Korean Fantasy, Japanese Opera in Flushing

Experience Korea and Japan for free without the jet lag this weekend. On Friday, Flushing Town Hall hosts the Korean world music group NorianMaro, which has 12 members who specialize in an innovative style of traditional performing arts with dance, music, singing, percussion, theater and multi-media. Expect colorful costumes, haunting chants, pulsing movements, dynamic drums, enchanting vocals, and imaginary narratives as the troupe takes the audience to Leodo, a fantasy island treasured by the people in Jeju, a beautiful province in Korea. More details and another photo on jump page.

On Sunday, Flushing Town Hall presents a preview of Beloved Prey, an opera by Kento Iwasaki in English with accompaniment by a Japanese koto, a 13-stringed musical instrument (above). This musical depicts a lioness that adopts a baby antelope, while a mother antelope seeks to rescue her child. The concert includes another work by Iwasaki, “Moon Princess Song Cycle,” performed by soprano-piano duo Sara Heaton and Akiko Sasaki. The ditty is inspired by a Japanese folk tale about a moon princess who is reborn in a bamboo forest and then taken from her adoptive parents by moon people.

Korean details: Norian Maro, Leodo Paradise Lost, Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Boulevard, Flushing, January 16th, 8 pm, free. EDITOR’S NOTE: DUE TO OVERWHELMING POPULARITY, THIS SHOW IS NOW ON STAND-BY. CALL BEFOREHAND TO SEE IF OPEN SEATS EXIST.

Japanese details: Beloved Prey and Moon Princess Song Cycle, Flushing Town Hall, January 18th, 2 pm, free.

Photos: Flushing Town Hall