March

On an Endless Road: Itō Noe & the women composers of her time. 

 

A unique opportunity to see renowned singer and musician Akiko Kubota perform in the UK, in a programme of music by and about trailblazing Japanese women. 

At its heart is a new composition for voice and biwa, written especially for Akiko by British composer Francesca Le Lohé, and first heard in Tokyo in 2023. The biwa is a stringed instrument traditionally used to accompany narrative songs that chronicle the achievements of warriors in battle. This new work celebrates the brief life of a brave and radical woman: writer and  feminist anarchist Itō Noe (1895-1923), killed by Japanese state forces when she was just 28. It is sung in Japanese with English surtitles.  

Alongside this new work, sits beautiful music for violin and piano by three of Noe’s contemporaries, women who broke new ground by writing in the Western Classical tradition: Kōda Nobu (1870-1946), Toyama Michiko (1913-2006) and Yoshida Takako (1910-1956). Special guest speaker Dr Irena Hayter (Associate Professor of Japanese Studies at the University of Leeds), will be here to tell us more. 

Akiko Kubota has performed across Asia, South America and Europe including with the Vienna Philharmonic. Francesca Le Lohé’s is active in the UK and Japan. Her opera ‘The Key’ won the prestigious Keizo Saji Prize in 2019 and she is an LSO Soundhub Associate 2022-2024.  

"An outstanding British talent…This is the timeless way creation should happen.” The Asahi Newspaper on Francesca Le Lohé. 

Presented in the UK by Hera in association with Illuminate Women’s Music 

 

Polaris

 

The Polaris Duo presents an eclectic programme of music for Saxophone and Harp by living composers including the World Premiere of their latest commission by Jenni Watson. Their programme will also include music by Andy Scott, Esther Swift and Ida Gotkovsky.