Kaguyahime is one of Japans oldest fairy-tales the story of the moon princess who descends to Earth and is cared for by the family of an old bamboo cutter. Her luminous beauty is meant to spread peace and happiness, but instead the rivalry her heavenly presence provokes results in war. Jiri Kylian one of Europes most highly-acclaimed choreographers, has created a highly-charged fusion of dance, music and theatrical images. The music, composed by Maki Ishii, fuses Western and Eastern sound elements, with Western percussion and Japanese drums, augmented by wind instruments closely associated with traditional Japanese court music. The visual impact of the piece is heightened by Michael Simons stunning design and lighting. Nederlands Dans Theaters performances of Kaguyahime have received universal acclaim and it has been hailed as a visual, dance and musical masterpiece of rare quality, a creation that will leave no one unmoved. (bron: Arthaus)
