March 12, 1998
Press Contact: Helen Dalrymple (202) 707-1940
Library of Congress Presents Noh Performance by Houryu-Kai for Cherry Blossom Festival
Houryu-kai, one of Japan's most revered artistic
ensembles, will appear at the Coolidge Auditorium of the
Library of Congress for a special performance on Sunday,
March 29, at 6 p.m. Washington audiences will be offered a
rare opportunity to see an evening-length Noh presentation
by Houryu-kai, an internationally recognized troupe of
players trained in the Hohshoh School tradition. The
company is led by Ryuzoh Tazaki, who was designated one of
Japan's "Important Intangible Cultural Assets" in 1991.
The Noh performance is being presented under the
auspices of the Music Division and the Asian Division of the
Library of Congress, in cooperation with the 1998 National
Cherry Blossom Festival and the Embassy of Japan. The
Coolidge Auditorium is in the Thomas Jefferson Building of
the Library of Congress, at 10 First Street S.E.
Tickets are required for the performance, and may be
obtained for a nominal handling charge of $2 at TicketMaster
outlets in the Washington metropolitan area. Tickets are
also available by phone, for an additional charge, at the
following TicketMaster phone-charge numbers: (301) 808-6900;
(410) 752-1200; and (202) 432-SEAT.
The featured work for the Noh performance is Funabenkei
(Benkei Aboard Ship), a story about the involuntary
separation of Minamoto-no-Yoshitsune, a tragic hero of the
late 12th century, from his lover Shizuka-gozen. Benkei,
Yoshitsune's retainer, insists that honor dictates that the
two must separate, to appease a family conflict with
Yoshitsune's brother Yoritomo. After Shizuka's departure,
Yoshitsune and his men take to the sea on a voyage of exile.
Their ship is attacked by a vengeful warrior ghost from the
Taira clan, whom Yoshitsune has vanquished, but Benkei's
priestly powers overcome the angry ghost, which fades away
into the netherworld.
Also to be presented with Funabenkei is a farce,
Kyogen: Fukuro-Tamabushi (The Owl-Mountain Priest) with
Ishida Yukio as Shite, a mountain priest; Nomura Mansai as
Ado, the big brother; and Ishida Tanro as Koado, the little
brother.
The Houryu-kai ensemble's Ryuzoh Tazaki is one of the
Noh tradition's most distinguished players. Born in Tokyo
in 1949, Mr. Tazaki began his Noh training at the age of 6.
At 18 he played his first leading role in Goun-kai and
entered the school of Japanese music of Tokyo University,
where he later became a visiting lecturer. Mr. Tazaki has
appeared before members of Japan's imperial family on many
occasions and has performed in countries around the world.
For further information about the Houryu-kai Noh
Performance at the Library of Congress, call (202) 707-5502.
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PR 98-043
3/12/98
ISSN 0731-3527