Professor Tao, said coproductions can quickly improve the level of opera productions in China.
"We have world-class singers and the coproductions provide opportunities for Western producers to recognize and get to know our talents," Tao says.
The opening of Shanghai opera season increasingly attracts prestigious opera companies and orchestras as well as more opera lovers.
Though not many operas and opera concerts are performed in Shanghai, this anniversary year for Verdi and Wagner will see more performances and theatergoers, says Lin Hongming, manager of the Shanghai Oriental Art Center.
"We usually announce the opening programs in July, and this year we are doing it differently, revealing the performances before everything is scheduled," Lin said.
Xu Zhong, the artistic director of both Shanghai Oriental Symphony Orchestra and Teatro Massimo Bellini, says both theaters have dedicated themselves to the cooperation. The cast is carefully selected not only for singing talent, but also for stage personas that suit the opera characters.
Xu is the first Asian musician to serve as the artistic director of an Italian theater.
"Perhaps my 'double identity' has made the communication much easier," he says. "We will prepare in the summer and be ready to present the best performance to the Shanghai audience in the fall."
Xu will conduct the orchestra of the Teatro Massimo Bellini at the Verdi celebration concert of two performances, including the 80-person choir of the Italian opera theater.
"The performances in September are the first step in cooperation, we are proud and honored to have our theater represent Italian music in China," says Rita Gari Cinquegrana, manager of Teatro Massimo Bellini.
The Shanghai Oriental Art Center will present a number of well-known operas.
In November, a lesser-known Verdi opera "Attila" ("Attila the Hun") will be fully staged at the renovated Shanghai Grand Theater in a cooperation with the Palace of Arts in Budapest, Hungary.
The story of "Attila," the fifth century king of the Huns who almost captured Rome, is set in the Italian city of Aquileia, which Attila has just taken in a brutal conquest. His prisoner, the beautiful Odabella, has sworn to avenge the death of her father, who was killed by the invaders. Roman envoy Ezio urges Attila, "You may have the universe, but let Italy remain mine." Attila rejects the idea and, despite a warning in his dream to turn back, he advances on Rome where he is defeated in battle. Odabella then stabs him with the sword he has given her as a gift.
The cast will feature Giacomo Prestia as Attila, Gabriele Viviani as Ezio and Csilla Boros from Hungary as Odabella.
Prestia, a bass, has cooperated in productions with conductors Zubin Mehta, Claudio Abbado, Ricard Muti and Daniel Barenboim.
Beijing fantasy emerges in dense fog
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