This new opera work by Hosokawa Toshio is staged as the third in Artistic Director Ono's series of commissioned works from Japanese composers. He is one of the leading composers of contemporary music who has created commissioned work for the world's major orchestras, musical festivals and opera houses. "Natasha" was nominated as a finalist in World Premiere Category at the International Opera Awards 2025.

The story focuses on an encounter between Natasha, a wandering immigrant driven out of her hometown, and a young man named Arato, as well as a Mephistopheles-like figure who shows and leads the pair through various scenes of human hells. Multilingual with Japanese, German and Ukrainian languages, the opera compares and contrasts the origins of modern civilization and humanity. The groans of the endangered earth resonate deeply throughout this opera that depicts destruction and hope with multiculturalism as the key to finding a path forward.

Viewing Period:12 December,19:00 CET / 13 December, 3:00 JST - 12 June,12:00 CET / 19:00 JST

Recorded on 17 August , 2025
Performed at Opera Palace, New National Theatre Tokyo

• Creative staff & Cast

Libretto by TAWADA Yoko
Composed by HOSOKAWA Toshio
Conductor: ONO Kazushi
Production:Christian RÄTH
Set Design:Christian RÄTH, Daniel UNGER
Costume Design:Mattie ULLRICH
Lighting Design:Rick FISHER
Video Design:Clemens WALTER
Electronic Sound Design:ARIMA Sumihisa
Choreographer:Catherine GALASSO
Stage Manager:TAKAHASHI Naohito

Natasha: Ilse EERENS
Arato: YAMASHITA Hiroka
Mephistos Enkel:Christian MIEDL
Frau A:MORIYA Mari
Frau B:TOMIHIRA Akiko
Businessman A:TANG Jun Bo
Businessman B:Timothy HARRIS
Saxophonist:OISHI Masanori
Electric guitarist:YAMADA Gaku

Chorus Master:TOMIHIRA Kyohei
Chorus:New National Theatre Chorus
Orchestra:Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra