Tan Dun | Tea: A Mirror of Soul

Tea: A Mirror of Soul, one of five operas by the world-renowned Chinese composer Tan Dun, premiered in Japan in 2002. Inspired by The Classic of Tea by tea master Lu Yu, the opera tells the love story of Seikyo, a Japanese prince, and Lan, a Tang Dynasty princess. Together, they embark on a journey to uncover the authentic version of the Classic. Following the princess’s death, Seikyo becomes a monk, devoting his life to spreading the way of tea. The composer himself conducts this stirring work, imbued with the essence of Zen.

The concert runs approximately 2 hours with an intermission.

Artists

Tan Dun | Conductor/Composer

Casba Káel | Director

Lucy Fitz Gibbon | Soprano as Princess of Tang Dynasty

Li Sun | Baritone as Monk  

Motoki Ishii | Tenor as Prince of Tang Dynasty

Apollo Wong | Bass as Emperor of Tang Dynasty

Niru Liu | Mezzo-soprano as Tea Sage Lu Yu’s Daughter, Shadow

Bass-Baritone Chorus as Monks, Monkeys and Nature