The Paradise for Cats - Vladimir Kojoukharov

THE PARADISE FOR CATS A CHILDREN OPERA BY VLADIMIR KOJOUKHAROV

MUSICAL TALE FOR CHILDREN VOICES AND ORCHESTRA MUSIC AND LYRICS BY VLADIMIR KOJOUKHAROV The story…

Once upon a time, a little orphan girl named Yukiko worked as a servant girl for a rich but arrogant and cruel Noblewoman who mistreated her all day long. The one joy in Yukiko’s life was her lovely pussycat, a black little female whom she loved more than anything else.

Alas, one day her cat disappeared.

On the instructions of the Prophet, the brave Yukiko went in search for her cat at the top of Mount Inaba on the island of Kyushu in Japan, a region where no human had ever ventured before.

After walking for days, the little girl finally found her little cat. But the “Cats’ Kingdom” is a place populated by wildcats and forbidden to humans, so Yukiko had to return home with the magic bag her pussycat gave her to defend herself against the numerous wildcats.

When she reached the house, she looked inside the bag and found ten gold coins. Yukiko was rich and free at last!

The Noblewoman, jealous to see her servant girl so happy, decided that she too would travel to the Cats’ Kingdom.

But once she had reached her destination, quite a different fate awaited her…

Information, video excerpts, scores and parts available at Éditions Salabert / Universal Music Publishing Classical

promotion.umpc@umusic.com www.durand-salabert-eschig.com

The Paradise for Cats is composed of several sung or spoken solo roles, chorus and ad lib dancers.

Duration: ca. 50 min. The original version of the work is in French. English, German, and Spanish are also published.

The audio pedagogical material (CD in French only) makes easier the learning of the work by children who cannot read music. Scores, orchestral and learning materials are available on hire. Vocal score also on sale.

3 orchestral versions exist: *INSTRUMENTAL ENSEMBLE (12 or more musicians) 1 flute (and piccolo), 1 B-flat clarinet, 1 bassoon, 1 trombone, 2 percussions, 1 harp Violin I, Violin II, Viola I, Viola II, Double bass. Add cello(s) ad lib PERCUSSIONS I Marimba 5 octaves Pair of bongos 2 suspended cymbals 2 cow bells 5 rototoms (high/low) 1 temple block Guiro

PERCUSSIONS II 5 tumbas/congas (high/low) 5 temple blocks (high/low) 1 set of tubular bells 1 set of crotales 2 octaves 1 wood-chimes large size (deep timbre) 1 gong 1 tamtam 1 charleston cymbal 1 bass drum (small – « jazz »)

*INSTRUMENTAL QUARTET Acoustic or electric piano, double bass, 2 percussions + violin or flute ad lib played by a child *PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE (6 musicians) On stage, the children play ad lib Acoustic or electric piano – or guitar – or other Descant recorder, 2 tumbas (or more), bongos, xylophone(s), temple blocks, large tambourine and other percussions ad lib

CHARACTERS Lead singing roles Yukiko, the servant girl The arrogant Noblewoman, Yukiko’s mistress The Black Little Cat, Yukiko’s friend The Hostess and her two companions Choir

Secondary singing roles: A Prophet The village Children Peasants Unsung roles with sizeable text Récitant An Old Little Humpbacked Woman Unsung roles with short text The two Noblewoman’s menservants Four young girls Mimed roles Dancers (ad lib) Two tabby cats Two spotted cats Wildcats The Noblewoman’s porters The Boatman

Musical action after a popular Japanese tale published by Gründ Music and Lyrics by Vladimir Kojoukharov.

On the occasion of several productions, The Paradise for Cats has been performed more than 200 times in various French cities such as Bordeaux, Toulouse, Montpellier, Lyon, Nice, as well as in Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, Canada, the USA, Mexico and Peru.

The Paradise for Cats was developed on the basis of a work made by composer Vladimir Kojoukharov together with pupils, focusing efforts on inventing music, matching music and ideas, learning acting techniques and practice.

The first performances of the work were held under the composer’s baton in June 1986 in Meaux (Paris Metropolitan area) and at the Théâtre de Paris, under the auspices of the Jeunesses Musicales de France and with the support of the Direction Régionale des Affaires Culturelles d’Ile de France.

