Source: Adelaide Festival Centre

Published: 5 July 2011

2011 ozasia festival program spotlights japan

The Adelaide Festival Centre has unveiled the annual OzAsia Festival program, which will run 2 – 17 September. The Festival presents the best of Asia’s arts and culture - including music - while celebrating Australia’s diverse multicultural society and its position within the Asian region. It is proudly supported by Major Festival Partner Santos.

Come join the celebrations in September, when the Adelaide Festival Centre will once again be transformed into a cultural melting pot. Experience this ground-breaking festival that promotes cultural understanding and tolerance through creative collaboration. Now in its fifth year, the Festival is the nation’s pre-eminent platform for Australian/Asian dialogue and collaboration in the performing arts.

The 2011 program features 446 artists from Japan, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Tibet, Thailand, Vietnam, and the best from Australia. There will be 11 shows, 1 special event (the much loved Moon Lantern Festival), 1 banquet, 1 forum, 1 keynote lecture, 25 film screenings and 5 exhibitions. Additionally there are 6 world premieres, 9 Australian premieres, 7 South Australian premieres and 14 Adelaide exclusives, as well as a new area explored this year – fashion and design.

OzAsia Festival, Festival Director Jacinta Thompson says, “this year the Festival program will showcase Japan, allowing us to explore this culture deeply in a year where that country has been in the spotlight for tragic reasons. Additionally, this year’s Festival once again promises to entertain, challenge, and invite cross cultural dialogue and I encourage you to come and enjoy the wonderful cultural offerings”.

Music lovers can indulge in Four Winds, an extraordinary union of three virtuosic Australian musicians and a Master Otsuzumi (Japanese drum) performer. Talented Japan-based Australian musicians Andy Bevan and Steve Falk, who blend the raw earthy sounds of marimba and didgeridoo and the lyrical tone of flute and soprano saxophone, lead this special evening of rhythm, wind and strings. Joining them are master drummer Shonosuke Okura, one of Japan’s Intangible Cultural Treasures, and Adelaide International Guitar Festival Artistic Director and world renowned classical guitarist Slava Grigoryan. 2 – 3 September.

More musical highlights include:
- Rāga Shambhala: combining the classical folk music of India and Tibet, featuring Tenzin Choegyal on vocals and dranyen (Tibetan stringed instrument) and Indian sitar maestro Manju Mehta as part of her first Australian tour.

- ASO Concertmaster and violinist Natsuko Yoshimoto teams with the virtuoso Shakuchi Master Akikazu Nakamura from Japan to present a magnificent marriage of traditional Japanese and Western classical instruments. KOAN is a world premiere and exclusive opportunity to be introduced to unique and revered contemporary Japanese composers, including a newly commissioned work by Australian composer James Cuddeford

- Ben Walsh’s incredible 10-piece Orkestra of the Underground performs Academy Award-winning writer and illustrator Shaun Tan’s The Arrival. Tan’s graphic novel will be brought to life on the big screen, having premiered at the Sydney Opera House’s Graphic Festival in 2010. This is a remarkable collaboration of accomplished Australian artists including Bobby Singh.

- Highlighting contemporary music direct from Japan is the Australian premiere performance of Shugo Tokumaru, a gifted songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who has wowed critics and fans with a sound that draws as much from classic Beatles-esque melodies as his own unique spin on Japanese pop. Following on, ultra cool band from Tokyo Cool Wise Man team with guest vocalist Likkle Mai to present a night of ska, calypso, rock steady, dub, roots, and reggae with a Japanese edge.

Full program details are available in the OzAsia Festival brochure.  Get one free by calling (08) 8216 8707 or go to www.ozasiafestival.com.au.