19:30-20:45, Saturday 12th September 2026
The Cockpit
Music: Anna Vienna Ho
Words: Roxanne Korda
Building on three acclaimed previous productions at Tête à Tête — Buddha and the Monkey King (2020), The Monk of the River (2021), and The Monster of Gao Village (2023) — we are proud to present the new opera “The Trial of the Four”.
The Trial of the Four is a contemporary opera adapted from the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West. It follows Tang Sanzang (Xuanzang) and his three disciples as they encounter temptation midway through their westward pilgrimage. Each of the four travellers, with their distinct personalities and abilities, faces the test of their sincerity and commitment in different ways.
The work masterfully fuses Eastern and Western musical traditions, blending traditional Chinese instruments and musical styles with Western orchestral elements and compositional techniques. Featuring beautiful traditional Chinese costumes, rich vocal ensembles, and symbolic hand props, this is a visually and musically captivating production.
This is the fourth and final instalment in composer Anna Vienna Ho’s “Disciples” section of her ongoing Journey to the West opera cycle.
Age range: All ages, but mostly adults.
In a festival of new work, please note that shows can often overrun.
Produced by Anna Vienna Ho
Venue: The Cockpit, Gateforth Street, London NW8 8EH.
Music: Anna Vienna Ho Words: Roxanne Korda Director: Michael CT Lam Music Director: Anna Vienna Ho Xuanzang 唐三藏 : Michael CT Lam
Monkey King 孫悟空: Mandy Liu
Zhu Bajie 豬八戒: Wendi Zhang
Sha Wujing 沙僧: HoWang Yuen
The Old Woman of Mount Li(Madam Jia) 黎山老母(賈夫人): Salome Siu
Bodhisattva Guanyin(Zhenzhen) 觀音菩薩(真真): Gloria Chan
Samantabhadra(Aiai) 普賢菩薩(愛愛): Zara Chung
Manjusri(Lianlian) 文殊菩薩(憐憐): Lieserl Huen
Moksa 木叉: Ian Lam
Music: Anna Vienna Ho
Words: Roxanne Korda
Director: Michael CT Lam
Music Director: Anna Vienna Ho
Xuanzang 唐三藏 : Michael CT Lam
Monkey King 孫悟空: Mandy Liu
Zhu Bajie 豬八戒: Wendi Zhang
Sha Wujing 沙僧: HoWang Yuen
The Old Woman of Mount Li(Madam Jia) 黎山老母(賈夫人): Salome Siu
Bodhisattva Guanyin(Zhenzhen) 觀音菩薩(真真): Gloria Chan
Samantabhadra(Aiai) 普賢菩薩(愛愛): Zara Chung
Manjusri(Lianlian) 文殊菩薩(憐憐): Lieserl Huen
Moksa 木叉: Ian Lam