Opera stars hit a high note to lift spirits

Opera singers from China and Italy have recorded a song, Together, which will be released on Chinese social media platforms. While the world is struggling with the coronavirus outbreak, the song delivers a message of love, hope and healing.

The song, adapted by Chinese composer Ma Jiuyue, is based on two famous songs from China and Italy: Chinese folk song Jasmine Flower and Nessun Dorma (None Shall Sleep), an aria from the final act of Giacomo Puccini's opera Turandot.

"We've seen videos of quarantined Italian people sing from balconies to lift spirits on the internet, which is very encouraging and inspiring," says Ma."Though China and Italy are geographically far apart, we are close to each other with music. With this song, Together, we want people from all over the world to feel united during this difficult time. The viral outbreak is now a global issue. We need to help each other."

Jasmine Flower and Nessun Dorma, are popular among both Chinese and Italian people, Ma says. He adds that 2020 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Italy and the song is dedicated to the friendship of the two countries. The music video of the song, directed by Zheng Hao, features iconic places in China and Italy, as well as showing people from all walks of life in the two countries fighting against COVID-19.

Soprano Mila Vilotijevic, who has been working with the Teatro alla Scala, a renowned opera house in Milan, Italy, for about two decades, helped enhance communications between the Chinese and Italian musicians. Vilotijevic joined in the operatic production of Puccini's Turandot at the Forbidden City in Beijing in 1998, which was conducted by Zubin Mehta and directed by Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou. Since then, she has become a frequent visitor to China. She was the first Italian singer to send a video of her performing the song.

Among the 12 Italian musicians taking part is coloratura soprano Luciana Serra, who made her operatic debut in Domenico Cimarosa's Il Convito (The Banquet) at the Hungarian State Opera in Budapest and gained fame when she performed the Queen of the Night aria in Mozart's Die Zauberflote at the Royal Opera House in London and at the Metropolitan Opera in New York during the 1980s and 1990s.

"I have lots of Chinese students and I feel like a mother to them," says Serra. "I feel close to China. I want to go to Beijing and to see the Great Wall," she added. Now 75, she spends her time teaching in Rome and Milan.

"As a musician, what can I do when people suffer from the viral outbreak?" says Italian baritone Armando Ariostini, 69, who sang on the recording and has performed over 80 roles during his career. "I sing and that's what I do. So I open my window and sing on my balcony every day. My neighbors, who are kept in their homes by the coronavirus, wait for my singing every night and they also sing along with me."

Other Italian musicians who contributed and participated in the song include conductor Gianmario Cavallaro, tenor Raffaele Tassone and Delfo Menicucci, a professor at the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory in Milan.

China National Opera House, the co-initiator of the song, has had more than 10 Chinese musicians record the song with the Italians, including soprano Chen Xiaoduo and tenor Li Shuang.

Since the song was recorded from their homes, musicians, especially the conductors, felt challenged.

"Without audiences, without musicians, I conducted in front of the camera, which was a new experience to me," says conductor Lyu Jia. "I was born in Shanghai, grew up in Beijing and spent over 20 years in Italy. For me, Italy is like my second home. The viral outbreak forced us to slow down and make changes to our lives. As musicians, we want to comfort and encourage people."