Festival and residency offer up an opera feast

"We hope to present an authentic Tristan and Isolde. This time, we will keep the original cast and performers to the utmost extent, as well as the stage designs and materials," says Zhang Xiaoding, general manager of the Shanghai Grand Theatre.

Xu Zhong, president of the Shanghai Opera House and music director of the three-year plan, adds that they will co-produce this opera and several opera singers from China will have the chance to perform and learn from the world's best.

"There are many Richard Wagner fans in China. It is very exciting and encouraging to see such cooperation between the world's top opera festival and Shanghai, a cosmopolitan city. This plan will make his music more known to Chinese and Asian audiences," says Xu.

Shanghai is committed to being a global capital for the performing arts, eyeing audiences not only in Shanghai but also the world. Earlier in June, the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra presented four symphony concerts at the Shanghai Grand Theatre, with over 6,000 tickets sold out in five minutes. More than 40 percent of the ticket buyers were from 21 provinces and cities across China and abroad, according to the theater.

In addition to the debut of the highly anticipated operas, special children's editions will be staged in Shanghai for the first time. These one-hour operas will be condensed versions of Richard Wagner's works, aiming to popularize opera among children, enhance their understanding and cultivate their interest in this art form, according to the organizers.