Kaija Saariaho's 'Only the Sound Remains' at Opéra Garnier

Kaija Saariaho's double bill 'Only the Sound Remains' premiered at the Opéra Garnier, running until February 7, 2018. The work comprises two operas, 'Always Strong' and 'Feather Mantle', based on 14th-century Noh plays 'Tsunemasa' and 'Hagoromo' by Zeami, adapted into English by Ezra Pound from Ernest Fenollosa's notes. Directed by Peter Sellars, the production features countertenor Philippe Jaroussky and bass-baritone Davone Tines. The score uses a chamber orchestra with kantele, flute, string quartet, percussion, and live electronics. The first part, 'Always Strong', is a nocturnal requiem for the ghost of samurai Tsunemasa; the second, 'Feather Mantle', is a luminous encounter between a fisherman and a celestial Tennin, with dance by Nora Kimball-Mentzos and backdrop paintings by Julie Mehretu. Saariaho's music evokes spectral, dreamlike atmospheres, blending Finnish and Japanese aesthetics.