The Huntington, LA Opera Connects, and members of the LA Opera Orchestra present an evening performance of the opera On Gold Mountain in the Chinese Garden. The opera features a colorful musical score by Nathan Wang, The Huntington’s 2022–23 Cheng Family Foundation Visiting Artist in the Chinese Garden, that blends Western and traditional Chinese music.
The opera is based on author Lisa See’s bestselling book that tells the story of her great-grandfather, Fong See, who emigrated from China to California in the 19th century. Arriving in the United States alone at age 14, Fong See faced discrimination and challenges, but with hard work, determination, and ambition, he eventually became a successful businessman. He married a white American woman, Lettice Pruett (Ticie)–despite laws against interracial marriage at the time–and had a family with her. Fong See’s journey takes the audience from China to Los Angeles’ Chinatown where he opened an antique shop still owned by the family today.
