Arato, a seeker, who meet on a beach and are guided by a mysterious figure—the grandson of Mephistopheles—through different “hells” created by humanity. Their journey reveals the impacts of environmental destruction, conflict, and the need for a new understanding of love and unity.

The opera emphasizes that despite our cultural and linguistic differences, we are all bound to the same Earth, and we must face the consequences of our actions together. Through Hosokawa’s music and Tawada’s words, Natasha calls for compassion and healing, offering hope for a future where humanity can live in harmony with nature.

Further Information:
nntt.jac.go.jp

Dates

August 11, 2025
New National Theatre Tokyo, Opera Palace

August 13, 2025
New National Theatre Tokyo, Opera Palace

August 15, 2025
New National Theatre Tokyo, Opera Palace

August 17, 2025
New National Theatre Tokyo, Opera Palace