Opera, which emerged at the height of the Renaissance, is a comprehensive artform which integrates elements of music, literature, painting, sculpture, theater and dance. It is without a doubt the most resplendent, spectacular gem of European civilization. Upon its inception, it traversed the Alps, and gradually made its way to the whole of Europe.

On 5 December 2015, the concert in celebration of the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the EU and China presented classic selections from masterpieces in Romantic era: Rossini’s William Tell, Donizetti’s L’elisir D’amore and Bellini’s Norma embarked upon new journeys in Italian Bel Canto. The “poet with insight into women’s soul” Massnet gave exquisite strokes of the protagonist’s fragility, hesitation and sensitivity in Manon, which highlighted the lyric features of French opera. With magnificent vocal expression in Rohengrin, Richard Wagner put the German romantic music to the zenith. The concert concluded with Beethoven’s Ode to Joy as a glorious finale.  

Today, European opera is more varied than ever. Its strength to reinvent itself under all circumstances brushes aside any doubts about the future of this genre. The great pieces of the classical repertoire are repeatedly reinterpreted and still very successful. They are presented next to new contemporary operas and earlier rediscovered works. In this way, European opera is in permanent evolution, for the enjoyment of the widest public. Thanks to Adam Yu, also the Chinese one. I would like to offer my sincere gratitude to him for bringing us this musical form of Europe at the end of our anniversary year.