Chinese-born Zheng Nan has been offered a tenure-track position by the Giacomo Puccini Conservatoire in Italy. [Photo provided to China Daily]

In 2006, she became the first Chinese singer to perform at the Rossini Opera Festival, an international music event that aims at reviving Rossini's operas.

Zheng also founded the Giuseppe Verdi Cultural Association with the aim of providing opportunities to Chinese students who want to study music in Italy and perform in the West.

According to Xu, Italian conservatories have been paying attention to the Chinese market, and more music students from China are becoming interested in studying in Italy.

In 2017, the Rossini Conservatory had asked Zheng's cultural association to recruit students for the International Singing Master Class with Jose Carreras.

"Zheng's new teaching job means even more opportunities for the Chinese market," says Xu. "Having gained a foothold in Italy, Zheng can help outstanding music students from China to study and perform in Italy and bring back their experiences to China."

So far, the cultural association has cooperated with music academies in China including the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in creating opportunities for cultural exchanges between Italy and China. In December, Zheng and her husband, Mauro Bonfanti, an Italian baritone, came to the Nanjing University of the Arts for a master class.

Zheng and Bonfanti, who first met at a concert performance in the Italian city of Pesaro, have supported each other for a long time.

"I am still moved by him giving up a performance conducted by Zubin Mehta because of my pregnancy. We always think of each other, and I guess this is the key to happiness," Zheng says.

Zheng has had nearly 10 singing teachers from China, Italy and Britain, but Bonfanti is among those who have most influenced her.

"He is a great vocal teacher who is good at singing, summarizing and listening. I have secretly learned a lot from him," Zheng says.

They are now a happy family with a daughter and a son. In parenting, Zheng also values the space for self-development. "We now have great facilities for music education, but my son is interested in sports. So be it."