"How Was It For You?"
Excerpts from the work-in-progress performances, Tokyo 18th-20th May 2022
Video and more info: www.francescalelohe.com/hwify.html

​​「How Was It For You?」2022年5月東京初演からの録音抜粋
詳細は：www.francescalelohe.com/hwify-jpn.html

Interludes ("How Was It For You?" excerpt)

Reading the diary ("How Was It For You?" excerpt)

"How Was It For You?" Excerpt

First draft of a choir piece written for DR VokalEnsemblet as part of TENSO Days Young Composers Workshop, May 16th-18th, Mechelen, Belgium. The texts are by Canadian, Jamaican and Indian soldiers and one by an Australian woman written during World War One. 

Forgotten Voices - for TENSO Young Composers workshop

'Closer' for kamanche, daegum and accordion.
Written for "An Orchestration of Personalties" cross-cultural composition workshop with Ensemble Zar, April 2023.
Facilitated by Bushra El-Turk, LOD Muziektheater & ENOA.

Inspiration for the piece came from kamanche player Faraz Eshghi's comment that the kamanche was 'for the detail which becomes clear when zooming in on a photograph'. This shaped my approach to the instruments when writing 'Closer'.

Kemancheh: Faraz Eshghi
Daegum: Hyelim Kim
Accordion: Milos Milivojevic

Photo: © Kurt Van der Elst

Closer (excerpt)

Saida Portraits for piano and percussion (2014). Composed for George Barton and Siwan Rhys as part of the New Dots 2014 concert series. Premiered June 2014 at The Forge, Camden, London.

‘Saida Portraits’ is in five short movements, each inspired by a portrait photograph taken by Hashem el Madani in his studio in Saida, Lebanon during the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s. Madani was a successful studio photographer who was visited by many people in the town to be photographed, often treating the studio as a safe haven where they could act out their wishes and desires. Out of the hundreds of portraits which have been collected and exhibited by the artist Akram Zaatari, I have chosen five portraits with the common theme of pride and celebration as inspiration.

I. Father and Son 
A father proudly holds his very young, bewildered looking son up to the camera. 

II. Reesh
Reesh, a bulky, muscly man, sucks his stomach in and shows off his physique. 

III. Baqari’s Wife
A woman secretly went to enjoy herself and pose for the camera. When her possessive husband found out, he ordered the photographer to take a pin and scratch out her face on the negatives.  

IV. The Veil
A friend helps a bride-to-be with her wedding veil and gives the photographer a stern glare. 

V. The Kiss 
Two playful young men wish to re-enact a kiss from a big, romantic film. However, in the conservative society of Saida in the 1950’s, people were more comfortable performing the kiss with someone of the same sex. 

Recording courtesy of AJM Productions Ltd.


Saida Portraits

Extracts from Ito Noe: On an Endless Road (2023) for satsuma biwa & voice (1 performer)
Biwa & voice: Akiko Kubota
Music: Francesca Le Lohé
Text: Ito Noe
Premiere: Jiyugakuen, Ikebukuro, Tokyo, December 10th 2023
Photo: Hiraga Maasaki

Lyrics (English translation)
Destroy convention! Destroy convention!
There is no other way for us to be freed.
We cannot wait patiently and silently forever.
Act Now! Act Now!"

伊藤野枝：永く永く無限に続く道（抜粋）
薩摩琵琶のため
出演者：久保田晶子
音楽；レロイ・フランチェスカ
歌詞：伊藤野枝の文章より
初演：自由学園明日館、池袋、東京、2023年12月10日

3_Women's Resistance / 婦人の反抗

Extracts from Ito Noe: On an Endless Road (2023) for satsuma biwa & voice (1 performer)
Biwa & voice: Akiko Kubota
Music: Francesca Le Lohé
Text: Ito Noe
Premiere: Jiyugakuen, Ikebukuro, Tokyo, December 10th 2023
Photo: Hiraga Maasaki

Lyrics (English translation)
The pomelo didn’t have much flavour, 
but the smell was ridiculously strong.
To what extent do we crave 
meddling in other people’s business? 

伊藤野枝：永く永く無限に続く道（抜粋）
薩摩琵琶のため
出演者：久保田晶子
音楽；レロイ・フランチェスカ
歌詞：伊藤野枝の文章より
初演：自由学園明日館、池袋、東京、2023年12月10日

2_From My Diary / 日記より

Extracts from Ito Noe: On an Endless Road (2023) for satsuma biwa & voice (1 performer)
Biwa & voice: Akiko Kubota 
Music: Francesca Le Lohé 
Text: Ito Noe
Premiere: Jiyugakuen, Ikebukuro, Tokyo, December 10th 2023
Photo: Hiraga Maasaki

Lyrics (English translation): 
The New Woman will push ahead, 
moving beyond where most halted,
and become a leader of the new way
For the New Woman,
there is a New Woman's way.


