“ONGAKU NO TOMO” March 2024 Issue
Very good review of Noh Singer, Ryoko Aoki Concert Series “Contemporary Music X Noh” 10th Anniversary Concert on 30 November 2023 at Tokyo Bunka Kaikan by Seiko Ito appeared in the Ongaku no Tomo March 2024 issue!
A new work commissioned by Annelies Van Parys in Belgium is “Semi no obebe”, based on a poem by Misuzu Kaneko. A delicate piece in which Aoki’s chanting seems to float over the polished and beautiful sound of the string trio. The world premieres of works Aoki has already performed, such as “Far Water”, which evokes a variety of water images, and “FujiDaiko Écho”, which includes clappers and foot stomps, were interesting, but the final work, “Kanawa”, a new work commissioned by Naoki Sakata, was very interesting. This is a quartet and Noh chant piece based on the Noh play”Kanawa”, in which a woman abandoned by her husband becomes a demon for revenge. A powerful work with a strong dramatic quality, including emotional outbursts and expressions of feeling, as well as a sharp tempo. The evolution of Aoki’s chanting can also be seen, and the inspiration she brought to the piece resulted in another excellent piece. (Seiko Ito)
