Product Description
During the Meiji period, to the turn of the last century, into the 1920s until the end of the war, Tokyo's Asakusa district was the main entertainment district of Japan. The area became known for its kabuki troupes who were considered outlandish at the time to dance halls and theatres. From around 1917 until the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, Asakusa Opera (teriha kyogen) was one of the most popular forms of entertainment. Operas (or operettas) by Offenbach and Bizet were performed and became instant hits. What followed to become known as Asakusa Opera was a potpourri of influences combining elements of noh and kabuki, popular songs, foreign opera, chorus line revues and more into an entertaining musical. On this CD, originally released on LPs in 1964 and 65, classics of Asakusa Opera are performed by star artists such as Kenichi Enomoto (Enoken) Rikizo Taya, Utako Matsushima,Toshie Kusunoki, Masanori Tomotake, Bonnie Jacks.
Disc 1: 1. 'Tengoku to Jigoku' Fanfare, 2. Beatri Neichan 3. Koi wa Yasahi 4. Washa Kizoku dayo 5. Otekusan to Kizano 6. Coroqque no Uta 7. Midera no Kabe niwa 8. Kowaizo Obakejanai 9. Nami o Keri 10. Ringo no Uta 11. Boon Boon 12. Tsurugi no Uta 13. Guru Guru Bee 14. 'Tengoku to Jigoku' Finale
Disc 2: 1. Iwa ni Motareta 2. Isha no Uta 3. Koi no Tameni 4. Okeya no Uta 5. Toscana no Nijuso 6. Kaigun Daijin no Uta 7. Rentai no Uta 8. Daishori no Uta 9. Normandi no Kane no Yurai 10. Doke no Uta 11. Umi no Uta 12. Watasha Koshaku no 13. Yatoinin-ichiba no Gassho 14. Oni no Geboku no Uta 15. Kari no Uta, Jusan-banme no Uta, Uma no Gallop
