Tan Dun Operas - 2023

Tan Dun OPERAS Nine Songs (1989), Marco Polo (1995), Peony Pavillion (1998), Tea: A Mirror of Soul (2002), The First Emperor (2006), Buddha Passion (2018)

Tea: A Mirror of Soul An opera in three acts (2002)

Libretto by Tan Dun and Xu Ying. English translation by Diana Liao Duration: 1 hour 48 minutes Premiere: October 2002, Suntory Hall, Tokyo

cast

SEIKYO, Japanese Monk (discovery/philosophy): Baritone LAN, Chinese Princess/Puppet Monk (love): Soprano PRINCE, Chinese Prince/Puppet Monkey King (anger): Tenor EMPEROR, Father of Lan/Shadow (tradition/culture): Bass LU, Shadow/Ritualist/Daughter of Tea Sage (tea/messenger for spirit): Contralto MONKS CHANTING (religion): Bass-Baritone Chorus THREE PERCUSSIONISTS (nature): Water, Paper, Ceramic Instruments

orchestra

amp bfl(pic).bcl(Ebcl)/2Ctpt.2tbn/3 ripieno perc/2hp/str (8.8.6.6.4)

synopsis

The opera opens in ancient Japan where a monk named Seikyo performs a ritual tea ceremony with an empty cup. When curious monks ask how he can savor tea from emptiness, Seikyo answers by telling his life’s story. Born a prince in China, he fell in love with a princess whose brother positioned himself as an adversary. In a duel over possession of the true Book of Tea, the princess is tragically killed. Rather than seek revenge, Seikyo cuts off his hair and devotes himself to the pursuit of peace through ritual.

press

“...a fascinating blend of East and West, religion and drama, love and death.”

— Michael Davidson, Opera

Marco Polo An opera in one act (1995)

Grawemeyer Award for Music Composition in 1998

Libretto in English by Paul Griffiths, based on his novel Myself and Marco Polo Duration: 2 hours Premiere: May 1996, Munich Biennale

cast

MEMORY POLO: Dramatic Tenor BEINGS MARCO: Mezzo-Soprano KUBLAI KHAN: Bass

orchestra

NATURE WATER, lover of Marco Polo: Soprano SHADOWS 1. RUSTICHELLO/LI PO: Tenor 2. SHEHERAZADA/MAHLER/QUEEN: Mezzo-Soprano 3. DANTE/SHAKESPEARE: Baritone

1(pic).1(ca).1(bcl).1(cbn)/2.2.2.0/3perc/prpf.hp/str(min 10.8.6.6.4); world inst.

synopsis

Marco and Polo, led by the shadows of Dante and Scheherazade, journey from Venetian darkness across seas, deserts, and the high Himalayas to arrive at The Wall, where Kublai Khan awaits them. Medieval chant, ancient timbres, violence, longing, and the sensuality of nature open a world of light. In four dreams and three interviews, Marco and Polo are led by the Shadows of Shakespeare, Freud and John Cage to examine inner space. Chuang Zi dreams as a butterfly; Mahler and Li Po drink to the song of the earth. In China or elsewhere, is contact possible? Can love be achieved? Kublai still waits; Marco and Polo give way to Marco Polo; the unending begins.

press

“One’s ear was constantly intrigued and charmed.”

— David Murray, Financial Times

Nine Songs A ritual opera (1989) in English by Tan Dun after Qu Yan (340-277 B.C.) Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes Premiere: May 1989, Pace Downtown Theatre, New York, NY

cast

20 singer-performers

ensemble

3perc, 2cbn, 3 Chinese instrumentalists

synopsis

Nine Songs is a non-narrative work based on ancient poems of the same name by the great Chinese poet Qu Yuan. Blending dance, music, and drama, each song is filled with the beauty of nature and the mysteries of shamanistic ritual. The text is a multi-language construction of abstract sound and form; it makes an independent but integral contribution to the musical scoring.

press

“...innovation based on tradition...”

— Ian Buruma, The New York Times

Peony Pavillion An opera in one act (1998) Libretto based on the original play by Tang Xianzu (1598); English translation by Cyril Birch Duration: 1 hour 50 minutes Premiere: May 1998, Vienna Festival, Austria

cast

BRIDAL DU: Soprano LIU MENGMEI: Tenor

SISTER STONE: Kun- or Peking-Opera actress CHORUS: Baritones, plus all musicians

THE JUDGE: Midi Horn, Xun, Dizi THE CLERK: Midi Horn, Sona THE FLOWER SPIRIT: Pipa

ZHAO: Sampler SUN: Percussion LI: Percussion

musicians

press

“Opera has not in years sounded so vital or original.”

— Allan Ulrich, San Francisco Examiner

synopsis

Bridal Du, daughter of Du Baoyan, the provinicial governor of Nan-an, falls asleep in the garden, intoxicated by the springtime. She dreams of meeting a handsome young man.

