Jose Carreras will sing at a special performance on July 14 in the precinct of Horyuji temple in Nara Prefecture, for which 2,000 pairs of invitations are available.

The Spanish tenor will appear with Togi Hideki, a popular performer of gagaku (traditional instrumental Japanese court music). This is the 15th annual concert in a series titled "JAL Stage Special Oto Butai."

Subtitled "When the East meets the West," the annual performances had been held at a temple in Kyoto until last year, and featured famous international artists, including soprano Kiri Te Ka-nawa, mime Marcel Marceau and wadaiko player Eitetsu Hayashi.

This year, for the first time, the performance will take place in Nara Prefecture. The main temple at the venue is about 1,400 years old and is the oldest wooden structure in the world.

On the day of the concert, the same program will be performed twice, at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., rain or shine.

Those who wish to attend the invitation-only event must apply for tickets before June 21. They should send an official post card (kansei hagaki) with their name, age, address and telephone number to the following address: JAL Stage Special Horyuji Oto Butai Koen Jimukyoku Gakari, Osaka Yubinkyoku-dome, 530-8090.

They may also apply via the Internet at the following Web site: http://mbs.jp/oto/.

Tickets will be posted to successful applicants.

For information, call (06) 6371-9157 or contact the Web site above.

The one-hour performance will be broadcast at 0:30 a.m. on Aug. 5 on the MBS and TBS network.

Copyright © 2002 The Daily Yomiuri.