TEA: A MIRROR OF SOUL

TAN DUN

AN EXTRAORDINARY FUSION OF WESTERN OPERA AND EASTERN MYTH FROM THE ACADEMY-AWARD WINNING COMPOSER OF CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON
In English with SURTITLES^TM

"AN UTTERLY OPERATIC TALE OF LOVE, QUEST, AND DEATH"
- The Vancouver Sun

► Ancient Japan. Seikyo, a prince by birth, tells his fellow monks the story of how he came to the temple: Years earlier, in China, seeking to marry Princess Lan, Seikyo confronts her jealous brother, the Prince, and must answer his challenge: find The Book of Tea and reveal its secret wisdom.

In the distant south, Lu, daughter of the Tea Sage, relinquishes the book on condition that Seikyo and Lan vow to spread its truth throughout the world. Before they can read it, the Prince attacks Seikyo, and Lan is killed when she intervenes. The grief-stricken Prince offers himself in sacrifice, but Seikyo declines, choosing instead to cut off his own hair and take a monk’s vow.

Combining sounds of water, paper, ceramic and stone with a traditional western orchestra, Tan Dun’s haunting score is trance-like and beautiful. Tea: A Mirror of Soul is highly theatrical, visually stunning, and charged with eroticism, ritual and poetry. This will be an extraordinary and deeply rewarding opera experience.

► Approximate Running Time: 2 hours 3 minutes (including one intermission)

► READ THE SYNOPSIS

CHINESE LANGUAGE VERSION (SIMPLIFIED)
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CHINESE LANGUAGE VERSION (TRADITIONAL)
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► LISTEN TO MUSIC CLIPS