Upon waking, she pines for this dream lover, and languishes with lovesickness. Eventually she dies of her longings and is buried in the garden. Three years later, the young scholar Liu Mengmei finds a portrait of Bridal Du while in the garden and falls in love with her picture. Faithful to her dream even in death, Bridal Du steps out of the painting; as a wandering ghost she pursues her dream lover. Liu Mengmei helps bring her back to life, and she becomes his wife.

The First Emperor An opera in two acts (2006) Libretto in English by Ha Jin and Tan Dun Duration: 2 hours 35 minutes Premiere: December 2006, The Metropolitan Opera

cast

EMPEROR CHIN: Tenor PRINCES YUE-YANG: Soprano GAO JIAN LI, musician: Lyric Tenor GENERAL WANG: Bass SHAMAN: Mezzo-soprano CHIEF MINISTER: Baritone

orchestra

YIN-YANG MASTER, official geomancer: Peking Opera Singer MOTHER of YUE-YANG: Mezzo-soprano CHORUS: Soldiers, slaves, guards, etc.

DANCERS

2(amp bfl).2.2.2/3.3Ctpt.2.1/timp.4perc.Tibetan singing bowl/2hp/str; ancient music instruments (minimum 7 players)

synopsis

The First Emperor is a narrative historical opera with a libretto by the acclaimed Chinese author Ha Jin. It takes as its subject Chin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China. Hoping to create an anthem to unify his lands, the Emperor calls for his childhood friend and master musician Gao Jian Li to appear at court and compose the song. Though they were like brothers as children, Jian Li has been subjected to the brutality of the Emperor’s reign in the intervening years. Behind the Great Wall and the Terracotta Warriors lies a truly operatic story of love, hate, loss, and betrayal.

Buddha Passion Opera in six acts (2018) Libretto in English, Chinese, and Sanskrit by Tan Dun; additional text from Tang Dynasty Duration: 1 hour 37 minutes Premiere: May 2018, Dresdner Musikfestspiele

synopsis

Buddha Passion is the very first ‘passion’ story written about the lessons of Buddha, with music inspired by the awe-inspiring Mogao Caves and the city of Dunhuang, an important outpost of the ancient Silk Road. There lies the greatest collection of Buddhist paintings, sculptures, and architecture in the world — a sacred place where monks and pilgrims carved shrines out of the rock cliffs for generations. In keeping with centuries of this spiritual exploration and cultural exchange, Tan Dun himself spent two years immersed in the musical history of the area, even recreating some of the instruments depicted in the Mogao murals. His fascination and countless hours of research culminate in this ambitious work, weaving chants, stories, and sounds of Dunhuang into an opera of six individual short stories that capture the ancient narratives of the Buddha’s teachings: timeless, universal concepts of love, forgiveness, sacrifice, and salvation.

cast

MANTRA, THE EMPEROR, THE KING, DAMAN HONGREN (5TH PATRIARCH), BUDDHA: Baritone DROWNING MAN, COURT GUARD, DAJIAN HUINENG (6TH PATRIARCH): Tenor THE DEER OF NINE COLORS, PRINCESS MIAOSHAN: Soprano PRINCESS MIAOQING: Dunhuang ancient pipa (lute) player and Dancer LITTLE PRINCE, PRINCESS MIAOYIN: Alto MINSTREL MONK KONGXIAN: Indigenous male voice NINA: Indigenous female voice Mixed Chorus, optional Boys Chorus

orchestra

3(II:afl.III:pic).2+ca.2+bcl.2+cbn/4.3.3.1/timp(cym).4perc/hp/str

press

“...the audience of the Kulturpalast was thrilled.”

— Musik Heute “The most astonishing experience...”

— Helmut Mauró, Süddeutsche Zeitung

photos

Cover: Marco Polo at Netherlands Opera

Tea: A Mirror of Soul at Opera Philadelphia Marco Polo at Netherlands Opera

Nine Songs at City Contemporary Dance Company

Peony Pavillion at Suzhou Kunqu Opera Theatre of Jiangsu The First Emperor at The Metropolitan Opera

Buddha Passion, Ms. Shi playing a recreation of Tan Dun’s “fantan pipa”

For more information contact Peggy Monastra peggy.monastra@schirmer.com, 212-254-2100

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Photo courtesy of the composer

The conceptual and multifaceted composer/ conductor Tan Dun has made an indelible mark on the world’s music scene with a creative repertoire that spans the boundaries of classical, multimedia, Eastern and Western musical systems. Central to his body of work, Tan Dun has composed distinct series of works which reflect his individual compositional concepts and personal ideas — among them a series which brings his childhood memories of shamanistic ritual into symphonic performances, works which incorporate elements from the natural world, and multimedia concerti. Opera has a significant role in Tan Dun’s creative output.