伊藤野枝：永く永く無限に続く道（抜粋）
薩摩琵琶のため
出演者：久保田晶子
音楽；レロイ・フランチェスカ
歌詞：伊藤野枝の文章より
初演：自由学園明日館、池袋、東京、2023年12月10日

1_The Way of the New Woman / 新しい女の道

A recording of the choir from Who is Molly Leigh? in the final performance of the sell-out run, July 2025. The opera explores the legend of Molly Leigh, a Staffordshire woman accused of witchcraft, from the perspective of women and those excluded from society for being 'different'. Molly Leigh is performed by not one singer, but a choir of women and gender diverse people, finally giving Molly voice and showing her story represents the experiences of many. 
Special thanks to Mary Keith (choir leader), the community choir members from across Staffordshire, Rosie Middleton (mezzo-soprano), Gareth Mattey (lyrics) and co-producers B-arts.

Choir of Who is Molly Leigh?

Incidental music for 'The Girl With Red Hair' by Sharman MacDonald
Staged by Glasgow University STAG Drama society Feb 2012

The Girl With Red Hair 1

The Girl With Red Hair 2

The Girl With Red Hair 3

The Girl With Red Hair 4

April: the Daughter arranges for Kimura and the Wife to meet at a hotel, stirring the Husband’s jealousy to dangerous levels

"THE鍵KEY" : an Anglo-Japanese, site-specific opera inspired by Junichiro Tanizaki's novel of the same name. Composed and directed by Francesca Le Lohé. 
Excerpts compiled of recordings made throughout the rehearsal process and revised premiere performances at Denchu Hirakushi House and Atelier, Tokyo, Japan, May 2019.

作曲家・演出家フランチェスカ・レロイによる谷崎潤一郎の傑作長編小説「鍵」を主題にした音楽ドラマ。改訂初演やお稽古の時に撮った録音の録音抜粋（​平櫛田中邸・アトリエ、東京、2019年5月）

出演者/Performers :

The夫Husband trio
The夫Husband: 松平敬 (バリトン) Takashi Matsudaira (baritone)
松本宏平（尺八）Kohei Matsumoto(shakuhachi)
シーナ有紀子（コントラバス）Yukiko Siina (double bass)

The妻Wife trio
The妻Wife: 工藤あかね (ソプラノ) Akane Kudo (soprano)
小島篤美（笙）Atsumi Kojima (sho)
久保歌祐里　(チェロ) Yuri Kubota (cello)

The娘Daughter trio
The娘Daughter: 野田千恵子 (メゾソプラノ)  Chieko Noda(mezzo-soprano)
小川実加子　（小鼓・締め太鼓）Mikako Ogawa (Japanese percussion)
早川きょーじゅ（ヴァイオリン）Kyouju Hayakawa (violin)

木村/Kimura trio
木村/Kimura：綾香詳三（ダンサー）Shouzo Ayaka (dancer)
久保田晶子 （琵琶）Akiko Kubota (biwa)
三宅博子（クラリネット）Hiroko Miyake (clarinet)

@Kagi_TheKey
https://francescalelohe.weebly.com/

Excerpt from "April" _2019 Tokyo: Revised Premiere

January: the Wife finds herself dreaming of Kimura, the young man the Husband keeps inviting to dinner...

"THE鍵KEY" : an Anglo-Japanese, site-specific opera inspired by Junichiro Tanizaki's novel of the same name. Composed and directed by Francesca Le Lohé. 
Excerpts compiled of recordings made throughout the rehearsal process and revised premiere performances at Denchu Hirakushi House and Atelier, Tokyo, Japan, May 2019.

作曲家・演出家フランチェスカ・レロイによる谷崎潤一郎の傑作長編小説「鍵」を主題にした音楽ドラマ。改訂初演やお稽古の時に撮った録音の録音抜粋（​平櫛田中邸・アトリエ、東京、2019年5月）

出演者/Performers :

The夫Husband trio
The夫Husband: 松平敬 (バリトン) Takashi Matsudaira (baritone)
松本宏平（尺八）Kohei Matsumoto(shakuhachi)
シーナ有紀子（コントラバス）Yukiko Siina (double bass)

The妻Wife trio
The妻Wife: 工藤あかね (ソプラノ) Akane Kudo (soprano)
小島篤美（笙）Atsumi Kojima (sho)
久保歌祐里　(チェロ) Yuri Kubota (cello)

The娘Daughter trio
The娘Daughter: 野田千恵子 (メゾソプラノ)  Chieko Noda(mezzo-soprano)
小川実加子　（小鼓・締め太鼓）Mikako Ogawa (Japanese percussion)
早川きょーじゅ（ヴァイオリン）Kyouju Hayakawa (violin)

木村/Kimura trio
木村/Kimura：綾香詳三（ダンサー）Shouzo Ayaka (dancer)
久保田晶子 （琵琶）Akiko Kubota (biwa)
三宅博子（クラリネット）Hiroko Miyake (clarinet)

@Kagi_TheKey
https://francescalelohe.weebly.com/

Excerpt from "January"_2019 Tokyo: Revised Premiere

March; As the couple’s love life improves, the Husband’s health sharply deteriorates. Though it seems a price his wife is most willing to pay.   