► MORE ABOUT TAN DUN

► READ THE GLOBE & MAIL REVIEW

► READ THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT REVIEW

► READ THE VANCOUVER SUN REVIEW

Photo by Tim Matheson

ON STAGE FOR 4 PERFORMANCES ONLY

SATURDAY	MAY 4 2013	7:30PM
TUESDAY	MAY 7 2013	7:30PM
THURSDAY	MAY 9 2013	7:30PM
SATURDAY	MAY 11 2013	7:30PM

All performances at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre

CAST & CREATIVE TEAM

Conducted by	JONATHAN DARLINGTON JONATHAN DARLINGTON CONDUCTOR Lapsworth, England Last VO Appearance: The Pirates of Penzance, 2012 Recent Appearances: Orlando (Handel) and La clemenza di Tito with Staatsoper Dresden The Rake's Progress with Opéra National de Paris Upcoming Engagements: Der Zwerg and Eine Florentinische Tragögdie (Zemlinsky) with Deutsche Oper am Rhein Madama Butterfly with Wiener Staatsoper Mr. Darlington, BA (Hons) Durham University is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music and a Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres. Mr. Darlington’s appearance is supported by a gift from Brigitte & Henning Freybe. More about Jonathan Darlington
Original Direction by	AMON MIYAMOTO AMON MIYAMOTO ORIGINAL DIRECTOR Tokyo, Japan VO Début Recent Appearances: Pacific Overture with Roundabout Theatre Company, Broadway, New York The Marriage of Figaro with Tokyo Nikikai Opera La traviata with Tokyo Nikikai Opera The Temple of the Golden Pavilion with Lincoln Center Festival, New York Upcoming Engagements: ISAMU NOGUGHI (World Premiere) with Kanagawa Arts Theatre, Tokyo The Magic Flute with Landestheater Linz, Austria Mr. Miyamoto is the Artistic Director of Kanagawa Arts Theatre in Tokyo, Japan.
Directed by	PAUL PEERS PAUL PEERS DIRECTOR New York City, NY VO Début Recent Appearances: Die Zauberflöte with Utah Opera I’ll Never See the Stars Again with ARTEK Ensemble, New York La Voix Humaine Pocket Opera New York Little Shop of Horrors with Adelaide College of Arts, Australia Upcoming Engagements: Resident Artist, Mata Hari Project (World Premiere) with HERE Arts Residency Program (HARP), New York. Mr. Peers’s appearance is supported by a gift from Arlene Gladstone & Hamish Cameron. More about Paul Peers
Seikyo	CHENYE YUAN CHENYE YUAN BARITONE Dalian, China Last VO Appearance Chou En-lai in Nixon in China, 2010 Recent Appearances: Chou Hu in The Savage Land at the Beijing Music Festival Amonasro in Aïda with New National Theatre, Tokyo Chou En-lai in Nixon in China with San Francisco Opera Upcoming Engagements: Nabucco at National Center for the Performing Arts, Beijing Germont in La traviata at Shanghai Summer Music Festival and the Beijing Music Festival Mr. Yuan’s appearance is supported by a gift from Mike & Kathy Gallagher. More about ChenYe Yuan
Lan	NANCY ALLEN LUNDY NANCY ALLEN LUNDY SOPRANO Crosslake, MN VO Début Recent Appearances: Zina in A Dog’s Heart with Teatro alla Scala, Milan Adele in Die Fledermaus with Hawaii Opera Theatre Soloist, Let the Bright Seraphim (Handel) and Su le sponde del Tebro (Scarlatti) with Windham Festival Chamber Orchestra Upcoming Engagements: Water in Marco Polo with Bergen National Opera, Norway Gilda in Rigoletto with Phoenicia Festival of the Voice Ms. Lundy’s appearance is supported by a gift from a donor who wishes to remain anonymous More about Nancy Allen Lundy
Prince	ROGER HONEYWELL ROGER HONEYWELL TENOR Stratford, ON Last VO Appearance Frederic in The Pirates of Penzance, 2012 Recent Appearances: Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly with Pittsburgh Opera Cavaradossi in Tosca with Portland Opera and Forth Worth Opera Festival Aegisth in Elektra with Chicago Lyric Opera Antonio in The Tempest with Opéra de Québec Upcoming Engagements: Peter Grimes with the Des Moines Metro Opera Captain Vere in Billy Budd with Santiago Opera, Chile Mr. Honeywell’s appearance is supported by a gift from Drs. G. & M. Carlson. More about Roger Honeywell
