When Hao Jiang Tian and his wife, Martha Liao, realized they’d need to spend the better part of two months in Colorado preparing for the world premiere of Guo Wenjing’s opera, “Poet Li Bai,” they fretted over what to do with their beloved dog, Niu Niu, and parrot, Luke.
Boarding them for that long seemed cruel; packing them into the cargo hold of an airplane was unthinkable.
Suddenly, the proverbial light bulb flashed: Road trip!
So the former Denverites – they made New York their home after Tian signed on with the Metropolitan Opera and his singing career became international in scope – loaded up their car and headed west.
“Four days and three nights,” Martha sighed, “but we made it, and everyone’s happy.” They’ve settled into a rental home in Central City, and Martha looks remarkably chipper considering her hectic schedule.
In addition to shuttling between Central City and Denver, where initial rehearsals were held at Newman Hall on the University of Denver campus, she has been preparing meals, including her specialty, Peking duck, for the Chinese members of the cast who are living nearby.
More “Li Bai”
It was Martha Liao’s sister, Diane, who came up with the idea of making the story of the poet Li Bai’s life into an opera. Diane, a linguist who has worked as a translator at the United Nations, wrote the libretto with playwright Xu Ying; seven years later, the finished product opens at the historic Central City Opera House as the piece de resistance of Asian Performing Arts of Colorado’s 20th anniversary. In addition to being the star of the show’s wife, Martha Liao is APAC’s founder and president.
What’s hot in July?
For starters, the wine-and-hors d’oeuvres party that Neiman Marcus is hosting on the 12th to kick off Savor the Grape, a Sept. 17 dinner and auction put on by the Jay Cutler Foundation at Morton’s in the DTC. Cutler, quarterback for the Denver Broncos, will be on hand to give everyone the skinny on the foundation and its support of the Cameron Ebel Teens Against Violence Foundation and Mile High United Way’s Youth Success Initiative.
Also on July 12, PBS President Paula Kerger is here to meet subscribers at a 7 p.m. get-together at the Rocky Mountain PBS studio, 1089 Bannock St. “We’ll participate in a discussion about public broadcasting and you can learn more about the future of the network you trust,” she says.
Other July happenings include Denver Lyric Opera Guild’s bus trip to Central City for a performance of “Cinderella.” It’s on the 17th and the $105 cost includes lunch at the Briarwood in Golden. Call 303-771-4225. On the 29th, Lisa and Robert Kessler are having a luncheon to benefit the Raymond Wentz Foundation in the garden of their Conifer home. Tickets are $300 and $500 and attendance is limited to 50. Call 303-715-7030.
