Opera Boston commissions "Madame White Snake," takes it to China

This is a big deal. Opera Boston has commissioned its first work, an exciting project that will take the troupe to China. "Madame White Snake" is a new opera based on an ancient Chinese legend, by composer Zhou Long and librettist Cerise Lim Jacobs of Brookline. It's Opera Boston's first commission - actually a co-commission with the Beijing Music Festival (BMF), which will become the first world premiere collaboration between the BMF and an American company. "Madame White Snake" make her world debut with three performances Feb. 26 and 28, and March 2, 2010 at the Cutler Majestic Theatre in Boston and two performances in Beijing in October 2010, before moving to several other Chinese cities. The proposed tour is the first by an American opera company in China since 1987. Opera Boston Music Director Gil Rose will conduct; Robert Woodruff will direct. Soprano Ying Huang will sing the title role, and male soprano Michael Maniaci will sing the role of Xiao Qing.