The New National Theatre, Tokyo (located in Shibuya Ward, Tokyo) launched the "Stay-at-Home Theater" page on April 10th, offering a free streaming service of recorded footage of NNTT-sponsored performances on its website. Starting Friday, May 1st, additional content will be available, allowing viewers to enjoy two exquisite ballet performances by the New National Theatre Ballet Company from the comfort of their own homes.
The performance available for streaming during the first week of May (from 3:00 PM on May 1st to 2:00 PM on May 8th) will be "Manon" by Kenneth MacMillan, the British master known for his emotionally charged and dramatic choreography. This work was originally performed in February 2020 as the New National Theatre Ballet's long-awaited revival after an eight-year absence, but was unfortunately canceled with only two performances remaining.
Ballet Company Principal Yui Yonezawa and Royal Ballet Principal Vadim Muntagirov not only demonstrated their exceptional technical skills, but also brought the world of the work to life with their expressiveness and deep interpretation of the characters, making them seem as if the characters of that era were alive in the present, drawing a standing ovation on the day. You can watch this performance, one of the New National Theatre's most famous productions, from the comfort of your own home as many times as you like during the streaming period.

The work we will be presenting in the second week of May (May 8, 3:00 PM - May 15, 2:00 PM) is the classic ballet masterpiece "Don Quixote," based on Cervantes's famous novel and set in a Spanish port town. The performance was scheduled for Golden Week this year (May 2nd-10th), but was canceled due to the impact of COVID-19.
This hugely popular classical ballet is a feast for the eyes, filled with exhilarating performances of virtuoso technique and featuring the New National Theatre Ballet's beautiful corps de ballet (group dance). It's the perfect program for a sunny early summer performance.
The exotic music, colorful stage design, and costumes are sure to transport everyone spending time at home into a light-hearted, festive mood. Please send us your thoughts using the hashtags "Stay-at-Home Theater" and "#nnttathome."

●Click here for information about "Stay-at-Home Theater": https://www.nntt.jac.go.jp/sugomori/
*The customer is responsible for any data charges associated with watching the video.

◆ Ballet "Manon" (Performance: February 23, 2020)



[Music] Jules Massenet
[Arrangement] Martin Yates
[Choreography] Kenneth MacMillan
[Cast] Yui Yonezawa, Vadim Muntagirov, Yoshito Kinoshita, Masahiro Nakaya, Yuri Kimura, Miwa Motoshima, Keigo Fukuda, Tetsuo Kaikawa, and others
[Conductor] Martin Yates
[Orchestra] Tokyo Symphony Orchestra

This dramatic ballet is one of the greatest masterpieces, adapted from the story of Manon Lescaut, written by Abbé Prévost, by British ballet master Kenneth MacMillan. It is a beautiful and tragic tale of Manon and Des Grieux, whose love for each other leads to ruin.
The role of Des Grieux is played by Royal Ballet principal Vadim Muntagirov, and the production was performed to great acclaim for the first time in eight years.

[Streaming date and time] May 1st, 2020 15:00 - May 8th 14:00



◆Ballet "Don Quixote" (Performed May 5th, 2016)



[Music] Léon Minkus
[Choreography] Marius Petipa / Alexander Gorsky
[Revised choreography] Alexei Fadeyechev
[Starring] Yonezawa Yui, Izawa Starring: Shun, Kaikawa Tetsuo, Takahashi Kazuki, Kanno Hideo, Mailen Treubayev, Nagata Kayo, Motoshima Miwa, Hosoda Chiaki, Satsukime Haruka, and more. Conductor: Martin Yates. Orchestration: Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra. This fun and lively classical ballet is based on an episode from Cervantes' Don Quixote. From the Spanish dance of the bullfighters, the windmill episode, the beautiful corps de dance that unfolds in Don Quixote's dream, and the lovers' grand pas de deux in the final act, this popular piece allows you to enjoy the beauty of classical ballet and a variety of cheerful and joyful dances. Unfortunately, the May performance was canceled, so we present footage of the 2016 performance.

[Streaming Date and Time] May 8th, 2020 15:00 - May 15th, 2020 14:00



~Make staying at home more fun! Related videos~
The New National Theatre's YouTube channel introduces the "Understand in 3 minutes!" series, which is perfect for preparing for ballet viewing, as well as a number of collections of famous scenes from other performances.
Please also make use of the related videos to prepare before "viewing" the two performances being streamed as part of the "Stay at Home Theater".

◆ "Manon" ◇New National Theatre Ballet Company Understand in 3 minutes! "Manon" https://youtu.be/r9huA5ift5c

◆ "Don Quixote" ◇New National Theatre Ballet Company Understand in 3 minutes! "Don Quixote" https://youtu.be/-I9CgUkJxKM


What is New National Theatre's "Stay-at-Home Theatre"?
In response to requests from the government and other organizations regarding measures against COVID-19 and the state of emergency declaration, the New National Theatre has currently canceled all sponsored performances, with the final performance on February 26th.
Even under these circumstances where we cannot welcome audiences into the theatre, we want to be always together with all of you who support the New National Theatre, so we have launched an online service called "Stay-at-Home Theatre" on April 10th, starting with the free streaming of three opera performances. The first production, the opera "The Magic Flute," was viewed more than 30,000 times within the first week of its streaming period, and the second production, "Turandot," was viewed nearly 40,000 times. It has been well-received not only by performing arts fans but also by those who don't usually have the opportunity to visit the theater but would like to see a performance. This "Home Experience Event" has been well-received, especially now, as a unique opportunity to experience a performance at home.

In addition, to allow you to enjoy New National Theatre's theatrical productions from the comfort of your own home, the "Stay-at-Home Theater: Plays at Home" program was launched on April 23rd. For two weeks only, plays written specifically for the theater will be available on the theater's website. This initiative has garnered attention as an opportunity to enjoy plays, the foundation of theater and the blueprint of rehearsals, in your own way.

Until the day comes when you can safely visit the New National Theatre again, we hope you will continue to "stay at home," supported by the power of the performing arts.

●For the general information page of "Stay-at-Home Theater", please click here: https://www.nntt.jac.go.jp/sugomori/
●For "Stay-at-Home Theater: Plays at Home", please click here: https://www.nntt.jac.go.jp/play/sugomori_gikyoku/



About the New National Theatre~
As Japan's only national theatre dedicated to contemporary performing arts, the New National Theatre produces and presents opera, ballet, dance and theatre performances, and also provides training for artists.

Web: https://www.nntt.jac.go.jp/
English Page: https://www.nntt.jac.go.jp/english/





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