Book of Mountains and Seas

Composer Huang Ruo and puppeteer Basil Twist reinterpret Chinese creation myths for the 21st century.

A fantastical world of sunbirds, demons and hairy giants is evoked in Book of Mountains & Seas, a fascinating work of vocal theater for 12 singers, two percussionists and six puppet masters. Composer/librettist Huang Ruo took his inspiration from a classic compilation of Chinese mythology first transcribed in the fourth century B.C. Over the years, these stories have become part of Chinese written and oral history, shifted and reshaped to match contemporary times.

First performed in 2021, Huang Ruo’s compelling new adaptation of these tales comes to BroadStage as LA Opera’s 12th collaboration with the groundbreaking Beth Morrison Projects. Told through the lens of our modern-day relationship with the natural world, the ancient stories of creation and destruction conjure a sense of respect and awe for the environment and the water stories challenge us to be good stewards of the natural resources we have been given. Book of Mountains and Seas contains timeless codes about the universe, creation, planet, nature, life, human ambition and fate, the relationship and interaction between mankind and the world we live in.

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