So for this quiz, we will offer up a prompt and it will be your job to pick which singer it best applies to.

As always, enjoy!

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For centuries, the major opera houses of the world have regularly programmed operas from European composers with some offerings of North American and, in fewer cases, South American composers. But when was the last time, with the exception of Tan Dun’s “The Last Emperor,” you heard an opera from an Asian composer.

You probably haven’t. And it is a true shame because there are numerous offerings from some of Asian’s greatest composers. Here is just a small taste of what is out there.

Works of Toshiro Mayuzumi

The famed Japanese composer wrote two operas, including “The Golden Pavillion” which is based on the famous work by Yukio Mishima. The opera actually premiered in Berlin in 1976 and you can get a glimpse of it below.

He also composed “Kojiki” or “Days of the Gods,” which premiered in Linz in 1996.

Works of Isang Yun

The Korean-born composer spent a great deal of his later career in Germany, and all four of his operas have German titles. His first work was “Der Traum des Liu-Tung,” which premiered in 1965. That was followed by “Die Witwe des Schmetterlings” in 1967 and “Geisterliebe” in 1971. The final operatic work from the composer was “Sim Tjong,” which was written for the Olympics in Munich in 1972.

Works of Bright Sheng

The Chinese-American composer has written a number of works, but two particular operas stand out. Both “Madame Mao” and “The Silver River” premiered in Santa Fe, the former actually commissioned by Santa Fe Opera. “The Silver River,” which was composed in 1997, blends Western operatic traditions with Chinese ones to tell the story based on a 4,000-year-old Chinese folktale. The orchestration for this opera is particularly notable for the prominence of the Pipa.

Her other opera follows the story of Madame Mao, showcasing her character through two different periods in her life and with two distinct singers.

Works of Tan Dun

The Chinese composer has written five operas to date, his first, “Nine Songs” coming in 1989. Then came “Marco Polo” coming in 1995. That was followed by “Peony Pavilion” in 1998, and “Tea: A Mirror of Soul” in 2002. But the most notable of his works is “The First Emperor” which debuted in 2006 at the Metropolitan Opera with Plácido Domingo in the title role.

Some of his operas are unique because their orchestrations include materials such as paper, water, ceramic and stone.

The post Asian Heritage Month 2017: Operas From Some Famous Asian Composers appeared first on OperaWire.

Yonghoon Lee

There are few tenors at this moment who can truly dominate the spinto tenor repertoire like Yonghoon Lee does. The South Korean tenor has established himself as the go-to singer for “Il Trovatore” and has also turned “Don Carlo” into one of his signatures.

Sumi Jo

Arguably the biggest name on his list, the South Korean soprano is not only a Grammy-Award winner but also an Academy Award nominee in 2015. That honor came after years of performing at major opera houses all around the world. She first made waves when he performed “Rigoletto” in Trieste, drawing the attention of Herbert Van Karajan. She is also a noted animal rights activist.

Ying Fang

The Chinese soprano has had a strong career, making her mark as a Julliard graduate and then eventually making her way into becoming a regular at the Metropolitan Opera. With the company, she has appeared in such productions as “The Nose,” “Le Nozze di Figaro,” “Hansel and Gretel” and “Tannhäuser” among others.

Hei-Kyung Hong

Another Met regular since her debut in 1982 after winning the Met Opera National Council Auditions, the soprano has performed over 300 times with the company in such operas “Le Nozze di Figaro,” “Don Carlo” and “La Bohème” among others. In fact, she is one of the go-to’s for the role of Mimì, taking it on 66 times at the house in the last three decades. She also famously became the first Asian soprano to sing the lead role in “La Traviata” at the Met. She has also appeared at the Royal Opera House in London, Vienna State Opera, Bayerische Staatsoper, Arena di Verona and La Scala.

Guanqun Yu

The Chinese soprano has made a name for herself singing the role of Leonora in “Il Trovatore,” an opera she sang to great acclaim at the Metropolitan Opera. She has also performed around the world, making appearances at Parma, Los Angeles, Marseille, and Munich. She also famously worked with Plácido Domingo in Valencia, performing “I due Foscari” and “Simon Boccanegra.” She also performed the title role in “Lucrezia Borgia” in Valencia.

Hui He

The Chinese soprano has become synonymous with the title role in Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly” performing it around the world to great acclaim. She has sung the opera in 13 separate runs since 2012 in Munich, Palermo, Oslo, Berlin, Barcelona and Copenhagen among others. She is slated to sing it next season at the Metropolitan Opera, and this summer at the Teatro Real de Madrid and Arena di Verona. She has also been featured prominently around the world as “Aida,” among other Verdi roles.

Yunah Lee

The Korean-American soprano is another famous “Butterfly,” slated to sing the role at Washington this month. Since 2012, she has sung the role in nine different cities, including Boston, Quebec, Salt Lake City and Tampa among others.

Sae-Kyung Rim

The South Korean soprano has also made waves in Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly” singing it in eight runs since 2015. She is also slated for another two runs this summer with yet another in Leipzig in 2018. She has also performed the title role of “Aida” throughout the last few years.

Kathleen Kim

The coloratura soprano has had tremendous success around the world taking on a wide range of roles. She recently sang a successful Sophie in “Der Rosenkavalier” at the Met and has become a household name as Olympia in “Les Contes d’Hoffmann.” She is slated to take on Mahler’s 2nd Symphony this month and Orff’s “Carmina Burana.”

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