Taste of Asian Opera: A Review of The Big SwimLearning About Asia Society Texas and Its Celebration of Lunar New Year

By Ryan Tejero, Editor-in-Chief of One Philippines

The Big Swim was a great experience! It was the story about the Jade Emperor and the Great Race. Prior to the rehearsal show, guests were waiting in the lobby area for the theater doors to open. When it was time for the show to start, two members of the casts dressed in - tiger and the dragon showed up and rendered a welcome song – very calming, inviting and dramatic. One would feel a royalty-type entrance. The well-blended voices singing in the background speak highly of Chinese elegance and tasteful music.

As I went down to the stairs to find a perfect seat in the middle of the theater, a beautiful stage set-up struck into my vision with changing lights and soft live music on piano and violin. I was bewitched while absorbing the ambiance and the stillness in the theater. 

The show started, with the bright lights focused on the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac calendar came out and introducing themselves. There was a moment of the cast interacting with the audience, asking them what their zodiac signs are. The audience actively interacted. Funny when it started but the show slowly unveiled the journey of each animal, defining their struggles and conflicts throughout the show, but also showed their fondness for one another. The transition from one episode to the next, switching from one character to another together with changing the scenes by showing the artistic backdrop of the stage were perfectly done.  The colorful costumes, the musical renditions of the dialogues were all clear and easily understood. Each member of the cast delivered a unique vocal ability that fits each of the characters. This Opera was produced, choreographed and presented at its finest. This art truly depicts what Asian is all about!

According to the description of the Opera by the Asia Society Texas Center, The Big Swim fuses diverse influences into a single, compelling story, intentionally crossing boundaries between traditional and modern, Eastern and Western, and classical and non-classical. 

One of the cast members (Tiger) was interviewed about his thoughts on the message of the Big Swim and the preparations that he and the cast had. He said that “the goal of the production is to increase awareness on Asian culture especially to Houstonians. We had plenty of time to prepare for the production. We were lucky to have been joined by two veteran cast members from last year and we got a lot of support from them.”

The Big Swim is commissioned by Houston Grand Opera in partnership with Asia Society Texas. Production has become part of the many activities presented by Asia Society Texas for this year’s Lunar New Year celebrating the Year of the Snake.

Asia Society Texas believes in the strength and beauty of diverse perspectives and people. As an educational institution, it advances cultural exchange by celebrating the vibrant diversity of Asia, inspiring empathy, and fostering a better understanding of our interconnected world. Spanning the fields of arts, business, culture, education, and policy, its programming is rooted in the educational and cultural development of our community — trusting in the power of art, dialogue, and ideas to combat bias and build a more inclusive society. Visit Asia Society Texas at asiasociety.org.