Chamber opera Nara explores power and ambiguity through the complex story of the Dowager Empress Cixi, who was hailed as both a moderniser and tyrant. Created by renowned Norwegian Finnish composer Tze Yeung Ho, the opera dives deep into a fascinating moment of Chinese history when centuries of Imperial rule were coming to an end. Drawing inspiration from his own Hong Konger heritage, Tze Yeung Ho creates an operatic world that blends both Chinese and Western classical elements, featuring musicians from Hong Kong alongside a cast of Nordic singers, including acclaimed mezzo Hege Høisæter and the multifaceted drag performer and composer Josh Spear.

Empress Dowager Cixi’s life is steeped in contradictions. Despite often being depicted as a cruel tyrant, she also nudged China towards reform. The opera tells the story of a moment at the very end of Cixi’s life and the 19th Century, when she attempted to ban the centuries-old practice of foot binding – a brutal, crippling custom that altered the shape of women’s feet to symbolise elevated status and beauty. Today, historians are divided on both Cixi’s reputation and her motivations for this reform. Tze Yeung Ho’s opera explores this space of contradiction in the legends about the Qing dynasty’s last influential ruler.

In addition to composer Tze Yeung Ho, the creative team behind Nara comprises librettist Linda Gabrielsen, writer Linda Gabrielsen, stage director Ellen Seligman, choreographer Emmi Pennanen, scenographer Magnus Pind, and costume designer Sofia Pantouvaki.

Conductor Gunvald Ottersen and accordionist Maren Sofie Nyland Johansen are joined by musicians from the Hong Kong New Music Ensemble and traditional theatre music performers The Gong Strikes One. The opera roles are played by mezzo Hege Høisæter (as Empress Cixi), narrator Mimesis Heidi Dahlsveen, Joshua Spear (as Katharine Carl), countertenor Sean Bell (as An Dehai), soprano Sandrine Schau (as Bao), baritone Magnus Dorholt Kjeldal (the father) and the Vicentino Singers playing the chorus and other spoken voices: Linnéa Sundfær Casserly, Iris Oja, David Hackston, and Henry Tiisma.

Listen to the composer Tze Yeung Ho elaborating on the creation of the piece, the cultural perspectives and music traditions in China and Norway.

World premiere:
Borelis 2025 in Bergen, Norway.
This work is available for touring. Contact Borealis for presentation opportunities.

Part of New Perspectives for Action – a project by Re-Imagine Europe, co-funded by the European Union. Supported by Arts and Culture Norway, Nordic Culture Point, Nordic Culture Fund, The Audio and Visual Fund, The Writers Guild & The Finnish-Norwegian Cultural Institute, and Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC).