Opus One Premieres: Yang Bao’s Sol One

The world premiere of Yang Bao’s Sol One on November 8, 2023 marked the debut of a new collaboration between Opus One and Festival Napa Valley: Opus One Premieres. According to the composer, “Sol One” translates to “Martian Day One” and conveys what it feels like to land on another planet. The site-specific performance was inspired by the vineyards’ beauty during Bao’s visit to Opus One last summer.

The performance was part of Festival Napa Valley’s Olivia Decker Power of Music Series and marked the Festival’s contribution to the statewide “California Festival: A Celebration of New Music.” Before the concert, the Festival board gathered at Opus One for a meeting at which several new initiatives were announced, including the Suzanne Deal Booth Visual Arts Program, the Uytengsu Family Opening Night, and a $3 million Manetti Shrem Challenge grant.

Guests for the concert and a celebratory dinner featuring select Opus One vintages included the Festival board and other distinguished guests, including Maria Manetti Shrem, Kathleen Martinez Nazar and José Luis Nazar, Nor Jemjemian, Erik Nickel, Michael Covarrubias and Kathleen McIntosh, Kelley and Jim Bailey, and Opus One CEO Chris Lynch and VP of Communications Christopher Barefoot.