"THE鍵KEY" : an Anglo-Japanese, site-specific opera inspired by Junichiro Tanizaki's novel of the same name. Composed and directed by Francesca Le Lohé. Excerpts compiled of recordings made throughout the UK premiere performances at 10 Tollgate Drive, London, August 2019.

作曲家・演出家フランチェスカ・レロイによる谷崎潤一郎の傑作長編小説「鍵」を主題にした音楽ドラマ。英国初演に撮った録音の録音抜粋（​10 Tollgate Drive、ロンドン、英国　2019年8月）

出演者/Performers :

The夫Husband trio
The夫Husband: 尼子広志 (テノール) Hiroshi Amako (tenor)
尺八/shakuhachi: Clive Bell
コントラバス/double bass: Mark Lipski

The妻Wife trio
The妻Wife: 工藤あかね (ソプラノ) Akane Kudo (soprano)
笙/sho: 佐藤尚美 Naomi Sato
チェロ/cello: Idlir Shyti

The娘Daughter trio
The娘Daughter:  望月あかり(メゾソプラノ) Akari Mochizuki(mezzo-soprano)
締め太鼓/Japanese percussion: 藤本晃則 Akinori Fujimoto
ヴァイオリン/violin: Joana Ly

木村/Kimura：綾香詳三（ダンサー）Shouzo Ayaka (dancer)

@Kagi_TheKey
francescalelohe.weebly.com/

Excerpt from "March" _2019 UK Premiere

February; The Husband is overjoyed to receive the naked photos of his wife, but he’s not the only one to see them…

"THE鍵KEY" : an Anglo-Japanese, site-specific opera inspired by Junichiro Tanizaki's novel of the same name. Composed and directed by Francesca Le Lohé. Excerpts compiled of recordings made throughout the UK premiere performances at 10 Tollgate Drive, London, August 2019.

作曲家・演出家フランチェスカ・レロイによる谷崎潤一郎の傑作長編小説「鍵」を主題にした音楽ドラマ。英国初演に撮った録音の録音抜粋（​10 Tollgate Drive、ロンドン、英国　2019年8月）

出演者/Performers :

The夫Husband trio
The夫Husband: 尼子広志 (テノール) Hiroshi Amako (tenor)
尺八/shakuhachi: Clive Bell
コントラバス/double bass: Mark Lipski

The妻Wife trio
The妻Wife: 工藤あかね (ソプラノ) Akane Kudo (soprano)
笙/sho: 佐藤尚美 Naomi Sato
チェロ/cello: Idlir Shyti

The娘Daughter trio
The娘Daughter:  望月あかり(メゾソプラノ) Akari Mochizuki(mezzo-soprano)
締め太鼓/Japanese percussion: 藤本晃則 Akinori Fujimoto
ヴァイオリン/violin: Joana Ly

木村/Kimura：綾香詳三（ダンサー）Shouzo Ayaka (dancer)

@Kagi_TheKey
francescalelohe.weebly.com/

Excerpt from "February" _2019 UK Premiere

Τρόμος  for soprano, suspended cymbal, temple block (low pitch), medium gong or tam tam and fixed media. Performed by Dana Cerminaro.

February-April 2013

Τρόμος (pronounced TROH-moh-s)  translates as ‘trembling’; our protagonist trembling with anxiety, desire and jealousy  each time she meets the object of her affections unexpectedly. 

This text by Sappho (615-550BC) , usually referred to as Fragment 31, is one of her most intact and well known with many translations completed over the centuries. I was fascinated with the universal and timeless nature of the poem, how it has compelled many to translate and bring it to new audiences, with their own styles, interpretations and agendas.  This, in a way, is my attempt at a new translation.

Many thanks go to soprano Dana Cerminaro with whom I collaborated on this project and to Marina Vlachaki for her brilliant reading of the ancient Greek text.



τρόμος (TROH-moh-s)

« After 9-5» has been created through an ongoing exchange between Francesca Le Lohé and Berlin-based writer, Charlotte Wührer. The exchange began when Francesca composed a new short work for solo sho in response to Charlotte’s fiction work “Nine-to-Five”. Charlotte then wrote new text in response to this music, which was then passed back to Francesca to respond to with more new music etc. This “back-and-forth” of inspiration culminated in the piece “After 9-5”. 
Their creative partnership lead Francesca and Charlotte to co-found the “Sound & Word Network”; an international collective of composers/sound artists and writers/word artists.

"After 9-5"

Francesca is a composer & community musician, active in Japan and the UK.  http://francescalelohe.com/
フランチェスカ・レロイ：日本・英国に活動しているの作曲家

Francesca Le Lohe

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