A mischievous hero from Chinese legend is taking center stage in a brand-new opera. 

He’s been a comic-book star, an animated hero, and even the subject of poetry by Mao Zedong. 

Now, the Monkey King, born from a stone egg and famous for his rebellious spirit, is making his operatic debut.

“The Monkey King,” with music by composer Huang Ruo and a libretto by David Henry Hwang, has its world premiere at the San Francisco Opera. 

Based on the 16th-century epic Journey to the West, the opera explores Monkey’s birth, his wild adventures, and his downfall, punished for arrogance and pride before finally finding humility and redemption.

Bringing this fantastical world to the stage was no small feat. 

To capture Monkey’s energy, three performers share the role, a singer, a puppet, and a dancer. 

Tenor Kang Wang, who provides the voice, calls them “the Holy Trinity of Monkey King.”

Composer Huang Ruo describes the work as a “magical Kung Fu opera,” blending Western orchestral sounds with traditional Chinese instruments like the pipa, a four-stringed lute.

He hopes audiences from all backgrounds will connect to the story, whether through nostalgia or discovery.

And this might just be the beginning. 

Huang and Hwang say they dream of creating a full “Monkey King Cycle,” a series of operas tracing the hero’s spiritual journey, with the hope of someday bringing the show to China.

“The Monkey King” runs through the end of November at the San Francisco Opera.