Silver River (1997)

African-American Actress (Western style),
Asian Male Singer (Chinese Opera style),
Baritone (Western Opera/Music Theater style),
Asian Female Dancer, 2 Dancers

Orchestration:

fl(pic,afl), cl(bcl,perc), pipa, perc, vn(perc), vc(perc);
Note: the flutist appears onstage as a male cowherd,
the pipa player appears onstage as a goddess-weaver

Program Note

According to ancient Chinese legend, Night and Day were created through the ill-fated love between a heavenly being and a mortal. The legend of the Silver River comes alive in a bewitching production populated by Jade Emperors, Goddess Weavers and other celestial beings. Bright Sheng and David Henry Hwang, librettist of the Tony Award-winning M. Butterfly, integrate elements from both Western and Chinese opera in a touching and timeless fable.