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An operatic high point

By Chen Jie (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-11-20 10:30

Soprano Huang Ying rehearses for her opera debut in Beijing.

The prestigious Metropolitan Opera House celebrates its 125th anniversary this year. The photo gallery beneath the lobby displays some 800 photos of the world-renowned musicians who have played there, including the Three Tenors. Among all those big names there are only two Chinese. One is the multi-faceted composer/conductor Tan Dun, the other is soprano Huang Ying.

The Shanghai-born Huang, 40, has established herself as one of the most sought after opera singers in the world, ever since she made her sensational debut as Cio-Cio San in Frederic Mitterrand's acclaimed opera movie Madame Butterfly, in 1995.

The Metropolitan Opera selected Huang for its gallery because she made her debut there in the role of Pamina, in the 2006-07 season, singing the new English-language version of Mozart's Magic Flute. It was the Met's first high-definition simulcast in movie theaters across North America and the United Kingdom and Huang's lovely voice and alluring performance impressed audiences worldwide.

Tonight, the lyrical soprano will return to give her opera debut in Beijing, at the National Center for the Performing Arts, taking on the role of Pamina once again, in a co-production by NCPA, Opera Hong Kong and Den Norske Opera &Ballet.

"I believe in destiny. It is destiny that brought me back this year. I just had my birthday recently and the Beijing premiere seems a perfect birthday gift to myself," she said after rehearsals on Wednesday.

"What's more, this time I sing my favorite role Princess Pamina. Since 2002, I have sung six different productions of Magic Flute in the US and Europe, including the Met production broadcast internationally. This one in Beijing will be one of the most impressive. It features many imaginary Chinese elements such as the 12 symbolic animals," she said.

Having played Pamina so often it is a role she understands profoundly.

"I've talked with the director, Paul Curran, and we both agree that Pamina is not just a simple, lovely princess but a strong character, an independent woman who has her own ideas and pursues love and life," Huang commented.

Tenor Warren Mok, the artistic director of Opera Hong Kong and co-producer said: "We gave five sold-out shows at Hong Kong Cultural Center early this month and Huang's wonderful performances added to this. We've known each other for many years, sang a few concerts together, but finally I got her to sing the opera I produced. It's terrific."

Huang started her vocal training at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. In 1992, she won second prize at a singing competition in Paris. Two years later, it was the videotape of her singing in the Paris competition that led director Mitterrand and conductor James Conlon to invite the then 25-year-old Huang to audition for the lead role of Madame Butterfly.

They had already auditioned over 100 singers, with no success, and were even thinking of giving up on making the film. Then they heard Huang. Her ravishing coloratura voice and ability to express profound emotion won her the role.

Huang's success in the film was a career breakthrough and Conlon invited her to perform concerts with him. In 1996 she appeared with Placido Domingo and Michael Bolton in the Christmas in Vienna concert, which was both televised and released on CD.

Huang's debut at the Met was immensely popular and this year she returned to the opera house to sing Amor in Orfeo and Giannette in L'Elisir d Amore. Next season, she will return again to the Met to sing Pamino in Magic Flute. "But what I want most is to perform more often in China for my home audience," Huang said.

Her birthday wish looks like it will come true. The Beijing Music Festival and Opera Boston have co-commissioned Madame White Snake, a new opera based on an ancient Chinese legend, by Chinese-American composer Zhou Long and librettist Cerise Lim Jacobs. There will be three performances at the end of February at the Cutler Majestic Theater in Boston, and then two performances in Beijing during next year's Beijing Music Festival in October. Huang will play Madame White Snake in the opera.