The Making of Mila: A Preview and Discussion of a New Chamber Opera

Join a special preview and conversation with the cast and creative team of the new chamber opera Mila, making its North American premiere after its sold-out run in Hong Kong. Named after the story’s protagonist, a domestic helper from the Philippines, Mila explores household tensions and educational pressures endemic in Hong Kong, with a spotlight on the global phenomenon of immigrant labor. The hour-long opera has been created by composer Eli Marshall, playwright and librettist Candace Chong, director Chu Hei Chan and conductor Neal Goren leading the Hong Kong New Music Ensemble with a cast of performers from Hong Kong, Manila and the United States. The discussion will also include renowned Filipina street and documentary photographer Xyza Cruz Bacani.The four-member cast includes Manila-based soprano Stefanie Quintin in the title role, Hong Kong-born soprano Amanda Li as Ma’am, New York-based bass-baritone Joseph Beutel as Sir and Hong Kong-born soprano Joanna Shao as both The Boy and The Girl.