PROGRAM NOTES
A magical night at the Asian Art Museum!! Mercury Soul, SF Opera, and the Asian Art Museum came together for a celebration inspired by The Monkey King.
The evening unfolded with waves of opera arias, DJ sets, and lush classical music. DJ sets were interspersed with works by Huang Ruo—composer of The Monkey King—alongside music from Verdi, de Falla, prodigy Yangfan Xu and more. The Asian Art Museum’s gorgeous architecture became a living work of art through stunning immersive visual projections in this one-night-only journey through centuries of artistic heritage.
Guests were treated to arias by lead soprano from The Monkey King Mei Gui Zhang; SF Opera Adler Fellow Olivier Zerouali, and SF Opera Chorus’ Crystal Kim. Plus performances by The Mercury Soul Octet; pipa virtuoso Lu Liu, and percussionist Ben Paysen. All under the baton of Carolyn Kuan, conductor for The Monkey King. Throughout the night, immersive visuals from Mark Johns wash over the museum’s grand architecture, turning it into a living canvas of color and light.
We got some great photos. Check out the photo gallery!
Big thanks to our partners at San Francisco Opera and The Asian Art Museum!
What did I hear?
Huang Ruo
All Dharmas are Equal (2025) from The Monkey King
SF Opera’s upcoming The Monkey King follows Sun Wukong, a mischievous monkey born from a stone, as he wreaks havoc on the heavenly court in a quest for immortality. The specific details of the plot can vary by production, but all feature the character’s signature charm, martial arts prowess, and ultimate defeat by the Buddha. In the hands of composer Huang Ruo and playwright Henry David Huang, the operatic adaptation focuses on Sun Wukong’s origins and rebellious exploits.
Performed by soprano Mei Gui Zhang and The Mercury Soul Octet.
**November 14 – 30: SF Opera presents The Monkey King. Tickets are selling quickly for all performances. Best availability is on 11/25 & 11/28. More Info **
Manuel de Falla
Nana (1914) from Siete Canciones Populares
Manuel de Falla (1876–1946) was one of Spain’s greatest composers, capturing the fiery rhythms and deep soul of Andalusian music with classical precision. Living between Spain and Paris, Falla became a bridge between tradition and modernism, giving Spanish music a powerful, enduring voice.
“Nana” from Seven Spanish Popular Songs is a haunting Andalusian lullaby. In this arrangement for strings, the folk melody transforms into a tender miniature of restrained emotion and deep nostalgia.
Performed by The Mercury Soul Octet
**November 1st: SF Opera presents a program of Manuel de Falla songs and Ludwig van Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. More Info **
Ambush on Ten Sides
Ambush on Ten Sides is one of the most virtuosic works in the pipa repertoire, depicting a legendary battle from ancient China. Originating in the Qing Dynasty of unknown origin, the piece uses rapid tremolos, percussive strumming, and dazzling finger work.
Performed by pipa virtuoso Lu Liu
Giuseppe Verdi
Caro Nome (1851) from Rigoletto
Giuseppe Verdi was Italy’s great master of opera, blending unforgettable melody with deep psychological insight. Born near Parma to humble parents, he rose to embody the very soul of Italian music and national pride, becoming a symbol of the Italian unification movement.
“Caro Nome” from Rigoletto, recently featured at SF Opera, is a sparkling portrait of innocence and infatuation. Sung by Gilda as she dreams of the man she believes to be her true love, the aria floats with delicate ornamentation and radiant high notes that mirror her youthful heart.
Performed by soprano Crystal Kim and The Mercury Soul Octet
Erich Korngold
Mein Sehnen, Mein Wähnen (1920) from Die tote Stadt
Korngold was a prodigious Viennese composer who bridged the worlds of opera, symphony, and Hollywood film. Fleeing Europe during World War II, Korngold redefined film music in America—bringing symphonic grandeur to the silver screen and forever changing the sound of cinema.
“Mein Sehnen, mein Wähnen” is a lush, bittersweet reverie sung by a weary clown reflecting on lost love and fleeting happiness. The aria shimmers with Korngold’s trademark blend of Viennese lyricism and cinematic warmth, foreshadowing the golden age of Hollywood music he would later shape.
Performed by baritone Olivier Zerouali and the Mercury Soul Octet
Yangfan Xu
String Quartet No. 1 III (2018)
Fusing East and West with urgency and freshness, composer Yangfan Xu has won the Israel/Pellman Award and New Juilliard Ensemble Competition, while her work has been performed by ensembles such as the Friction Quartet and Hausmann Quartet. Xu attended SF Conservatory where she studied with Mason Bates.
Her String Quartet unfolds as a vivid dialogue between fragility and force, weaving delicate textures with bursts of rhythmic intensity, exploring themes of memory, transformation, and identity through shifting colors and lyrical tension.
Performed by The Mercury Soul Octet
Huang Ruo
A Dust in Time (2020)
Huang Ruo (b. 1976) blends elements of traditional Chinese culture with Western avant-garde techniques, creating sound worlds that are both ancient and modern. His new opera The Monkey King premieres at SF Opera in November.
A Dust in Time is a deeply meditative work for string quartet, conceived as a musical mandala of remembrance and renewal. Written during the global pandemic, its circular form is inspired by Buddhist ritual—reminding us that from impermanence can emerge profound peace.
Performed by The Mercury Soul Octet
Mason Bates
Mercury Interludes (2025)
Mercury Interludes preceded and followed each classical set.
PERFORMERS
Conductor: Carolyn Kuan
The Mercury Soul Octet:
Violin 1: Asuka Yanai, Katie Allen
Violin 2: Homer Hsu, Annamarie Arai-Lopez
Viola: Ruisi Doris Du, Tristan L’Heureux
Violoncello: Sophie Deng, Griffin Seuter
Vocalists: Mei Gui Zhang, Olivier Zerouali, and Crystal Kim
Pipa: Lu Liu
Percussion: Ben Paysen
Special thanks to:
