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Dr. Sun Yat-sen 2014

Dr. Sun Yat-sen 2014

July 26 - August 14, 2014

Witness to History…

One of the most enthralling historical operas, Dr. Sun Yat-sen by the distinguished Chinese-born American composer Huang Ruo makes its American premiere. Ruo’s music has galvanized critics and audiences internationally with its thrilling blend of Eastern, Western, folk and classical styles. Dr. Sun Yat-sen depicts the epic struggle to overthrow China’s ancient monarchy and build a modern national identity for one of the world’s oldest civilizations.

Music By
Huang Ruo
Libretto By
Candace Chong Mui Ngam

Synopsis

Act I

Charlie’s House, Shanghai. Charlie Soong, a Chinese revolutionary, is hosting a gala in his home, ostensibly to raise money to build a church, but actually to gather funds for his colleague and leader of the Chinese Revolutionary Alliance, Sun Yat-sen. His wife, Ni Gui-zhen, takes him aside and expresses her worry about Char­lie’s illegal activities. Moments later, Sun Yat-sen arrives. From the second he enters the room, Sun becomes the focus of attention. His wife Lu Mu­zhen follows him at a much slower pace. She is a traditional countrywoman with bound feet. Charlie and guests feel sorry for Sun Yat-sen. Just as the guests begin to rally around the cause, a mes­senger arrives and hands Charlie a note: a reward has been placed on Sun’s head.

Act II

Scene 1. Umeya’s Residence, Japan. Fleeing to Japan where he is in exile, Sun Yat-sen takes up residence with his friend Umeya and continues his revolutionary activities with his new aide, Charlie Soong’s daughter Ching-ling. She is attracted to his revolutionary ideals, he to her vivacity. They fall in love.

Scene 2. Sun and Ching-ling’s wedding, Umeya’s Residence, Japan. At the wedding, Charlie enters, furious. Not only has Charlie not given his consent to the marriage, but Sun still remains married to a woman in China. To everyone’s surprise, Charlie brings in Sun’s first wife, Lu Mu-zhen, in the hope that she can ruin the wedding. With a touching aria, Mu-zhen instead sings about her misfortune and sacrifice. She, to everyone’s surprise, finally gives Sun her signed divorce paper, setting him free to marry Ching­ling. Outraged, Charlie walks out of the wedding, renouncing both Ching-ling and Sun, and his as­sociation with the Chinese Revolutionary Alliance.

Act III

Scene 1. China. Back in China, Sun tries to overthrow the last em­peror of the Qing Dynasty with the help of Yuan Shi-kai. Under Sun’s leadership the regime of the Qing Dynasty is overthrown and he is named pro­visional president of the new republic. The new government’s hold is weak and Yuan Shi-kai, an ambitious general in the revolution, betrays Sun and becomes president, a step in achieving his final goal of naming himself the new emperor of a new dynasty. Sun Yat-sen, accompanied by his newlywed wife Ching-ling, is giving speeches in various locations in China, gathering support to overthrow Yuan Shi-kai’s rule. One night, Sun’s house is under attacks by Yuan’s assassins. Dur­ing their escape, Ching-ling miscarries their baby. In the midst of all this tragedy, a messenger appears to tell Sun that Charlie is on his deathbed and wanting to see both him and Ching-ling.

Scene 2. Charlie’s House, Shanghai. Charlie is ill and dying. Ching-ling arrives at his home alone, and assures her father that she is truly in love with Sun Yat-sen. Charlie, ashamed, confesses that he had all but given up his revolu­tionary dreams, but Sun’s indomitable determina­tion and idealism has renewed his confidence. His final speech, a blessing to Sun and Ching-ling and a meditation on the true meaning of what it is to be a revolutionary, is overlaid with a speech of Sun’s. The two men share this spiritual reunion, revolutionaries to the end.

The opera ends as a large statue of Sun Yat-sen is revealed. A crowd honors the timeless man.

Artists

Joshua Dennis headshot

Joshua Dennis

Tenor

Dr. Sun Yat-sen

Corinne Winters headshot

Corinne Winters

Soprano

Soong Ching-ling

Gong Dong-Jian headshot

Gong Dong-Jian

Bass

Charlie Soong

MaryAnn McCormick headshot

MaryAnn McCormick

Mezzo-soprano

Ni Gui-zhen

Chen Ye Yuan headshot

Chen Ye Yuan

Baritone

Mr. Umeya

Rebecca Witty

Soprano

Lu Mu-zhen

Katherine Carroll headshot

Katherine Carroll

Mezzo-soprano

Mrs. Umeya

Yoni Rose headshot

Yoni Rose

Tenor

Assassin

Patrick Guetti headshot

Patrick Guetti

Bass

Assassin

Carolyn Kuan headshot

Carolyn Kuan

Conductor

James Robinson headshot

James Robinson

Director

Allen-Moyer

Allen Moyer

Scenic Designer

James Schuette headshot

James Schuette

Costume Designer

Christopher Akerlind headshot

Christopher Akerlind

Lighting Designer

Sean-Curran

Seán Curran

Choreographer

Susanne Sheston headshot

Susanne Sheston

Chorus Master