Kento Iwasaki, Beloved Prey

Will Corwin hosts Kento Iwasaki, Cris Ryan and Alexis Kandra to discuss their portable opera Beloved Prey. Composed by Iwasaki, with set design by Kandra and costumes and libretto by Ryan, the opera depicts the true story of a lioness adopting a baby antelope after losing her cub and a mother antelope who musters the courage to rescue her child. Influenced by Iwasaki’s Japanese heritage and the Western operatic tradition, Beloved Prey features three voices accompanied by koto, violin and percussion. The artists discuss their respective inspirations and close working relationship (the three are also housemates). The interview ends with some brief commentary by Sir Norman Rosenthal, who professes himself a fan.

Beloved Prey was composed during Iwasaki's 2014 Exploring the Metropolis Composer’s Residency at Flushing Town Hall.

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