Success has been sweet for the ‘s popular bass Hao Jiang Tian, whose career began in Denver 30 years ago.
So sweet that an elaborately decorated cake from the legendary was the grand finale to a celebratory dinner that and Celia Chou hosted for Tian at New York’s famed
The dinner followed a recital where Tian, accompanied by pianist Fugen Wei, his longtime collaborator, performed pieces that hold special meaning.
“There was a story behind every song he sang, be it an operatic aria … or music from his Maoist childhood in China,” recalls Denise Gliwa, one of several Denver-area residents traveling to New York for the celebration.
Gliwa is a member of Asian Performing Arts of Colorado, which was started by Tian’s wife, Martha Liao. Proceeds from the New York event went to APAC and , a program established in 2011 to support the careers of young vocalists from the U.S. and China. Tian is I SING BEIJING’s artistic director.
It was on Dec. 17, 1983, when Tian stepped off a plane at Kennedy Airport in New York City with $35 in his pocket and an English vocabulary that consisted of just four words.
He made his way to Colorado, where he enrolled at the and appeared in several Opera Colorado productions. He eventually moved to New York, where he has enjoyed 19 seasons with the Metropolitan Opera and on the stages of major opera houses in Europe and Asia.
“Tian’s life story is as remarkable as his work,” Gliwa adds. His autobiography, ” ,” was made into a nationally broadcast special, ” “
Before the cake — topped by a replica of him in costume with his dog, Joya, and parrot, Luke, casting an admiring gaze — the 300 guests dined on such Russian Tea Room specialties as , cold , savory tarts filled with roasted red beets and goat cheese, shooters, and shortribs stroganoff.
In addition to the hosts, VIP guests included of Yugoslavia; and Agnes Tang, who divide their time between New York and the Vail Valley; Juilliard president Joseph Polisi; baritone , a 2012 I SING BEIJING participant and student at the ; Laura Walker, president of ; , founder of Hainan Airlines; Lulu Wang, for whom the is named; Josette Sheeran, ; artist ; composer and , whose husband, Karl, was .
Tian’s mother, Lu Yuan, who divides her time between Littleton and Beijing, was accompanied by her daughter, Tian’s sister Lam Tin and Tin’s daughter, Jane, both of Littleton. Asian Performing Arts board members Gayle Ray and Paul Ramsey also were there, as was Nancy Cochran, director of the Lamont School of Music; Littleton Realtor Sandy Bolton; artist Jan Steinhauser, and Dr. Paul Docktor.
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314, jdavidson@ denverpost.com or twitter.com/joannedavidson
