The Tale of Genji (2000)

The action of the opera takes place in Kyoto, the island of Suma, and the bay of Akashi, in the Heian period, eleventh century.

During a court festivity, the Old Emperor introduces the characters of the story, including his favorite son, Prince Genji, “the Shining One,” and the women in Genji’s life: Fujitsubo (the Emperor’s favorite wife), the Lady Rokujo (Genji’s first affair), and Aoi, his wife since childhood in a loveless marriage.

Since his mother was a concubine and not an official wife, Genji cannot succeed to the throne. He becomes notorious for his many affairs, searching in each woman for the image of his late mother. His son by Fujitsubo (the woman who most resembles his mother and for whom he deserted the jealous Rokujo) has been accepted by the Emperor, who is seemingly unaware that the child is not his own.

Genji’s chief opponent at court is Kokiden, another official wife of the Emperor, whose son, Suzaku, will succeed to the throne. During a nocturnal outing with his brother-in-law, To-no-Chujo, Genji discovers a young girl, Murasaki, who resembles both his mother and Fujitsubo. A scandal ensues when he secretly introduces her into his household under the nose of Aoi, his estranged but devoted wife.

Aoi falls ill and is ultimately driven to her death by the vengeful spirit of Rokujo. When Genji reproaches Rokujo, she is horrified by what she has done and resolves to enter a convent. However, before leaving, she lays a curse on Genji: if he is ever unfaithful to the woman he ultimately marries, her spirit will return to destroy them both.

Despite the scandal he has caused, Genji marries Murasaki. Kokiden uses this, along with the disappearance of Rokujo, to convince the new Emperor, Suzaku, to banish Genji from court. Exiled to a distant and lonely shore, Genji and Murasaki can only sustain their love through letters.

In a dream, his late father, the Old Emperor, commands Genji to set sail for the Bay of Akashi. There, he is befriended by an old recluse. Separated for so long from Murasaki, Genji finds himself drawn to the recluse’s beautiful daughter, who bears a striking resemblance to Lady Rokujo. Unable to resist, he seduces her.

Meanwhile, Emperor Suzaku interprets the endless storms over Edo as signs of the gods’ displeasure at Genji’s exile. He overrides Kokiden’s objections and recalls Genji to court, naming him Regent to Fujitsubo’s son, in whose favor Suzaku now abdicates.

Although Genji now has a daughter by the Lady of Akashi, he chooses to return alone to Edo—to Murasaki. But the spirit of Rokujo exacts her final revenge, destroying the lives of the two women he loves most: Fujitsubo and Murasaki.

On the eve of his glorious elevation to the Regency, Genji sees his entire life pass before him and realizes that his selfish desires have caused suffering to those he loved. Burdened by grief, he takes his place in glory by the side of his son, the new Emperor.