(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- Hub City Opera and Dance presents the New Jersey premiere of "Murasaki's Moon." This captivating new opera brings to life the remarkable story of Lady Murasaki, the 11th-century Japanese writer who defied societal norms to create "The Tale of Genji," widely considered the world's first novel. The production will open on Sunday, May 19, 2024 at the Avenel Performing Arts Center. Showtime is 2:00pm.

Tickets for the New Jersey premiere of "Murasaki's Moon" are on sale now and can be purchased through the Hub City Opera and Dance website at www.hubcityopera.org. Special discounts are available for students and seniors. Hub City Opera and Dance and Dance is offering audience members a choice -- in-person tickets or streaming tickets as part of their commitment to providing accessibility to all theater-goers.  

A SPECIAL PROMO DISCOUNT WILL BE OFFERED FOR ALL TICKETS PURCHASED BEFORE MAY 13, 2024 WITH THE PROMO CODE HUBCITY24.  

AN AFTERNOON TO REMEMBER

Composed by Michi Wiancko with a libretto by Deborah Brevoort, "Murasaki's Moon" offers a unique blend of Western and Japanese musical traditions, enhanced by the graceful beauty of traditional Japanese dance performed by the Japanese Folk Dance Institute of NY. The opera explores Lady Murasaki's inner conflicts as a woman and a writer in the Japanese court, celebrating her enduring literary legacy and the power of artistic expression. The opera was commissioned by OnSite Opera, MetLiveArts and American Lyric Theater and premiered at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2019.

"Premiering Murasaki's Moon in NJ reinforces our mission to introduce our audiences to artistic experiences that are new or throw a fresh light on a known work," said Annamaria Stefanelli, Artistic Director of Hub City Opera and Dance. "The opera's story is inspiring, the mix of Japanese and traditional Western instrumentation is beautiful and innovative. The story is keenly presented by a mix of dialogue and singing, and the characters are both symbolic and real. A prelude to the opera featuring traditional Japanese dancing will immerse our audience in the world of Japan. We are proud to mount this production, which is an event for all ages, and look forward to an extraordinary afternoon."

Hub City Opera and Dance's production of "Murasaki's Moon" features a talented cast of emerging artists of Asian descent, accompanied by an orchestra that includes traditional Japanese instruments. The opera will be conducted by David Brown and directed by Annamaria Stefanelli.

Avenel Performing Arts Center is located at 150 Avenel Street in Avenel, New Jersey.

Hub City Opera and Dance Company, founded in 2017, provides the Central Jersey community with a fresh view of opera and dance, bringing together singers, dancers and visual artists to create something new. The pieces they choose for their productions introduce audiences to artistic experiences that are new or throw a fresh light on a known work. In accordance with their mission, members of community-based organizations participated as singers and dancers. Through their cooperation with Rutgers Mason Gross, students of the Opera and Dance Departments contributed their talents to their productions.