TOKYO—Upon staging eleven shows in South Korea, Divine Performing Arts (DPA) International Company continued to Japan for seven performances in four cities.
Its first stop in Tokyo on February 11 was at Hitomi Memorial Auditorium of Showa Woman’s University, a theater where Japanese imperial family often watch public shows.
Among the audience of the full-house show was Ryou Shouji, a respected and renowned lyricist and member of Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers (JASRAC), founded non-profit in 1939, the largest musical copyright administration society in Japan.
He said that from what he has witnessed in his 30 years of experience in the musical field, DPA vocalists, tenor Guimin Guan and alto Jiansheng Yang, are top-notch.
“Today’s whole performance is extremely wonderful. As a lyricist, the most moving parts for me were the songs and lyrics. Especially Guimin Guan and Jiansheng Yang, they were absolutely touching. Another vocalist who came with me and I both think that their voices are incomparable. I cannot understand Chinese, but that’s not important, because their songs were conveyed to the deepest part of my heart. I don’t need any translation. I am already deeply moved.”
Mr. Guan was one of the most celebrated tenor in China from 70’s to 80’s until he immigrated to America. Ms. Jiansheng Yang is a graduate of China’s prominent Central Conservatory of Music, and later went on to study under renowned Italian opera masters.
Mr. Shouji said that he would like to write lyrics for the two DPA soloists. In his years, he has written over 4,000 songs, astounding the entertainment circle in Japan. Many of those have won prestigious awards in Japan and dominated the hit chart for weeks.
“I really hope to write lyrics for these two artists. For me, a good artist is not judged based on the numbers of albums released under his or her name, but whether I can dedicate myself to write for him or her. Unquestionably, these two artists are beyond my imagination.
“If possible, please pass on a message to Ms. Yang. I am currently working with NHK composers, creating a list of classical music that have greatly influenced Japan’s musical world throughout the past century. We can also write for Ms. Yang. I also want to invite her to NHK’s vocal competition next year.”
NHK International Inc., Japan’s public broadcaster, has produced a total of 57,000 programs supplied to 129 countries and regions.
For more information, please see DivinePerformingArts.org
