Past Event

Sep 10—17, 2016

Ouroboros

NAGA | MADAME WHITE SNAKE | GILGAMESH

“An outstanding success.”

— Broadway World

The eternal cycle of life, death, and rebirth. A world premiere event on a Grand Opera scale.

An ouroboros, an ancient Greek icon depicting a serpent eating its own tail, has become symbolic of eternal renewal. Created by Boston’s Cerise Lim Jacobs, Ouroboros Trilogy is a cycle of three grand operas including the 2011 Pulitzer Prize-winning Madame White Snake, along with two World Premieres, Gilgamesh and Naga.

Together, this epic cycle explores themes of life, death and rebirth. Each opera is a fully realized production, separately created by three living composers, all featuring librettos by Cerise Lim Jacobs. Naga (composed by Boston’s Scott Wheeler) is the story of a young Monk who renounces everything to find nirvana, but is tempted to abandon the path when he encounters The White Snake. Madame White Snake (composed by Zhou Long) is the story of a demon who longs to become human to experience love. And Gilgamesh (composed by Paola Prestini) finds the half-demon son of Madame White Snake realizing his true power and being pushed into a position where he must choose between his family and happiness.

The operas will be shown separately, as well as in full day, seven-hour marathon events. Gala tickets to benefit Ouroboros Trilogy are also on sale for Opening Day September 10.

Info

Venue

Emerson Cutler Majestic Theatre
219 Tremont Street Boston, MA 02116

Dates

Sep 10, 2016 - Sep 17, 2016

Details

Naga Run Time: 1hr 35min

Gilgamesh Run Time: 1hr 40min

Madame White Snake Run Time: 1hr 50min

Tickets from ?

Ages 13+

Operas will be sung in English with projected titles on the side of the theatre.

Artists

Creator/Librettist:

Cerise Lim Jacobs

Director/Designer:

Michael Counts

Composers:

Scott Wheeler (Naga), Zhou Long (Madame White Snake), and Paola Prestini (Gilgamesh)

Conductors:

Carolyn Kuan (Naga), Lan Shui (Madame White Snake), Julian Wachner (Gilgamesh)

NAGA

Naga is the story of a young Monk who renounces everything to find nirvana. The White Snake encounters him as he is saying goodbye to his wife. The couple’s grief moves her and she longs to experience such powerful emotion. The Monk encounters a demon, who tempts him three times. The Monk resists the first two attacks, but his resistance weakens during the third. The White Snake stops him from turning back and leads him to a renowned healer, who takes him in as an apprentice. When the Master discovers the White Snake, he recognizes her magic – she is the answer to his prayers for the salvation of the world; anyone who eats of her will be healed. The Monk, however, believes that she should be free so the universe will have beauty and uniqueness. The Master orders him to hold the White Snake so he can sacrifice her. In the ensuing struggle, the Monk releases the snake and the Master is stabbed.

MADAME WHITE SNAKE

Madame White Snake, the 2011 Pulitzer prize winning opera, is the story of a white snake demon who longs to become human to experience love. She transforms into a woman, meets Xu Xian, a mortal man and marries him. But she is afraid to disclose her true identity. She encounters the Abbot of the Golden Mountain Monastery who recognizes her for who she is. The Abbot sows the seeds of doubt in Xu Xian’s mind and gives him a “truth potion” which re-transforms Madame White into a snake. The Abbot spirits Xu Xian away and the White Snake raises the waters to drown the Abbot to get him back. A great flood engulfs the world as she is defeated by the Abbot after giving birth to a son.

GILGAMESH

Ming, the half-demon son of Madame White Snake, is a character closely related to the Sumerian demi-god “Gilgamesh.” Ming was abandoned during his mother’s epic battle with the Abbot. He encounters his mother for the first time in her human form while she is imprisoned by the Abbot in the Golden Mountain Monastery. She reveals his birthright – the power to control the waters and begs him to use this power to save her. Ming returns home to find that his wife has just given birth to a white, iridescent baby girl who resembles her grandmother. He gives the baby to the green snake, who had saved him when his mother was defeated. He returns to the Monastery. A robe and empty alms bowl are all that are left. Ming dons the robe, takes the alms bowl and leaves.

Gallery

Buzz

“Enchanted ‘Ouroboros’ trilogy explore eternal mysteries . . . ”

“Theatricality abounded . . .”

— The Boston Globe

The Ouroboros Trilogy is “binge worthy”

“The music should be heard, the production should be seen, and there is wisdom in the text.”

— The Boston Musical Intelligencer

“Ourorboros truly shouldn’t be missed.”

— South Shore Critic

“Boston opera hasn’t seen an event like this in a long while — if ever.”

“outstanding moments of innovation and artistry”

— WBUR

“The technological ingenuity and sophistication – not to mention sheer imagination – of Counts’ design cannot be overstated.”

— La Scena Musicale

“Stunning”

— @CLINTONDC, Twitter

“Wow! A magical combination of multimedia, lyrical music-making and stunning sets”