Podcasts · Episode
Huang Ruo
Program: NoteWorthy
Aired: Monday, September 22, 2025
Hosted by Loki Karuna
Opera has the power, and the history, of bringing some of the most tragic fictional stories to life. But not all on-stage tragedies are made up – many are very much real. Hello – I’m Loki Karuna and on this edition of Noteworthy I’d like to invite you to honor the memory of a fallen soldier, enshrined forever into music, by composer Huang Ruo.
Huang Ruo hails from Hainan Island off the southern coast of China, and has worked here in the US since the mid-90s. In 2014, he wrote an opera called “An American Soldier”, which highlights the life and tragic death of Private Danny Chen, who died by suicide after being subjected to racial harassment and beatings by his fellow soldiers. This excerpt, featuring soloist Nina Yoshida Nelsen with the American Composers Orchestra, portrays Danny’s mother, singing in sorrow after learning about her son’s death.
Since the release of this world-premiere recording, there’s been heightened awareness around both discrimination in the military, and the dangers, therein. With the family’s blessing, performances of “An American Soldier” have continued, forcing audiences to really see the reality that opera can offer. Rest in peace to Danny Chen, and honor to Huang Ruo, one of today’s most noteworthy composers.
Noteworthy is a production of WDAV classical public radio.