Scottish Opera: The Great Wave

Join us for the world premiere of Dai Fujikura’s The Great Wave: an extravagant story about artist Katsushika Hokusai and his famous woodblock print The Great Wave off Kanagawa.

This groundbreaking opera directed by Satoshi Miyagi explores Hokusai’s creative triumphs and struggles, and his bond with his daughter Ōi. This relationship redefined Japanese painting and printmaking – and changed the global art world and popular iconography forever.

Japanese composer Dai Fujikura and Scottish librettist Harry Ross create a mesmerising musical drama that showcases the series of events that ignites The Great Wave off Kanagawa phenomena, influencing pop art culture today.

This large-scale, dynamic, international collaboration between Scottish Opera and KAJIMOTO builds on centuries of cultural exchange between Scotland and Japan. Baritone Daisuke Ohyama brings Katsushika Hokusai to life, along with Julieth Lozano Rolong as Ōi. Stuart Stratford conducts The Orchestra of Scottish Opera – with the unique addition of the rich historic sounds of a Japanese shakuhachi-flute. The Chorus of The Great Wave vividly represents the collaborative nature of Edo-era printmaking.