A Page from the Past, Informing the Present

by Shinji Eshima

As more and more of the world is impacted by the coronavirus and the need to self-isolate, San Francisco Opera reached out to its staff for updates about what they’re doing in this time of quarantine. Composer and San Francisco Opera Orchestra double-bassist Shinji Eshima sent in this update, about how a spring cleaning led him to a curious artifact: a program-book page that connects his past and present.

Composer and San Francisco Opera Orchestra double-bassist Shinji Eshima

During this “stay-at-home” COVID-19 order, I have been using the time to compose and go through old files.

I’ve been working on a new composition based on the story “Snow White.” My “Swimmer” ballet, which premiered with the San Francisco Ballet in 2015, is scheduled to be performed at a couple venues around the world next year. The CD recording should be released soon.

As I was cleaning out files, I came across this photo (below) of an old program from 2005. A trio I composed for a San Francisco Opera Orchestra colleague, cellist Emil Miland, was on the concert.

Photo from 2005 San Francisco Opera cellist Emil Miland

Also performing in this concert was the late, great mezzo-soprano Zheng Cao. The irony here is that I have been commissioned by a private group to compose an opera about her life. It is entitled Zheng. I had forgotten we once shared a concert.

I am working on this opera now.

Shinji Eshima has served as double-bassist on the San Francisco Opera Orchestra since 1980 and as associate principal bass for the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra since 1982. A Berkeley-born composer, Eshima has written over 30 works, including the ballet “Swimmer,” choreographed by Yuri Possokhov.