The adaptation of the work in Spanish was premiered by the Teatro Segura in Lima in 2001 with children from the disadvantaged areas. The work was first performed in English in New Orleans in 2005. Both adaptations were created under the composer’s baton. With its German adaptation, The Paradise for Cats has entered the Leipzig Opera repertoire since 2008.

Published by the Éditions Salabert, The Paradise for Cats was also performed for the 50th anniversary of the Maîtrise de Radio France at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris in 1996. It was recorded on CD with the participation of the children of the City of Paris and with the Maîtrise de Paris.

Vladimir Kojoukharov - biography Composer and conductor of Bulgarian origin, born in Belgium, Vladimir Kojoukharov started learning piano at the age of 6.

He later studied writing and orchestra conducting at the Sofia Conservatoire (State diploma in 1959) and then at the Conservatoire National de Musique de Paris where he obtained a First prize of orchestra conducting in Manuel Rosenthal’s class in 1963.

Prize-winner of the Besançon International Competition for Young Conductors and of the Dimitri Mitropoulous Competition in New York, he started his career by programming straightaway works from the 20th century such as Shostakovich, Kodaly, Martinu… and then was at the head of several European orchestras in Paris, Lille, Strasbourg, Milan, Turin, Lausanne, etc.

At the same time, he was interested in jazz and Black African traditional music and formed, from 1976, a research group, Managhahan, centered on a work of rhythmic expression and improvisation.

Sought for the creation of projects with children, he discover ed their artistic potential and decided to value it, socially and educationally.

The youth would no longer be a simple audience, but full actors participating regularly, within their formation, in professional realisations of shows.

In this perspective, he founded in Paris in 1986 the association Action Musique, which became, in partnership with the Opéra National de Montpellier (France) in 1990, Action Musique Opera Junior, which he directed until spring 2009.

He thus composed and created several scenic works: Le Vent et la Petite Fille (The Wind and the Girl), Republica! Republica!, Cendrillon (Cinderella) and his cantata Regard d’Étoile (Glance of Star), etc. All published by the Editions Salabert.

For his whole action towards the youth, Vladimir Kojoukharov received the Beaumarchais Medal from the SACD (Union of Authors and Playwrights - Paris) in 2005.

THE PRESS… « Une quarantaine d'enfants ont offert à la scène carcassonnaise l'un de ces instants magiques et fugaces que leur rareté rend exceptionnels » « Des voix d'enfants, bien sûr, mais qui modulent comme des grandes, sans une hésitation, sans une fausse note, pour exprimer les grands sentiments humains, de la colère à la joie, de la peur à l'amour, du rire aux larmes. » L. R - L'Indépendant - Carcassonne - 27 novembre 2006 « One of the joys of the show is that the music is both interestingly contemporary and yet accessible.

A second joy is that the show is performed by children, so the story is told with the winning naiveté of make-believe. » « (Mr) Assaf is so enthusiastic about this opera that he decided to offer it as part of the main subscription series, rather than as children’s programming. » Gambit Weekly – February 08, The Times-Picayune – January 28, 2005 / New Orleans (USA) « Les chats entrent toujours au Paradis » « L’adaptation du conte japonais séduit les petits et les grands… la musique de Vladimir Kojoukharov n’a en ce sens pas pris aucune ride» « Un rêve réalisé par les enfants et destiné aux enfants : unique. » Michèle Fizaine – Midi Libre Montpellier – 12 novembre 2006 « Kojukharovs märchenhafte Kinderoper im Kellertheater der Oper Leipzig inszeniert » « Und die Katzen? Die dürfen in ihrem Paradies nicht nur niedlich anzusehend sein, sondern ganz schön fauchen und kratzen. Aber am Ende siegt natürlich das Gute über das Böse. Logisch, dass es für das Prinzip und für alles andere zwischendurch riesigen Applaus gibt. » Birgit Hendrich – Leipziger Volkszeitung – 03/04 mai 2008 « Esta singular experiencia, que por primera vez se realiza en el Perú » « La ópera de los gatos es una prueba palpable de que cuando hay un estímulo sabiamente orientado a terrenos culturales que el común considera aburridos o solo para gente mayor y muy seria, lo cierto es que hay une respuesta positiva. » Expreso – Lima – Martes 24 de Julio des 2001

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pEMfhYL-bs&feature=plcp Information, video excerpts, scores and parts available at Editions Salabert / Universal Music Publishing Classical

promotion.umpc@umusic.com www.durand-salabert-eschig.com

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