Tenor Ding Yi

Many contend that authentic western opera can only be found in Europe. But tenor Ding Yi has broken the mold. He's made a place for himself on the world stage, while maintaining a strong foothold in his native China. On today's "The List", we trace the singer's career, and see what it means for opera.

April 20th, 2005 was an unusual night at Australia's Sydney Opera House when an Asian face appeared in the starring role of bel canto classic, "Norma". Playing the treacherous Roman Pro-Consul, Pollione, Ding Yi gave a thrilling interpretation of this Bellini masterpiece.

The night was a huge success and local media praised Ding for having what they called "one of the most extraordinary voices to be heard on the planet".

Ding Yi sealed his position as the first Asian to take a lead role at the prestigious Opera Australia. But behind this moment, was ten years of hard struggle.

Ding Yi said, "I don't want Westerners to think that this art can only be mastered by them. I believe that we Asians are also equally able. I think great composers have bequeathed their great works to all human beings, not exclusively to those in the West. I certainly want to keep going in this career."

Born to a musical family with a composer father and soprano mother in Northwest China's Gansu Province, Ding discovered an early interest in opera. But he was soon frustrated by doctors telling him he lacked the basic make-up of a born singer.

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Song of Youth becomes an opera

Published in 1958, the novel "Song of Youth" is a patriotic tale about Lin Daojing, who was called into the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression in the 1930s. It became a classic in Chinese red literature, being translated into 20 languages and with five million copies published. The story has been made into an opera which debuted during the weekend to mark the 90th anniversary of the May 4th Movement.

The literature has influenced generations of Chinese since its publication. Given its huge popularity among Chinese readers, the novel's crossover into a theatrical production demanded elaborate attention to both the casting and adaptation.

Thestoryhasbeenmadeintoanoperawhichdebutedduringtheweekend
tomarkthe90thanniversaryoftheMay4thMovement.

Jin Man, winner of the premier Plum Awards, takes the mantle as the leading heroine, Lin Daojing. Chinese tenor Dai Yuqiang plays Lu Jiachun, Lin's mentor and role model. Chi Liming from Shanghai plays the second male lead.

Wang Liangbo from the Central Academy of Drama takes the directorial chair, and Tang Jianping from the Central Academy of Music was put in charge of composition. Though it's deemed as largely a mainstream story, the opera is being brought to life with lively and passionate music, designed to suit a younger audience.

Students from Peking University have also been awarded roles in the opera.

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Sichuan Opera artist Shen Tiemei

With heart and soul invested in her career, Sichuan Opera singer Shen Tiemei has pushed the declining traditional genre to a new historic high. Single handedly she has taken on the challenge to breathe new life into the centuries-old operatic genre. On Today's the List, we look at her career orbit as today's most outstanding Sichuan Opera artist.

A land nurtures its people according to its natural environment. In China, every part of the land inspires an operatic tradition, distinctive to its region.

Sichuan Opera, prevailed in its home province for centuries, giving voice to the values and cultural essence of the people.

Shen Tiemei, one of today's most accomplished Sichuan opera performers, sees an inseparable connection between opera, her identity and the identity of the people of Sichuan.

Sichuan Opera artist Shen Tiemei said, "Sichuan Opera links to the entire province of Sichuan. The quality of Sichuan people was most evidently exposed after this year's Wenchuan earthquake. The people showed the world their solidarity, bravery, optimism and humor even though faced with disaster. These qualities are embodied and reflected in the classic works of Sichuan Opera."

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