San Francisco Opera’s The Monkey King Redefines High Culture with Pop Art Flair

A radical fusion of sacred and profane, this opera rewrites the rules. How a tech titan’s donation fueled a sold-out sensation.

, and Administrator

2025 December 2 . 10:02 PM

1 min read

This picture is clicked inside a musical concert. Here, we see three women standing and holding... — This picture is clicked inside a musical concert. Here, we see three women standing and holding violin in their hands and playing it. Here is three stands on which book is placed on it and on the right bottom of this picture, we see women sitting and listening to that music. Behind them, we see white wall on which watch is placed on it. In the left corner of this picture, we see white curtain.

San Francisco Opera’s The Monkey King Redefines High Culture with Pop Art Flair

San Francisco Opera has wrapped up its groundbreaking production of The Monkey King after a sold-out run. The opera, blending pop art with high culture, drew widespread attention for its bold mix of styles. Behind the scenes, a major donation from Nvidia’s CEO and his wife helped bring the ambitious project to life.

The opera’s roots trace back to San Francisco’s long history of musical innovation. In 1967, the company made waves by combining jazz and opera in Gunther Schuller’s The Visitation. Later, composers like Henry Cowell and Lou Harrison—both influenced by Peking Opera—pushed further, merging Eastern and Western traditions. This legacy set the stage for The Monkey King, a production that piled together sacred and profane elements, radicalism and tradition, all aimed at broad appeal.

With The Monkey King now concluded, the opera’s legacy extends beyond the stage. The production’s sold-out shows and bold artistic choices reflect changing tastes in San Francisco. Meanwhile, the Huangs’ ongoing financial commitment could reshape the future of opera funding in the region.