Visitors to four Renton waterways Monday afternoon may see and hear more than the usual crowd of water-winged revelers.

On Monday afternoon, Gene Coulon Park, Henry Moses Aquatic Center, Piazza Park stream and fountain and the portion of the Cedar River near the downtown library will host “Kidnapping Water: Bottled Operas.”

Lasting three to four minutes each, the operas are among a series of 64 composed by Seattleite Byron Au Yong. The mini operas will be played in several area waterways during August. Performances started Aug. 4 in Bothell, Shoreline and Lake Forest Park and end Aug 29-31 at Bumbershoot music and arts festival in Seattle.

Bottled water inspired Au Yong’s Bottled Operas.

According to Au Yong’s Web site, “One day, while visiting the bottled water section of the supermarket, he was overcome with the stories held in each plastic container. Water from Crystal Springs and Evian cried out, ‘We are part of something larger.’”

Au Yong’s Bottled Operas were also inspired by the environment and the ancient Chinese text “I Ching” (Book of Changes), which includes 64 hexagrams.

“These Bottled Operas are meant to be carried through catastrophes,” composer Au Yong wrote in a press release. “I think about straining water resources and compose songs of survival.”

The water operas are funded by 4Culture, King County’s cultural services agency. 4Culture defines the operas as site-specific art, meaning each opera is geared to fit the water at each performance site.

Percussionists will play the water at each site using a variety of instruments, made of wood, stone, bamboo, bone, rope, hide, plants and metal. The opera texts (libretti) are by eight writers from diverse cultural backgrounds.

“The 64 Bottled Operas will be anything but a traditional operatic experience,” according to the press release.

Renton was selected as a Bottled Operas site after the Renton Municipal Arts Commission submitted an application to 4Culture.

“We’re actually very excited about it,” says Pat Pepper, chair of the Renton Municipal Arts Commission.

The Bottled Operas visit South Seattle before Renton Monday, so the operas are expected to hit Renton Monday afternoon. But the only set time is approximate. Performers plan the Henry Moses Aquatic Center opera for sometime between 12:30 and 3 p.m.

“It’s really about happening upon this,” says Jennifer Davis Hayes, city staff liaison for the Renton Municipal Arts Commission and the City of Renton community development project manager.

“I think it will be a great opportunity for our residents and visitors to Renton to experience art. They may be going to Henry Moses to cool off and have entertainment they’ve never experienced.”

Water operas

“Kidnapping Water: Bottled Operas” will be performed in Renton Monday and in various other places through August. For more information, visit http://hearbyron.com/water.aspx

Visitors to four Renton waterways Monday afternoon may see and hear more than the usual crowd of water-winged revelers.

On Monday afternoon, Gene Coulon Park, Henry Moses Aquatic Center, Piazza Park stream and fountain and the portion of the Cedar River near the downtown library will host “Kidnapping Water: Bottled Operas.”

Lasting three to four minutes each, the operas are among a series of 64 composed by Seattleite Byron Au Yong. The mini operas will be played in several area waterways during August. Performances started Aug. 4 in Bothell, Shoreline and Lake Forest Park and end Aug 29-31 at Bumbershoot music and arts festival in Seattle.

Bottled water inspired Au Yong’s Bottled Operas.

According to Au Yong’s Web site, “One day, while visiting the bottled water section of the supermarket, he was overcome with the stories held in each plastic container. Water from Crystal Springs and Evian cried out, ‘We are part of something larger.’”

Au Yong’s Bottled Operas were also inspired by the environment and the ancient Chinese text “I Ching” (Book of Changes), which includes 64 hexagrams.

“These Bottled Operas are meant to be carried through catastrophes,” composer Au Yong wrote in a press release. “I think about straining water resources and compose songs of survival.”

The water operas are funded by 4Culture, King County’s cultural services agency. 4Culture defines the operas as site-specific art, meaning each opera is geared to fit the water at each performance site.

Percussionists will play the water at each site using a variety of instruments, made of wood, stone, bamboo, bone, rope, hide, plants and metal. The opera texts (libretti) are by eight writers from diverse cultural backgrounds.

“The 64 Bottled Operas will be anything but a traditional operatic experience,” according to the press release.

Renton was selected as a Bottled Operas site after the Renton Municipal Arts Commission submitted an application to 4Culture.

“We’re actually very excited about it,” says Pat Pepper, chair of the Renton Municipal Arts Commission.

The Bottled Operas visit South Seattle before Renton Monday, so the operas are expected to hit Renton Monday afternoon. But the only set time is approximate. Performers plan the Henry Moses Aquatic Center opera for sometime between 12:30 and 3 p.m.

“It’s really about happening upon this,” says Jennifer Davis Hayes, city staff liaison for the Renton Municipal Arts Commission and the City of Renton community development project manager.

“I think it will be a great opportunity for our residents and visitors to Renton to experience art. They may be going to Henry Moses to cool off and have entertainment they’ve never experienced.”

Water operas

“Kidnapping Water: Bottled Operas” will be performed in Renton Monday and in various other places through August. For more information, visit http://hearbyron.com/water.aspx