Music: Anna Vienna Ho
Words: Roxanne Korda

Building on three acclaimed previous productions at Tête à Tête — Buddha and the Monkey King (2020), The Monk of the River (2021), and The Monster of Gao Village (2023) — we are proud to present the new opera "The Trial of the Four".

The Trial of the Four is a contemporary opera adapted from the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West. It follows Tang Sanzang (Xuanzang) and his three disciples as they encounter temptation midway through their westward pilgrimage. Each of the four travellers, with their distinct personalities and abilities, faces the test of their sincerity and commitment in different ways.

The work masterfully fuses Eastern and Western musical traditions, blending traditional Chinese instruments and musical styles with Western orchestral elements and compositional techniques. Featuring beautiful traditional Chinese costumes, rich vocal ensembles, and symbolic hand props, this is a visually and musically captivating production.

This is the fourth and final instalment in composer Anna Vienna Ho’s “Disciples” section of her ongoing Journey to the West opera cycle.

https://www.tete-a-tete.org.uk/event/the-trial-of-the-four/

Saturday 12 September - 7:30pm