In a reinvention of an ancient Chinese myth, The Silver River tells of the mortals and the gods who originally lived in eternal sunlight because the Silver River – the Milky Way – touched the earth. The fairest of Goddess-Weavers, a daughter of the Jade Emperor, would spin stars for the Silver River and create the music of the heavens. Once a year, she would descend to Earth to bathe in the Silver River. On one of her annual sojourns, the Goddess-Weaver falls in love with a mortal Cowherd, and he with her. She stops weaving her stars, and the universe falls into complete darkness. The Jade Emperor casts a spell, causing the Silver River to change its course to become a barrier between the two lovers, creating Night and Day. He now allows the two lovers to be reunited only once a year. The Silver River is a juxtaposition of Chinese opera traditions with Western sensibilities through its score and libretto.
Concept: Bright Sheng, David Henry Hwang, Ong Keng Sen
Director: Ong Keng Sen
Composer: Bright Sheng
Librettist: David Henry Hwang
Choreographer: Muna Tseng
Set Design: Christine Jones
Light Design: Scott Zielinski
Costume Design: Anita Yavich
Sound Design: Nick Kourtides
Hair Design: Jong
Makeup Design: Joseph Ng
Conductor: Kenneth Kiesler
Performers:
Brace Negron
David Fedele
Jamie Guan
Karen Kandel
Li Hui
Marie Baker-Lee
Muna Tseng
Rachel Margolis
Musicians:
John Kelly Andersen
Joseph Gramley
Li Hui
Maria Sampen
Matthew Herren
Michele Gingras
Producer: Tay Tong
Technical Management: Dorothy Png, Lennie Lee, Roslan
Production Management: Cindy Knight, Lori Aghazarian, Melanie Tan, Nick Schwartz-Hall, Valerie Oliveiro
Stage Management: Cindy Knight, Colin Tan, Lori Aghazarian, Melissa Pang
Repetiteur: Shane Thio
Sound Engineer: Gregory Tay
Master Electrician: Tom Peal
Set Construction: Paul Maiello, Paul Williams
Crew:
Liew Boon Tat
Lin Shi Yun
Low Pei Choon
Natalie Lim
Rydwan b Anwar
Tey Inn Ping
Zhan Chun Jing
Promotion & Publicity: Joshua Kreig
Collaterals: Yuen Chee Wai, Eugene Tan
(Source: T:>Works Archive)