ZHENG
World Premiere Opera by Shinji Eshima and Tony Asaro
About
Synopsis
Zheng tells the story of San Francisco mezzo-soprano and Adler Fellow, Zheng Cao, whose tragic death at the age of 46 after a four-year battle with lung cancer impacted much of the opera world. In this story, Zheng’s opera roles come to life: Cherubino and Suzuki interact with Zheng, guiding her, goading her, and caring for her. In facing her illness, Zheng conjures these allies, and in doing so, finds parts of herself. Her unyielding spirit leads her to find love and purpose even as she faces death.
Photography of Zheng Cao by John F. Martin
SCORE AND PRODUCTION INFORMATION
Duration: Approximately 100 minutes
Instrumentation:
1 flute, 1 oboe, 1 clarinet, 1 bassoon, 1 horn, 1 trumpet, 1 trombone, 1 piano, 1 harp, 1 timpani + 3 percussionists (crotales, marimba, glockenspiel, vibraphone, side drums, chimes), Strings: at least 2 violin, 1 viola,1 cello, 1 bass, 1 electric bass guitar
Cast:
Zheng: mezzo-soprano
Elaine, Zheng’s best friend: soprano
Dan, Zheng’s sister: soprano
Mitchell, famous composer and Zheng's friend: tenor
David (Dr. Larson), Zheng’s doctor and love interest: bass
Lula de Santos, famous opera singer and Zheng’s mentor: mezzo-soprano
Cherubino, character from Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro: mezzo-soprano
Suzuki, character from Puccini’s Madama Butterfly: mezzo-soprano
Development:
First workshop with reduced orchestra: January 19-20, 2019, Snapshot Festival, West Edge Opera, Berkeley, and San Francisco, CA.
Libretto reading: April 28, 2019, San Francisco.
Premiere: TBD – seeking co-production partners
The life and career of Zheng Cao, whose artistry touched all who knew her, are exactly the kind of inspirational subjects that opera thrives on. Her warmth, humanity, musical virtuosity, and courage in the face of looming tragedy will make an operatic telling of her story compelling and emotionally gripping. I look forward with great anticipation to seeing her amazing operatic journey brought to life on the stage by the lyrical and stirring music of Shinji Eshima.
Kip Cranna, Dramaturg
San Francisco Opera
ABC News video: Zheng Cao's opera career and life were put on hold after learning she had cancer.