What is your perception of "opera"? Do you think it's long and old-fashioned? Opera is a human drama performed by music. Complicated and raw human emotions are presented through singing and acting. It is a beautiful art form. But today in 2023, there is a disconnect between opera and people. When opera became popular over 250 years ago, it was the main form of entertainment and the center of social life. In 2023, our lifestyles have changed immensely, and yet opera has stayed the same. Their thought was that this gap is keeping people away from it and decided to adapt it to the present time.

Rumiko Hasegawa founded More Than Musical​ in 2016 to make opera more accessible to the general public. These operas are performed in non-traditional theater spaces. The first production was a 90-minute La Traviata instead of three and a half hours without destroying the integrity of the original story. This was followed by Kiss of Tosca and Carmen | Hong Kong. All were sold-out performances receiving positive reviews from the media inside and outside of Hong Kong.

During the pandemic in 2021 and without any theatres to perform, Ms. Hasegawa produced a documentary-style film La bohéme: New York Love Story. With the film to be world premiered later in 2023 in Japan, she will take us on her journey of how she is redefining opera as a living art form for us today.

Please join us for an insightful session!

Event and Registration Details

• This event will be conducted in-person and online, and registration is required.
• In-person participation is for members and guests only. Please pay your fee by credit card or at the door.
• Online participation is open to the public and free.

To attend online, please sign up from the registration form for online participation​.