'The Monkey King' wins over US opera fans and critics

The San Francisco Opera staged the world premiere of the Chinese tale of 'The Monkey King.'

San Francisco opera audiences embraced the legend of the Chinese folk tale of The Monkey King whole-heartedly. The world premiere of the opera was a resounding critical and popular success, widely described as a "triumph" and a "spectacular" achievement.

It wasn't just another night at the opera; it was a bona fide event, the kind of thing that makes you proud of the Bay Area's vibrant cultural scene and how Asian Americana has become part of every aspect of life here.

“I’m so proud that San Francisco Opera is bringing this operatic Monkey King to life, continuing our long tradition of building cultural bridges across the Pacific Ocean," said the SF Opera's General Director Matthew Shilvock. 

The opera's reception was overwhelmingly positive, with critics and audiences praising its visual grandeur, innovative fusion of Eastern and Western theatrical elements, and engaging storytelling.

This was a major artistic triumph, period. Forget the stuffy image of opera; this was a production that had critics and audiences alike buzzing with excitement.

The staging was off the charts. We're talking brilliant puppetry by Basil Twist and 4,500 yards of flowing silk that practically became a character itself. The San Francisco Chronicle basically called it one of the most thrilling things the opera house had offered in decades.

Composer Huang Ruo didn't just write music; he mashed up Chinese instruments and Peking opera vocal techniques with a modern orchestra, creating a vibrant, original sound that energized the whole production.

The opera 'The Monkey King' was 'spectacular' deemed critics.

David Henry Hwang's libretto grounded the classic tale of the Monkey King's ego and journey (Journey to the West source material, for those keeping score) in themes that resonate today. It was smart, funny, and surprisingly relevant.

Tenor Kang Wang nailed it as the Monkey King. It was a "jaw-dropping" performance that blended singing with serious physical acting and comedy.

The impact was undeniable. The run was reportedly sold out, and it drew a diverse crowd. It's the kind of production that gets the community talking and opens the door for more Asian American stories on the big stage. People are already hoping this wasn't a one-off, but the start of a "Monkey King" series.

Commissioned by San Francisco Opera in partnership with the Chinese Heritage Foundation of Minnesota, The Monkey King is based on the opening episodes of Journey to the West, the Ming Dynasty novel attributed to Wu Cheng’en and considered one of China’s four greatest literary classics.

“If dreams do come true, creating The Monkey King with my long-time collaborator David Henry Hwang for San Francisco Opera is one of those dreams," said omposer  Ruo.

"The world is full of superheroes—Superwoman, Spider-Man, Batman—and like those we know from American comic books and movies, the Monkey King is every bit an inspirational figure known for his wit, humor, righteousness and power. He is Asia’s supreme superhero, loved and adored not only by Chinese people throughout the centuries but increasingly by people throughout the world," said Ruo.

The artistic success of The Monkey King production is proof that when you mix cultural authenticity with top-tier innovation, you get an instant classic. An artistic win for American culture, which is really a fusion of many diverse sources from around the world.

San Francisco Opera General Director Matthew Shilvock said: “I’m so proud that San Francisco Opera is bringing this operatic Monkey King to life, continuing our long tradition of building cultural bridges across the Pacific Ocean.

"We hope that this will become a beloved and lasting opera for the world and are thrilled about how much excitement there already is for this new opera.”

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