ON GOLD MOUNTAIN (LA OPERA)

composer/conductor: Nathan Wang; librettis: Lisa See; dir: Jennifer Chang; scenic: Tanya Orellana; lighiting: Scott Bollman; projections: Yee Eun Nam; photos: Taso Papadakis

The opera tells the story of Fong See, who emigrated from China to California in the 19th century. Arriving in the United States alone at age 14, Fong See faced discrimination and challenges, but with hard work, determination, and ambition, he eventually became a successful businessman. He married a white American woman, Lettice Pruett (Ticie)–despite laws against interracial marriage at the time–and had a family with her. Fong See’s journey takes the audience from China to Los Angeles’ Chinatown where he opened an antique shop still owned by the family today.