Name: The Big Swim
Start: 2024-02-16T00:00:00.000Z
End: 2024-02-18T00:00:00.000Z
Location: Asia Society Texas Center

Organization

Conductor

Eiki Isomura

Stage director

Mo Zhou

Set designer

Afsaneh Aayani

Costume designer

Valérie Thérèse Bart

Lighting designer

Michael James Clark

Singer

Soprano

Mei Gui Zhang

Rabbit/Horse

Mezzo-soprano

Sun-Ly Pierce

Snake/Sheep

Contralto

Alice Chung

Ox/Pig

Tenor

Seiyoung Kim

Monkey/Rat

Baritone

Joseph Lim

Tiger/Rooster

Bass

Zaikuan Song

Dragon/Dog

Houston Grand Opera

Puppet Designer

Orchestra

Houston Grand Opera Orchestra

English

The Big Swim

Houston

United States

Asia Society Texas Center

Brown Foundation Performing Arts Theater

Public

Approved

The Big Swim, commissioned by Houston Grand Opera in partnership with Asia Society Texas, is a contemporary fable that fuses diverse influences into a single, compelling whole. Composer Meilina Tsui and librettist Melisa Tien have crafted a witty, heartwarming one-act opera that intentionally crosses boundaries between the traditional and modern, Eastern and Western, and classical and non-classical. In a new retelling of the race, the 12 animals learn that fierce competition is not as crucial as caring for and supporting one another, side by side.

The world premiere production (HGO’s 76th!) is directed by Mo Zhou, and features set and puppet design by Afsaneh Aayani, costume design by Valérie Thérèse Bart, and lighting design by Michael Clark.



The work will be presented at the Asia Society Texas Center as part of its Lunar New Year festivities and will be preceded by a few to-be-announced community activities.

Performance credits (Cast & Crew )

Cast

Crew

Ensemble