In a visit to Europe in March, 2014, Xi Jinping cleverly quoted a line spoken by Mephisto in Faust: ’Prejudice is often hard to be eliminated.’ This is the gulf that different cultures have to bridge when they merge. Culture and art are the soul of exchange and the foundation of understanding and vitality between two societies, they are bridges across the gulf. Mephisto is a character everyone knows in Europe, however, there are still some people in China who aren’t familiar with him.

This year’s Winland Christmas Opera Music Concert will see a performance of Carmen and Faust presented by French conductor Jean-Luc Tingaud、soprano Lina Tetriani, Mezzo-soprano Géraldine Chauvet, tenor Jean-François Borras, baritone Lado Ataneli, and bass baritone Jamie Offenbach, accompanied by The Central Opera House Symphony Orchestra, The Central Opera Chorus and Yang Hongnian Children’s Chorus. The intent is to celebrate 50 years of friendship between the PRC and France and express the wish that the ’Chinese dream’, the ’French dream’ and the ’Chinese-French dream’ can come true!

“I must express my gratitude to Mr. Adam Yu for the genuine support he’s extended to the realm of art and culture, as well as this exquisite gala concert he’s allowed us to feast our eyes and ears on. Apart from providing continued support to the Festival Croisements and organizing this splendid gala concert, Mr. Adam Yu also gave life to ‘Loongma’. Opera will remain forever in vogue, as will the friendship between France and China!”