Learning that Extends Beyond
Dream of the Red Chamber
This summer, San Francisco Opera has remounted the opera Dream of the Red Chamber, a contemporary production based on a beloved, legendary Chinese novel. Composer Bright Sheng and co-librettist David Henry Hwang have breathed new life into this classic piece of literature with an opulent production that explores star-crossed lovers and gives insight into the heritage of one of the world’s great civilizations. For audiences, there is beautiful music to be enjoyed and cultural understanding to be gained as well. This production comes on the heels of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, which celebrates the histories of Americans hailing from across the Asian continent and from the Pacific islands of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia.
The United States observes Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May. This celebration provides an opportunity to recognize the contributions, achievements, and influence of Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States. Amid the rise in anti-Asian hate crimes, these cultural opportunities allow for insight, recognition, and renewed alliances by those who would stand up against racism and cultural bigotry. Asian American history is filled with incredible stories of resilience, persistence, and determination. This virtual exhibition is an opportunity to learn, reflect and understand a part of Chinese American history everyone should be familiar with. This is a Tale of Two Artists; Yi-Kwei Sze and Ow-Wing Fook. Though very different in some ways, they each shared a love of opera and made historical and cultural contributions that should inspire everyone.
Yi-Kwei Sze was a product of Shanghai’s National Conservatory of Music, where he would excel in violin and voice. He would be among the first generation of Chinese-born artists to master Western classical opera. He would later immigrate to the U.S. in 1947 to join his family and pursue his music career. Though immensely talented, according to San Francisco Opera company founder and impresario Gaetano Merola, Sze confronted racism and colorism in America to become a celebrated music educator and bass-baritone – the first Asian American to perform with San Francisco Opera. Sze made his professional debut singing at Town Hall in New York City. He went on to have a successful career appearing on the concert stage and in operas around the world.
The biography of Ow-Wing Fook is a lesser told story of what it meant to be an artist, an activist, and a freedom fighter over one hundred years ago. Ow-Wing predates Sze by about 23 years. Some believe his artistry and activism contributed to the Chinese Revolution and paved the way for Sze and many other Asian classical musicians who would come after him. Ow-Wing was an original historical figure with roots in the San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento Delta. Ow-Wing never performed for San Francisco Opera, but his story matters. Yi-Kwei Sze and Ow-Wing Fook have stories that should be told and achievements that ought to be named. As we take this opportunity to educate ourselves, let us not wait for a particular month or a theatrical production to celebrate the rich contribution of Chinese artists. This is a celebration of Chinese American history, of our shared culture. These stories are a part of the fabric of the story of America.
Dr. Charles Chip Mc Neal, Ph.D.
June 14, 2022