This time, we will have a lecture from Tetsu Taoshita, who has worked on numerous opera productions both in Japan and overseas as a director, on the joys and enjoyment of theater abroad. Listening to Taoshita say that "the audience is also a part that makes up the world of opera," a yearning for theater that makes overseas travel experiences many times more dramatic begins to well up inside of us.
Text: Hajime Oishi Photo: Keita Tamamura
"I want to convey the importance of love and life through music." With that desire, he left the path of a doctor to become an opera director.
OnTrip JAL Editorial Department (hereinafter referred to as JAL): Mr. Taoshita, you were into hard rock in your middle and high school years, but what was it that first opened your eyes to opera?
Taoshita Satoshi (hereinafter, Taoshita): When I was a student, I was in a band and played the guitar. At the time, I thought that George Michael of "Wham!" was the best singer in the world (laughs). However, I was also exposed to classical music, influenced by my mother. Then one day, I had the opportunity to hear Luciano Pavarotti (Italian opera singer) singing on a CD. It was lyrical and incredibly wonderful, and I was surprised that there was someone in the world who could sing better than George Michael! (laughs).
Tetsu Taoshita
JAL: After that, the death of a friend prompted you to pursue a career as a doctor.
Taoshita: Yes. I wanted to be someone who would dedicate my life to saving lives. My friend died of leukemia, but around the same time, an opera singer named Jose Carreras also had leukemia and later recovered. Even though they had the same disease, my friend died and Carreras was saved. At first, I felt a sense of helplessness that I couldn't describe.
However, when I saw Carreras create a leukemia foundation and work for people with the same disease, I gradually became interested in his music. So I listened to his songs and found them to be very passionate and dramatic. I gradually became attracted to them. Music and opera do not just heal people's hearts, but they can also convey to listeners the importance of love and life, which even doctors cannot delve into. I began to think that there is no job as wonderful as this.
Drinking wine in the theater foyer and chatting with friends. The "theater watching" begins even before the show starts.
JAL: After that, you studied under the German director Michael Hampe and decided to pursue directing. When was the first time you saw an opera overseas?
Taoshita: I think the first time was in 1999, when I was 26 years old, at La Scala in Milan, Italy. For people involved in opera, La Scala is the dream stage. The recording of Pavarotti that opened my eyes to opera was also a performance at La Scala. It was a theater I longed to visit someday.
Milan La Scala
JAL: Did you notice any differences from Japanese theaters?
Taoshita: I really felt that. Many Japanese people rush into the theater just before the show starts. Before I saw a real opera, I thought it was enough to be able to get a seat before the conductor appeared and the music started. But Europeans arrive at the theater early, drink wine in the foyer (lobby), chat with friends, and enjoy the time before the show. There are hardly any people sitting in their seats working on their cell phones. I thought this kind of luxurious way of spending time is unique to Europe.
JAL: So the viewing experience begins even before the show starts.
Taoshita: Around the same time I visited La Scala, I attended mass at a church in Italy. I was still on the phone and sending messages right up until the last minute before the mass started. But the locals were quietly reading the Bible or lost in deep thought. They were spending the waiting time preparing themselves for the mass. It was an experience that made me realize that this kind of mindset and sensitivity has nurtured the culture of opera.
For Europeans, opera is a special occasion. It is a part of life that colors Christmas, New Year's Eve, and other special occasions.
JAL: What does theater mean to people in Europe?
Taoshita: Apart from passionate fans, opera is a special occasion for ordinary local people. For example, on Christmas Eve, December 24th, all the theaters are full to capacity. There are many operas with Christmas themes, including the famous "Nutcracker," and even performances that are not based on Christmas are sold out. In Europe, it is a tradition to go to the theater with your family and celebrate Christmas by enjoying such performances.
Vienna cityscape during the Christmas season
JAL: It's something that is deeply connected to annual events.
Taoshita: Yes, that's right. New Year's Eve performances, known as Silvester, are also popular. In German-speaking theaters, such as the Vienna State Opera in Austria, the New Year's Eve-themed story of "The Bat" has become a seasonal tradition at the end of the year. In this way, theaters are familiar yet special places for them. They are proud of the fact that they are "our town's theater."
European tour with JAL
The contents published are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.
