Project: A full-length opera in two acts, The White Snake, combining the techniques of the Peking and Western operatic traditions. Libretto by the composer derived from a number of different sources.  A draft of the music for Act I was completed at the Camargo Foundation (about one hour).  The White Snake is the first opera to be composed by a Westerner that incorporates the sound world of the Peking opera with traditional Western style including the techniques of post-1945 Western music.  The vocal styles and general instrumental sound will be similar to that of the so-called Eight Modern Operas of the Mao period which in turn were strongly influenced by Western music.  The orchestra will be a mixture of Western and Chinese instruments.