No.she065June 11, 2026
Suntory Hall 40th Anniversary Programme
Daiwa House Special
Hall Opera®
Tan Dun: “TEA: A Mirror of Soul”
July 3 & 4, 2026
Suntory Hall presents Hall Opera® Tan Dun’s “TEA: A Mirror of Soul” on July 3 & 4, 2026, in a new staging (3 Acts / Sung in English with Japanese/English surtitles).
Hall Opera® has established itself as a form of opera staging that makes the most of the unique space and acoustics of Suntory Hall and allows the audience to fully appreciate the drama within the music. As part of its 40th anniversary season, Suntory Hall presents “TEA – A Mirror of Soul” by the internationally renowned composer Tan Dun, which was originally commissioned and premiered by Suntory Hall in 2002 and boasts an unrivalled number of revivals among operas of this century. Since its world premiere, the opera has been performed across the globe, including in Europe, America and China, and the universality of the drama and music of this tea-themed opera has attracted widespread popularity. This will be the first performance at Suntory Hall since the revival in 2006 and will be conducted by the composer himself.
In creating this opera of fantasy and love, Tan Dun turned his attention to the culture of tea that has spread across the world and transcends borders. Inspired by “Book of Tea” (＝茶経), a sacred Chinese text on tea from the Tang dynasty, it is a masterpiece of Hall Opera® that combines theatrical elements with the unique acoustic characteristics of Suntory Hall.
Sherwood Hu, a leading Chinese film and theatre director who has directed this opera on several occasions since its 2023 Shanghai production, will present a new production tailored specially for Suntory Hall. Furthermore, within the minimalist stage design conceived by both Tan Dun and Hu, the innovative costumes by Kumi Sakurai, one of Japan’s foremost costume designers, are certain to attract attention. The cast is selected from promising young talents from the US, China and Japan in whom Tan Dun has the utmost trust. Don’t miss this long-awaited revival of this masterpiece in a new staging.
Details of Hall Opera® Tan Dun’s “TEA: A Mirror of Soul” can be found at the following:
https://www.suntory.com/culture-sports/suntoryhall/articles/detail/138984.html
For further information and press photos, please contact:
suntoryhall-pr@suntory.co.jp
Public Relations, Suntory Hall
Website: http://suntory.jp/HALL-e/
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