Each opera singer plays two animals by donning a headpiece and switching it between the front and back to represent two different characters.
"I wanted to make sure that for each singer, the two animals they play were quite different so they could play one personality and then a very different one," Tien says.
For example, the sheep and snake are paired, with the former being timid and agreeable and the latter being wily and assertive.
Tien says it was an amazing experience to be invited to write libretti for a story she had known since childhood. "In a sense, it felt like I was being invited to share bits of my culture with the audience."
While the 12 animals initially scheme to win the race, they end up joining hands to overcome a storm to reach the seashore.
Tsui, a composer and pianist, was born in Kazakhstan but grew up in Hong Kong. She is also familiar with the folklore and legends associated with Chinese holidays.
"When I composed the music for The Big Swim, I relied heavily on my knowledge of the zodiac animals' unique personality traits to get ideas for the melodic motifs, harmonic language and orchestration, which helped me create distinct musical personalities for each character," Tsui says.
Peking and Cantonese operas, Gregorian chants, and American and Asian pop music influence her music.
"Both Chinese operatic styles influenced the way I wrote the melodic material in this opera," she says. "For instance, the elegant intonations of Cantonese opera are found in Ox's sentimental aria. The more intense, high-pitched style of Peking opera influenced Rat's highly anxious aria."
When the show ended, each child was given a red packet, or hongbao, a tradition that also enchanted Tsui when she was young.
"My favorite Chinese holiday was always Chinese New Year because of the red packets I would get from the adults! It's like Christmas, but for Chinese kids."
Buening says that the Chinese New Year is becoming more well-known to the public. "Part of our mission is to provide these moments for our communities and to have cross-cultural experiences," he says, adding that the Asia Society Texas has expanded its annual Chinese New Year activities with a variety of performances and activities over two weekends.
