Other unique system is "hanamichi" or "flower path". This is a walkway which crosses the auditorium at the same height as the stage. Actors can use this walkway to enter or leave the stage. During a play it can become many kinds of places. For example, it can be a river, a road, a corridor and so on.
The most famous theatre in Japan is the "Kabuki-za". It was built in Tokyo in 1889. It was built as western-style theater. The interior decorations were Japanese style but the outside was brick walls and it was a three-storied theater at first. The interior decorations and outside changed many time. Kabuki theaters have long histories and these were so unique.
Famous authors of kabuki plays include Chikamatsu Monzaemon (1653—1724), Tsuruya Nanmboku (1755—1829), and Kawatake Mokuami (1816—1893).
Kabuki plays can be put into three main groups "Jidaimono", "Sewamono" and "Shosagoto". The "Jidaimono" are plays which show the world of samurais or court nobles before the Edo period. The government banned performances that showed the history of the Edo period. "Sewamono" are plays about the lives of the town people in the Edo period. "Shosagoto" are plays that feature dance.
"Gidayu kyogen" or "Maruhonmono" are kabuki plays that were first written as puppet plays. They were turned into kabuki plays when they became famous. "Shin kabuki" are plays which were written by writers who did not normally write kabuki plays.
Kabuki makeup helps audiences understand each character's role. It is special and emphasizes beauty of form. If an actor plays the role of a daughter or a man in love, he must apply makeup. First, he rubs grease, which is made of canola oil and perfume, into his face. Second, he paints out eyebrow with grease. Third, he rubs face powder on chest, neck, long hair and spreads powder with sponge. Next, he rubs face powder on face with sponge. Also, he puts rouge on nose, eyes cheek and the outer corner of the eye. He paints his eyebrow from red to black and he rubs lip with red lip stick and traces the outline clearly.
If the actor is playing a brave man, called "Aragoto", he paints on rouge with red and black lines, "Kumadori", to show brave feelings. "Kumadori" is a type of kabuki's make up. It was started in 1673 by Danjyurou Ichikawa. It shows the character's role, for example, "Sujiguma" is one of the "kamadori" showing a super hero.
Modern Japanese has a lot of words that came from kabuki words. For example, there are three famous words; the first is an "ohako". "Ohako" means skillful things. Japanese often say the "ohako" is own good tune with karaoke. The "ohako" is derived word from Danjuro Ichikawa. He kept the kabuki plays of his good kabuki in a box. The "ohako" originated in there.
The second is a "nimaime". The "nimaime" means a good-looking man. The "nimaime" was written secondarily from the right in the signboard of the kabuki. Therefore it came to be said so.
The third is a "sanmaime". The "sanmaime" means a comedian. The origin of this word is the same as "nimaime", "sanmaime" was written third from the right in the signboard of the kabuki.
Now Kabuki actors often perform for foreign audiences. The group "Heisei Nakamuraza" directed by Nakamura Kanzaburou have become famous for their performances in foreign countries. They were the first traditional style kabuki group to perform in New York City in 2004, with actor Nakamura Kankuro V. Using a tent as a playhouse near opera house, with the audience seated on tatami (Japanese mats), they performed "The Summer Festival: A Mirror of Osaka" with Japanese actors. In July 2008, "Heisei Nakamuraza" again performed in New York and they played in English. It was a historical and splendid achievement.
In Australia, the Za Kabuki group at the Australian National University has been performing a kabuki drama each year since 1976; the single longest regular kabuki performance outside of Japan.
Karl Böhm
Karl Böhm (born Graz, 28 August 1894; died Salzburg, 14 August 1981) was an Austrian conductor. He was one of the greatest conductors of the 20th century, especially famous for his conducting of the music of Mozart, Wagner and Richard Strauss.
Böhm was born in Graz, Austria. He wanted to be a musician, but his father said that he should study law first, because musicians did not make much money, and if he was not successful as a musician he could then always have a job in law. So he studied law at the university of Graz, and got a doctorate on this subject. He also studied music privately in Graz, and then in Vienna with Eusebius Mandyczewski and Guido Adler. Although he learned to play the piano and to compose, he just wanted to be a conductor. He started his career by helping singers at the Graz Opera to learn their roles. Böhm became very interested in the operas of Wagner and Mozart and learned a lot from great conductors like Carl Muck and Bruno Walter who invited him to the Bavarian State Opera in 1921. In 1927 he became Generalmusikdirektor (music director) at Darmstadt. He often conducted modern operas, including Berg’s "Wozzeck". In 1931 he moved to Hamburg. In 1933 he conducted the Vienna Philharmonic, both in opera and concert performances. He became conductor at the opera house in Dresden when Fritz Busch lost that job because he said he did not like the Nazis. Böhm worked there for nine years. He became a great friend of the composer Richard Strauss and conducted the first performances of two of his operas there: "Die schweigsame Frau" and "Daphne". In 1943 got the very important job of conductor at the Vienna State Opera eventually becoming music director. He also conducted the German seasons at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires from 1950 to 1953.
In his later years Böhm spent his time as guest conductor. He was invited to conduct many of the leading world orchestras. He often performed at Salzburg, Bayreuth, Vienna, Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Milan, Paris and New York.
In 1957, he made his first appearance at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, conducting "Don Giovanni". He was very popular there and conducted many operas, especially those by Mozart, Wagner and Richard Strauss.
Late in life, he was a regular guest conductor with the London Symphony Orchestra. He was given the title of LSO President for the rest of his life.
During his last years his sight was not very good. He died in Salzburg in 1981. His son was actor Karl Boehm.
Böhm was praised for his clear, energetic conducting. He did not have exaggerated mannerisms but got his orchestras to play with a warm, romantic sound which was never sentimental. Besides his favourite Mozart, Wagner and Richard Strauss he conducted many works by Haydn, Beethoven, Schubert, Bruckner, Brahms and Berg.
He was given many honours, including first Austrian Generalmusikdirektor. On his 80th birthday a big party was held, at which Herbert von Karajan gave him a clock.
Leipzig Gewandhaus
The Gewandhaus is a world famous concert hall in Leipzig, Germany. Today's building is the third hall to have this name. It is the home of the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra.
The name "Gewandhaus" means a building where cloth is traded. Originally merchants used to sell their cloth there.
The first Gewandhaus was built in 1781 by the architect Johann Carl Friedrich Dauthe. The second opened in 1884, and was destroyed in the fire-bombings of World War II between 1943 and 1944. The third Gewandhaus, which stands now, was opened on 8 October 1981. It is known for its fine acoustics.
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