The Arcane
An interdisciplinary collaboration that reimagines chamber opera through contemporary practices.
The Arcane is a workshop performance that explores the life and legacy of Xuanji Yu (c. 840–c. 868), a brilliant and rebellious poet of the late Tang Dynasty whose voice has long been silenced by history. Through operatic excerpts, historical poetry, and original composition, this work illuminates Xuanji’s relentless pursuit of independence, love, and inner peace in the face of oppression and injustice. The performance delves into her final days—marked by wrongful accusation and imprisonment—while also reflecting on her artistic achievements and emotional depth. As a preview to the full opera premiering next spring, this workshop celebrates the enduring relevance of Xuanji’s story and highlights the voices of emerging artists seeking to connect historical narratives with modern questions of identity, self-actualization, and resilience. We invite New York audiences to witness this unique retelling and support the next generation of music makers bridging past and present through art.
Musicians
Conductor: Laura Gentile (Mannes School of Music)
Flute: Eunsong (Mannes School of Music)
Clarinet: Taig Egan (The Juilliard School)
Oboe: Megan Strait (Manhattan School of Music)
Horn: Shichen Li (Mannes School of Music)
Trumpet: Xingyang Li (Mannes School of Music)
Trombone: Muze Zhang (Mannes School of Music)
Tuba: Matthew Styrna (Mannes School of Music)
Electric Guitar: Lingyuan Yang (Mannes School of Music)
Harp: Alisa Sadikova (The Juilliard School)
Piano: Jiwan Yoon (Mannes School of Music)
Soprano: Julia Johnstone (Manhattan School of Music)
Violin I: Makenzie Hart (The Juilliard School)
Violin II: Wanru Lou (Mannes School of Music)
Viola: Yangyang Liang (The Juilliard School)
Cello: Ashtyn Brown (Mannes School of Music)
Bass: Julian de Laszlo (Mannes School of Music)
Team Members
Composer: Xinxin Tian (Mannes School of Music)
Playwright: Clarity Bian (Columbia University)
Director: Yibin Wang (Columbia University)
Costume Designer: Libby Liu (Parsons School of Design)
Artistic Manager: Zichen Yu (Columbia University)
