The Great Wave uncovers the story of Katsushika Hokusai and his daughter Oi. Together they redefined Japanese painting and printmaking - and changed the global art world together in the process.
This large-scale, dynamic, international collaboration between Scottish Opera and KAJIMOTO builds on centuries of cultural exchange between Scotland and Japan - not least in Hokusai's influence on the Glasgow Boys and Charles Rennie Mackintosh at the turn of the 20th century, and his continued presence in pop art today.
Japanese composer Dai Fujikura and Scottish librettist Harry Ross create a mesmerising musical drama out of the artistic genius, financial struggles, and illicit trade that made the creation of The Great Wave off Kanagawa possible.
Scottish Opera's programme for 2025/26
The most obvious novelty is a world premiere with a uniquely Japanese theme. The Great Wave has music by Dai Fujikura and a text by Harry Ross with a central theme derived from the famous print by Hokusai.
The season opens with new productions of an interesting double bill of works by two great twentieth century masters, Maurice Ravel and William Walton. Scottish Opera did give us L'Heure espagnole as long ago as 1963, the company's second season, but Walton's operas, including his late comedy The Bear, have been conspicuous omissions.
As usual two popular favourites are given extended runs that include performances in Aberdeen and Inverness, as well as Glasgow and Edinburgh. The autumn revival is Renaud Doucet and André Barbe's thoroughly enjoyable staging of La bohème, first seen in 2017. The spring tour is one of the company's best productions, first seen in 2010 - Sir Thomas Allen's visionary interpretation of The Marriage of Figaro, which he is returning to work on.
There is a long-awaited return to the works of Wagner, with two concert performances of Tristan und Isolde, while a concert programme of excerpts this year is centred on Tchaikovsky.
The company's small-scale activities continue with autumn and spring tours of a Highlights programme. The Pop-Up Opera series also continues to spread the length and breadth of the country.
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