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Huang Ruo Named Seattle Opera's Inaugural Composer-in-Residence

Oct. 01, 2026

Seattle Opera's General and Artistic Director James Robinson announced yesterday that Huang Ruo has been named the company's Composer-in-Residence, the first person to hold that title in the company's history. His term will last for three years starting in October 2027 with the opening of Seattle Opera's 2027-28 season. 

October 2027 also marks the Seattle premiere of Huang Ruo's opera M. Butterfly which follows a true story of a 20-year relationship between a French diplomat and a Chinese opera singer, based on the titular Tony Award-winning play by David Henry Hwang.


“Are you my Butterfly?” from opera M. BUTTERFLY〚蝴蝶君〛by Huang Ruo & David Henry Hwang | Santa Fe Opera, 2022

During his time with Seattle Opera, Huang Ruo will bridge the gap between audiences and the creators who put opera on stage by curating performances of new music and participating in the company’s community engagement efforts. He will also work with local opera composers as a guest mentor for Seattle Opera’s new-works incubator program, the Jane Lang Davis Creation Lab.

The residency will culminate in the world premiere of The Wedding Banquet, a new rom-com opera inspired by the beloved 1993 film directed by Ang Lee and the re-imagined version by director Andrew Ahn that debuted to widespread acclaim in 2025. James Schamus, who co-wrote both films, will write the libretto. The Wedding Banquet will be featured at the VOX: American Voices Opera Lab in New York on April 1, 2027.

“Huang Ruo is one of the foremost composers of opera in the United States, and I couldn’t be prouder to announce his residency with Seattle Opera,” said Robinson, who has directed several of Huang Ruo’s operas, beginning with the North American premiere of Dr. Sun Yat-sen at Santa Fe Opera in 2014. “Beyond his accomplished record as a composer, Huang Ruo is also a compelling advocate for opera who believes deeply in the art form’s power to bring people together. He’s one of the most engaging and enthusiastic people I know, and I think Seattle Opera audiences will be fascinated by his perspectives.”

“I’m deeply humbled and honored by this invitation to serve as Composer-in-Residence for Seattle Opera,” said Huang Ruo, who conducted his chamber opera Bound at Seattle Opera in 2023. “It is rare for opera companies to engage Composers-in-Residence, so I think this partnership demonstrates both Seattle Opera’s bold vision for the future of the art form and an exciting model for how opera companies can work with living creators to create, present, and engage the community around new opera. I am excited for this new adventure and I feel a sincere responsibility as an artist and educator to help people better understand both ourselves and our world through opera.”

Read Seattle Opera's full announcement here.

To learn more about Huang Ruo, visit schott-music.com. 

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