Performances sing of strengthened cultural exchanges between China and Italy

ROME — An Italian conservatory plans to stage Turandot by the renowned Italian opera composer Giacomo Puccini in China with Italian singers and stage artists alongside Chinese orchestras, revealed Giorgio Albiani, the internationalization delegate of the Luigi Cherubini Conservatory of Florence.

Puccini's Turandot, set in ancient China, is an iconic example of how music can unite different cultures, Giovanni Pucciarmati, the conservatory's director, tells Xinhua.

Other collaborations are also taking shape among Chinese and Italian music institutions.

Earlier in November, a performance of the opera Marco Polo was staged in Hangzhou, capital city of East China's Zhejiang province.

The opera was jointly produced by the Zhejiang Conservatory of Music, the Benedetto Marcello Conservatory of Music in Venice, the Academy of Fine Arts of Venice and the La Fenice Opera House Foundation.

The partnership between the music conservatories has been strengthened by a newly signed memorandum of understanding, which aims to foster exchanges such as teacher visits, joint student training and artistic creation.

Fabio Moretti, president of the Venetian conservatory, expresses optimism for the future of this partnership, noting that it will provide a unique platform for mutual growth in musical arts.

Such collaborations are essential for enriching the education and experience of students from both nations, he adds.

In addition to partnerships in higher education, Italian artists are also boosting their engagement with Chinese audiences.

The Balletto di Roma completed its third Chinese tour this year, performing the modern ballet Juliet and Romeo in cities including Shanghai, Chongqing and Hainan province's Haikou.

"Music is a profound language that not only bridges cultures but also offers unique interdisciplinary potential," says Albiani.

Xinhua