THE DRAGON - INFORMATION PAGE
50 min. Children’s Opera
Sung by adults. Optional chorus/audience participation.
A disgruntled monk puts a sign up and fools a town into believing an event will occur. Tensions build as his lie spreads to neighboring villages. Eventually the day comes, and the wild predicted event happens! Or did it?
Text: Justine F. Chen, based on a story by Ryunosuke Akutagawa.
FORCES: Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Tenor, Bass, Piano [not completely orchestrated or premiered]
SPONSORSHIP: North Carolina Opera
THE DRAGON
libretto
THE DRAGON
PV Score
THE DRAGON Scene 1: His Name (02:32)
THE DRAGON Scene 2: His Prank (06:24)
Photo Credit: Steven Laxton.
JUSTINE F. CHEN
COMPOSER AND VIOLINIST
SAVE THE DATE:
THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE SONG join us at the composer's round table in Cincinnati, OH 5/12/25
Justine's cycle of Asian Americana: ALIGHT, poetry of Ophelia Hu Kinney, sung by inspiring force of nature, soprano Jennifer Lien.
BIG CONGRATULATIONS to the stunning soprano Jeanai La Vita and pianist Justina Lee on their beautiful recital, and performance of my song with the words of revolutionary suffragist Crystal Eastman at the Bronx River Arts Center!
Check out our rave review from Gramophone of SHALLOW BREATH AND STEALTH
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BEST WORLD PREMIERE! Our "Fantastical, evocative, and nuanced" opera THE LIFE AND DEATH(S) OF ALAN TURING was named BEST WORLD PREMIERE by Chicago Tribune!
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