Emperor	KIRK EICHELBERGER KIRK EICHELBERGER BASS Sacramento, CA Last VO Appearance Sparafucile in Rigoletto, 2009 Recent Appearances: Songs and Dances of Death (Mussorgsky) recital Ferrando in Il trovatore with Kansas City Lyric Opera Emperor in Tea: A Mirror of Soul with Opera Philadelphia Mephistopheles in Faust with Opera Birmingham Upcoming Engagements: Lieder Eines Fahrenden Gesellen (Mahler) recital The Nose with The Metropolitan Opera Mr. Eichelberger’s appearance is supported by a gift from donors who wish to remain anonymous. More about Kirk Eichelberger
Lu	NING LIANG NING LIANG MEZZO-SOPRANO Beijing, China VO Début Recent Appearances: Mescalina in Le grand macabre with Gran Teatre del Liceu Juno in Semele with Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie, Brussels Suzuki in Madame Butterfly with Washington National Opera Shaman in The First Emperor with The Metropolitan Opera Upcoming Engagements: Madame Butterfly in Nice, France 3rd Symphony (Mahler) in Macao, China Ms. Liang’s appearance is supported by a gift from Bruce and Lis Welch.
On-Stage Percussionist	HARUKA FUJII HARUKA FUJII ON-STAGE PERCUSSIONIST Tokyo, Japan VO Début Recent Appearances: Percussionist, The Silk Road Ensemble with Yo-Yo Ma Flexible Music Quartet, New York City National tour with The Fujji Trio Uzu and Muzu from Karamazu percussion concerto with City Music Cleveland Chamber Orchestra Upcoming Engagements: Percussionist, Feng Yi Ting at Luminato Festival, Toronto Utari, percussion duet performance, Tokyo, Japan
On-Stage Percussionist	CHIHIRO SHIBAYAMA CHIHIRO SHIBAYAMA ON-STAGE PERCUSSIONIST Yokohama City, Japan VO Début Recent Appearances: Percussionist, Radio City Christmas Spectacular American Contemporary Music Ensemble (ACME) recording, Joseph Byrd: NYC 1960- 1963 Percussionist, Ensemble Moto Perpeturo (EMP), New York City Co-founder/Program coordinator, MuSE (Multicultural Sonic Evolution) Upcoming Engagements: Percussionist, GLANK Percussion demonstrator/ performer, Very Young Composers More about Chihiro Shibayama
On-Stage Percussionist	YURI YAMASHITA YURI YAMASHITA ON-STAGE PERCUSSIONIST Takarazuka, Japan VO Début Recent Appearances: Percussion, Duran Duran’s See What Unfolds Live Percussion Soloist, Tan Dun’s Water Percussion Concerto with Milwaukee Symphony Percussion, Tyondai Braxton’s HIVE at Guggenheim Museum Percussion, The Lion King on Broadway Upcoming Engagements: Percussion, Bang On A Can Marathon with Asphalt Orchestra Principal Timpanist, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 at The Hearts and Eyes Choir Concert at Carnegie Hall
Associate Conductor/Chorus Director	LESLIE DALA LESLIE DALA ASSOCIATE CONDUCTOR/CHORUS DIRECTOR Toronto, ON Last VO Appearance: Conductor, The Magic Flute, 2013 Recent Appearances: Verdi & Wagner Bicentennial Celebration with the Vancouver Bach Choir, UBC Opera ensemble and the Vancouver Symphony Albert Herring with Pacific Opera Victoria El Niño with Vancouver Bach Choir Suor Angelica with Centre for Opera Studies in Italy (COSI) Upcoming Engagements: Music for China, presented by Soundstreams Canada, with performances in Toronto, Taipei and Beijing Mr. Dala is the Music Director of the Vancouver Bach Choir and the Music Director of the Vancouver Academy of Music Symphony. More about Leslie Dala
Scenery Designer	RUMI MATSUI RUMI MATSUI SCENERY DESIGNER Tokyo, Japan VO Début Recent Appearances: Daphne with Tokyo Nikikai Opera La traviata with Tokyo Nikikai Opera Othello with Tokyo Nikikai Opera Pacific Overture with Roundabout Theatre Company, Broadway, New York Shun-Kin with Complicite and Setagaya Public Theatre, London
Costume Designer	MASATOMO OTA MASATOMO OTA SCENERY DESIGNER Tokyo, Japan VO Début Recent Appearances: Kabuki Sakura Hime with Bunkamura Theatre Cocoon, Tokyo Lady Sarashina with Opéra National de Lyon and Theatre National, France L’Illusion Comique with New National Theatre, Tokyo
Lighting Designer	DREW BILLIAU DREW BILLIAU LIGHTING DESIGNER Philadelphia, PA VO Début Recent Appearances: The Magic Flute with Opera Philadelphia Henry V with Lantern Theatre La bohème with Opera Philadelphia Red Eye to Havre de Grace Upcoming Engagements: Bootycandy with Wilma Theatre Beautiful Decay with Ballet X More about Drew Billiau
Assistant Director	RACHEL PEAKE RACHEL PEAKE Assistant Director Vancouver, BC Last VO Appearance: Assistant Director, La bohème, 2012 Recent Appearances: Director, Let’s Make an Opera!/The Little Sweep with Pacific Opera Victoria and The Belfry Theatre Director, Play With Monsters with Solo Collective Theatre Director, Le Portrait Gooble with Théâtre la Seizième Assistant Director, Wanderlust with the Stratford Shakespeare Festival Upcoming Engagements: Director, Kayak with Alley Theatre and the rEvolver Festival Director, Carmen and >em>Revolution with Gros Morne Summer Music, Newfoundland More about Rachel Peake
Lan (Understudy)	RACHEL FENLON RACHEL FENLON Lan (Understudy) Victoria, BC Last VO Appearance: Pamina in The Magic Flute, 2013 Recent Appearances: Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance with Vancouver Opera Soloist, Messiah (Handel) with Victoria Symphony Finalist, Canadian Opera Company’s Inaugural Ensemble Studio Competition Adina in L’Elisir d’Amore with Centre for Opera Studies in Italy (COSI) Upcoming Engagements: Nannetta in Falstaff with Pacific Opera Victoria Zerlina in Don Giovanni with Vancouver Opera Ms. Fenlon is a member of the Yulanda M. Faris Young Artists Program.
Seikyo (Understudy)	AARON DURAND AARON DURAND Seikyo (Understudy) 100 Mile House, BC Last VO Appearance: The Speaker in The Magic Flute, 2013 Recent Appearances: Samuel in The Pirates of Penzance with Vancouver Opera Soloist, Symphony No. 9 (Beethoven) with Vancouver Academy Orchestra Schaunard in La bohème with Vancouver Opera Upcoming Engagements: Javan in When the Sun Comes Out with Queer Arts Festival Sid in Albert Herring with Vancouver Opera Mr. Durand is a member of the Yulanda M. Faris Young Artists Program.
Prince (Understudy)	MARTIN SADD MARTIN SADD Prince (Understudy) Victoria, BC Last VO Appearance: seyem in The Magic Flute, 2013 Recent Appearances: Rodolfo in La bohème with Burnaby Lyric Opera Messenger in Äida with Calgary Opera Messiah (Handel) with Victoria Symphony Orchestra Rinuccio with Burnaby Lyric Opera Mr. Sadd is a member of the Yulanda M. Faris Young Artists Program.
Lu (Understudy)	SYLVIA SZADOVSZKI SYLVIA SZADOVSZKI Lu (Understudy) Vancouver, BC Last VO Appearance: Papgena in The Magic Flute, 2013 Recent Appearances: Kate in The Pirates of Penzance with Vancouver Opera Rosina in Der Barbier von Sevilla with Theater Hof, Germany Mercedes in Carmen with Pacific Opera Victoria Hansel in Hansel & Gretel with Vancouver Opera In Schools Upcoming Engagements: Nancy in Albert Herring with Vancouver Opera Ms. Szadovszki is a member of the Yulanda M. Faris Young Artists Program.
Principal Répétiteur/Assistant Chorus Director	KINZA TYRRELL KINZA TYRRELL Principal Répétiteur/Assistant Chorus Director Victoria, BC Last VO Appearance: Chorus Director/Associate Conductor in The Magic Flute, 2013 Recent Appearances: Piano Soloist, The Four Temperaments (Hindemith) with Edmonton Symphony and Calgary Philharmonic Conductor, Le nozze di Figaro with Vancouver Summer Opera Studio Piano Soloist, Les Noces with Vancouver Bach Choir L’amour de loin with Canadian Opera Company Upcoming Engagements: Diction Specialist, Opera Nuova Music Director, Tom Pinkerton – The Ballad of Butterfly’s Son with Touchstone Theatre’s ‘In-Tune’ conferencea Dr. Tyrrell is the Music Director of Vancouver Opera In Schools and Vancouver Summer Opera Studio, and Répétiteur at Opera Nuova, COSI Centre for Opera Studies in Italy, and Opera As Theatre at The Banff Centre.
Stage Manager	SHEILA MUNN SHEILA MUNN Stage Manager Vancouver, BC Last VO Appearance: The Pirates of Penzance, 2013 Recent Appearances: Dialogues des Carmélites, The Merry Widow and Albert Herring with UBC Opera Ensemble La bohème, Äida, The Barber of Seville, Roméo et Juliette, La traviata, La clemenza di Tito, Lucia di Lammermoor, Lillian Alling, Madama Butterfly, The Marriage of Figaro, Nixon in China, Norma, Salome, Rigoletto, Carmen, Eugene Onegin, La bohème, Fidelio, The Italian Girl in Algiers, Cavalleria rusticana/I pagliacci, Tosca, Ariadne auf Naxos, The Magic Flute and Macbeth with Vancouver Opera. Ms. Munn is pleased to be joined by Assistant Stage Managers Theresa Tsang and Beth Grieve and Apprentice Stage Manager Belle Cheung.

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