Ghost Opera & A Chinese Home

Kronos Quartet and Wu Man

Australian Premiere

The Kronos Quartet continue their fearless quest to expand the range and context of their instruments and music with these two exciting experimental works. They are joined in Sydney by the extraordinary Wu Man, a virtuoso on the pipa, an ancient Chinese lute-like instrument, who seamlessly combines traditional playing with synthesised sounds.

The evening begins with the epic Ghost Opera, a reflection on human spirituality through water, metal, stone, and paper. Bach and Shakespeare meet Chinese shadow puppetry and ancient folk traditions, while Wu Man and Kronos Quartet embrace nature, the future and the past. Ghost Opera was written by composer Tan Dun, whose prolific career includes an Academy Award for his soundtrack to the film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

Conceived by Wu Man, David Harrington and Chen Shi-Zheng, A Chinese Home is a staged work with video, for string quartet and pipa. Inspired by the deconstruction and rebuilding in the US of a late Qing dynasty dwelling, this is a fascinating journey through Chinese music and culture, exploring the cultural upheaval, rural sensibilities and modern attitudes of China.

Find out more about the works, music and artists - download program notes here. 

Director and visual designer: Chen Shi-Zheng

Lighting and scenic designer: Laurence Neff
Sound designer: Scott Fraser
Video photography: Camilla French
Video editing: flora&faunavisions
Costume designer: Laurence Xu
Assistant director: Lisa Iacucci
Associate sound designer: Calvin Ll. Jones

Presented by arrangement with Arts Projects Australia

Kronos Quartet also appears in Dracula

Wu Man also appears at The Great Hall, The University of Sydney

Photo: Jay Blakesberg