Classical Voice North America on Monkey King

Chinese Epic Character Brings Its Charm, Antics, Attitude to Opera Stage

By Michael Anthony

reprinted with permission from CVNA

Speaking during a panel discussion here last weekend, the

Chinese-American composer Huang Ruo recalled watching his children celebrate

Halloween during the coronavirus pandemic, with his son dressed as Spider-Man…

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2026.CVNA on The Monkey KingDownload

Backstage With Matthew

Backstage With Matthew
On reflecting over the extraordinary year of 2025, SF Opera's General Director Matthew Shilvock celebrates what was collectively accomplished in 2025. He says: "It's very meaningful for me when an opera house sits in the middle of a city (as ours does) because it reaffirms a fundamental truth: opera houses are meeting places...
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SF Chronicle on Monkey King

SF Chronicle on Monkey King
S.F. Opera’s ‘The Monkey King’ delivers a brilliant fusion of East, West and wow...
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New York Times on Monkey King

New York Times on Monkey King
A Chinese Classic Comes to Spectacular Operatic Life. “Underestimate the Monkey King at your peril…He is, basically, a superhero...
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National Public Radio on Monkey King

National Public Radio on Monkey King
A 400-year-old kung fu-fighting monkey is finally having his American moment — and it’s been centuries in the making...
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Opera China on Monkey King

Opera China on Monkey King
The Chinese title of this review published by Opera China says it all: Riding the Clouds in Somersaults, Sun Wukong Builds a Spectacular Golden Cultural Bridge...
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Classical Voice North America on Monkey King

Classical Voice North America on Monkey King
Speaking during a panel discussion here last weekend, the Chinese-American composer Huang Ruo recalled watching his children celebrate Halloween during the coronavirus pandemic, with his son dressed as Spider-Man...
Read More

Wall Street Journal on Monkey King

Wall Street Journal on Monkey King
”SF Opera’s production, directed by Diane Paulus, with set design and puppetry direction and design by Basil Twist—who can turn a length of silk into a mountain, a horse, or a waterfall—...
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SF Opera Compilation of Press Notices

SF Opera Compilation of Press Notices
The world premiere of The Monkey King received worldwide attention and a huge number of reviews. SF Opera has compiled a list of them...
The world premiere of The Monkey King received worldwide attention and a huge number of reviews. SF Opera has compiled a list of them...
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