‘Monkey King’ world premiere at S.F. Opera a marriage of old and new

There’s a new hero in the world of opera, one with amazing superpowers, an unstoppable mission — and a tail.

“The Monkey King,” created by composer Huang Ruo and librettist David Henry Hwang, hearkens back to the 16th-century Chinese novel “Journey to the West.” It’s a classic story, but this new opera’s premiere Nov. 14 at San Francisco Opera promises to endow the original with an unparalleled fusion of ancient traditions, Eastern and Western-themed music, and jaw-dropping 21st-century stagecraft.

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The San Francisco Opera production, starring tenor Kang Wang in the title role, is a seamless blend of Chinese literature and new music, dance and projections, Buddhist sutras, fantastic costumes and puppets by the acclaimed puppet-master Basil Twist. Diane Paulus is the dire