White Snakes Projects will present its third annual “Let’s Celebrate” on Dec. 14-15, 2024.<\/p>\n
The showcase features three 20-minute operas highlighting family and holiday traditions from various global cultures.<\/p>\n
“<\/strong>Thirty Angels,” a musical celebration of Navruz\u2014the Uzbek and Persian New Year\u2014was composed by Uzbekistan-born pianist Liliya Ugay, whose heritage includes Korean and Tatar roots. The opera narrates the story of a child in an Uzbek village learning the meaning of Sumalak, a traditional dish made with germinated wheat that symbolizes community, friendship, and good fortune. Navruz has been a source of hope and renewal in Uzbekistan for many generations.<\/p>\n Also on the program is “Dancing in Chalma,” which centers on one of Mexico\u2019s The Black Christ of Chalma. The opera features music by Mexican composer Felipe P\u00e9rez Santiago.<\/p>\n Finally, “Requiem Tomatina” shines a spotlight on Spain\u2019s La Tomatina festival, an annual tomato-throwing event near Valencia. Director, choreographer, and librettist John de los Santos and composer Tony Solitro bring the festival to life.<\/p>\n Maggie Finnegan, Carina DiGianfilippo, Alexis Peart, and Joel Clemens headline different roles across the three works. Laine Rettmer directs and Tianhui Ng is the music director.<\/p>\n The performance will also include post-show panel discussions exploring themes of intersectionality during the holiday season, inviting audiences to reflect on the cultural richness and shared humanity of global traditions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" White Snakes Projects will present its third annual “Let’s Celebrate” on Dec. 14-15, 2024. The showcase features three 20-minute operas highlighting family and holiday traditions from various global cultures. “Thirty Angels,” a musical celebration of Navruz\u2014the Uzbek and Persian New Year\u2014was composed by Uzbekistan-born pianist Liliya Ugay, whose heritage includes Korean and Tatar roots. The opera narrates the story of {…}<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":94378,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[5798],"class_list":["post-94377","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-indieopera","tag-white-snakes-projects"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n