Song Zuying, one of China's most popular sopranos, will give a recital at Musikverein Golden Hall in Vienna, Austria, on Sunday.
She will perform her signature songs such as "Spice Sister," "Flying Song of Motherland," "Beautiful Life," "Click Go the Shears" and of course, "Jasmine," the Chinese song arguably most familiar to the Western world.
Under the baton of Li Xincao, chief conductor with the China National Symphony Orchestra, the concert will also feature erhu artist Song Fei and bamboo flutist Zhang Weiliang.
Inclusion of the two traditional Chinese instruments will enhance the traditional Chinese flavor of the performance.
The Sunday concert marks her second overseas concert after a triumphant appearance at the Sydney Opera House last December, and makes her the first soprano of traditional Chinese vocal style to give recitals abroad.
Song's concert in Sydney was part of the 30th anniversary celebration of diplomatic relations between Australia and China, and was staged with the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra.
"It's an honor to sing at the Sydney Opera House and the Musikverein," Song told China Daily earlier this week.
"The Australian audience impressed me greatly as I had not expected the foreigners would love Chinese traditional songs so much. They called me 'Chinese jasmine'," Song recalled.
Known for her sweet, mellow voice and emotional singing style, the 37-year-old soprano has enjoyed great popularity in China for a decade.
(China Daily November 22, 2003)
