Sci-Fi Transmedia Opera 'White Raven, Black Dove' Premieres in Boston, Sep 26-28

WHITE SNAKE PROJECTS Premieres Sci-Fi Transmedia Opera White Raven, Black Dove, Sep 26-28, 2025

A timely exploration of climate change, extinction and evolution
WSP’s final production of 2025 – a season spotlighting climate change
Groundbreaking implementation of video game technology on the opera stage

BOSTON, MA (For Release 07.28.25) — Celebrated for creating diverse, timely and relevant opera, White Snake Projects (WSP) returns to Boston’s Strand Theatre, September 26-28, 2025, for the world premiere of White Raven, Black Dove, in a season dedicated to addressing the climate crisis through art. Composed by Jacinth Greywoode and Andrew Lynch, and written by librettist Cerise Lim Jacob, White Raven, Blake Dove is an original work of science fiction fantasy exploring two issues consuming America today – race and climate change. An early adopter of innovative technology, WSP continues to lead the vanguard in shaping new operas with tech advancements. This groundbreaking production comprises a live performance by some of today’s leading opera singers, an orchestra with electronics and chorus, augmented by computer generated imagery and animation created in  the video game platform, Unreal Engine.

White Snake Projects’ 2025 season amplifies the urgent issue of climate by better educating, advocating and conversing about climate change. Dedicated to using the power of music theater and the arts toraise awareness of climate justice, WSP encourages both the practice of sustainability in opera, as well as promoting the adoption of a philosophy of sustainability that can be woven into every aspect of production.

“I love our planet and sometimes despair as to how to help heal our racial schisms, inequities and the Earth. White Raven, Black Dove came to me as a way to tell the story of the consequences of climate change and its differential impacts on communities of color: Climate justice is at the heart of this story. I try to avoid propaganda and didacticism by leaning into entertainment and storytelling so audiences can immerse themselves in the piece without feeling lectured to. Perhaps this will inspire others to work towards a better world.” — Cerise Lim Jacobs, founder/artistic director/librettist, White Snake Projects

Set after the Sixth Extinction, an apocalyptic warning about the consequences of ignoring the cries of help from Mother Earth, White Raven, Black Dove imagines a post-apocalyptic world where almost all the species on Earth have become extinct and only two factions of people exist and fight over scarce resources. The faction that occupies the surface has to contend  with the deadly UV rays of the sun as the Earth’s protective ozone layer is totally depleted in this world of perpetual light. The other faction is driven underground, dealing with radon in a world of utter darkness. Only acid rain falls. It is from this desolation that two mythical birds—Raven and Dove— arise. It is from their heroism that the Earth is resurrected

Performing the roles of Raven and Dove are two singers familiar to White Snake audiences: Chuanyuan Liu (countertenor) and Maggie Finnegan (soprano). A strong presence in the new generation of countertenors, Liu is praised for his “otherworldy flourish” (Wall Street Journal), and “natural, sensitive feel with embedded lyrical nuance” (The Millbrook Independent), while the Washington Post hails Finnegan for her “silvery, pitch-perfect voice.” Two other returning singers are Charles Calotta as Pano, a scientist, and Pascale Spinney as Kora, Raven’s keeper. Celebrating her WSP debut is Abigail Raiford (Tulsa Opera/Opera Philadelphia), an award-winning soprano known for her “powerful, luxurious soprano voice” (Tulsa World), as Peristeri, Dove’s keeper.

Sierra Leone-born/New York-based Jacinth Greywoode has been praised as a “dramatically sophisticated” (Broadway World) writer, composer, and Broadway music director (A Soldier’s Play, A Strange Loop, The Rose Tattoo). White Raven, Black Dove marks his second WSP commissioned work. His first was as lead composer for the live virtual opera, Death By Life, which is part of the acclaimed Pandemic Trilogy. Greywoode is joined by Andrew Lynch, a promising composer and sound designer.

About White Snake Projects              
White Snake Projects (WSP) is an activist opera company making mission-driven work that unites artmaking with civic practice. It envisions a world where the power of opera expands our collective understanding of community and transforms lives through creative storytelling. The company programs thematically. Its most recent themes have been “voting rights” (2024) anchored by Is This America?, the story of Fannie Lou Hamer; and “climate” (2025) anchored by White Raven, Black Dove. A critical element in the exploration of these themes is the establishment of authentic connections with thought leaders in social justice to ensure that the company’s creative work lives in an ecosystem of activism. WSP sees opera not just as performance, but as performance with purpose, a vibrant and vital art form that is also a champion of change. WhiteSnakeProjects.org
 

Program Ticket Info:
Fri–Sat, September 26-27 at 7:30 p.m. Sun, September 28 at 2:00 p.m.
The Strand Theatre, 543 Columbia Road, Boston, MA, 02125
Tickets: FREE, with donations requested. Reservations are strongly encouraged. Please reserve tickets at WhiteSnakeProjects.org.

Cast:
Chuanyuan Liu (Raven) – countertenor
Maggie Finnegan (Dove) – soprano
Pascale Spinney (Mitochondrial Eve/Kora) – mezzo-soprano
Abigail Raiford (Peristeri) – soprano
Charles Calotta (Y-Chromosome Adam/Pano/Scientist/Elder) – tenor
Chorus 

Creative Team:
Jacinth Greywoode – composer
Andrew Lynch - co-composer
Cerise Lim Jacobs – producer/creator/librettist
Laine Rettmer – stage director
Tianhui Ng – music director
Curvin Huber, director of innovation
Kevin Fulton – lighting designer
Christopher Vergara – costume designer
Erik Diaz - set designer
Cinthia Chen - projections designer

appx. 90 minutes with intermission; performed in English with subtitles