Kocho Excerpt: Kocho Arrives; The Monk Meets Kocho

Based on the Japanese Noh play of the same name, KOCHO ("butterfly") tells the story of a wandering Priest who meets a butterfly and "liberates" it by letting it dance under the plum blossom.

As he does in many of his operas, Garrett Fisher explores themes of identity. In his Kocho, Fisher has created three "Kocho's": Kocho Flute, Kocho Dancer, and Kocho Vocalist, each representing an aspect of the character. In addition, he has separate the Monk into 5 vocalists and 1 trombone.

In this scene, the Monk meets Kocho, who appears in her various forms.

Credits: Kocho was presented at NYC's Galapagos Art Space on September 23, 2011.

Libretto
Kocho: Sate wa hajimetaru
On-koto nite mashimasu kaya
I see that you are new to this place.

Monk & Kocho: Tokoro karu na-ru kono nme o
here under this plum tree

Monk: Sate sate on-mi wa ikanaru hito zo.
But I wonder who you are.

Kocho: Sonata no na koso kikama-hoshikere
I ought to know your name first.

Composer: Garrett Fisher; Direction: Benjamin Mosse; Choreography: Christy Fisher; Production Design: Zane Philstrom; Video: Ryan Adams; Music Director: Jeremiah Cawley; Dramaturg: Ken Cerniglia. Producer: Beth Morrison Projects. Words by Kanje Nobumistu and Amy Schrader.

Vocalists: Shawna Avinger, Daniel Brylow, Jeremiah Cawley, Maria Mannisto, Kathea Yarnell; Flute: Margaret Lancaster; Trombone: Jennifer Hinkle; Gongs and Percussion: Dean Moore; 6 String Fretted Acoustic Bass: Greg Bagley; Indian harmonium: Garrett Fisher.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• opera
• Opera (film)
• Film
• Short
• Noh
• theater
• Theatre