Naga

Naga
Boston

Credits

Scott Wheeler
Composer

Cerise Lim Jacobs
Creator and Librettist

co-commissioned by Boston Lyric Opera

About

Naga is the story of a young Monk who renounces everything to find nirvana.

The White Snake encounters him as he is saying goodbye to his wife. The couple’s grief moves her and she longs to experience such powerful emotion. The Monk encounters a demon, who tempts him three times. The Monk resists the first two attacks, but his resistance weakens during the third as he sees a vision of his wife dying after giving birth to their child. The White Snake stops him from turning back and leads him to a renowned healer, who takes him in as an apprentice. When the Master discovers the White Snake, he recognizes her magic - she is the answer to his prayers for the salvation of the world; anyone who eats of her will be healed. The Monk, however, believes that she should be free for the universe to have beauty and uniqueness. The Master orders him to hold down the White Snake so he can sacrifice her. In the ensuing struggle, the Monk releases the snake and the Master is stabbed.

Cast

Anthony Roth Costanzo Xiao Qing

Matthew Worth Monk

Stacey Tappan Madame White Snake

David Salsbery Fry Master

Sandra Piques Eddy Wife

Creative Team

Scott Wheeler Composer

Cerise Lim Jacobs Creator and Librettist

Michael Counts Director and Production Designer

Carolyn Kuan Conductor

Lidiya Yankovskaya Assistant Conductor

Cori Ellison Dramaturg

Yi Zhao Lighting Designer

Zane Pihlstrom Costume Designer

S. Katy Tucker Projection Designer

Beth Morrison Producer Creative Producer

The Inspiration

We see clearly only after the fact. We love dearly only after the loss. The wind blows dust in our eyes. We are blinded as tears hide the truth.

How did Naga come about? Charles was the culprit yet again! Charles kept asking how the White Snake came to be. He was not satisfied with my answer that I didn't know, that she just is/was and had always been so. Unfortunately, the Legend of the White Snake gives no clue as to her origins.

News

White Snake Projects at Five Years

A Loving Retrospective on Charles, the Visionary Who Made This Happen It’s coming up soon — White Snake Projects will be five years old in September. Neither Charles (husband, artistic partner, visionary, daredevil, risk taker, raconteur, impresario — you get the picture . . .) nor I ever… Read More