[Video/Ningbo Daily] 

A recent performance by soprano Catherine Hooper and pianist Thomas Puissochet in Ningbo brought Western opera and Chinese Yueju Opera together on stage for the first time. The evening offered a rare cross-cultural dialogue, with both artists speaking about their experiences with the city, its audience, and their encounters with Eastern art.

Visiting Ningbo for the first time, Hooper described the city as a "pleasant surprise". She was impressed by the audience's engagement, noting that spectators were not only eager to listen but also eager to understand the cultural context behind each piece. Their curiosity and attentiveness left her feeling warmly welcomed and creatively inspired.

Puissochet, attending Ningbo for the third time, reflected on the city's growth and distinct culinary culture, expressing a particular fondness for Ningbo-style fermented crab. He also visited local schools, where students' curiosity about foreign cultures reminded him of his own childhood experiences and reinforced the universal power of music.

Both artists highlighted the historic collaboration between Western opera and Yueju Opera. Hooper was struck by the emotional depth of Yueju Opera, observing that themes of love and loss resonated universally despite language differences. Puissochet valued the improvisational collaborations with Chinese musicians, seeing music as a bridge for mutual understanding across cultures.

Learn more through the interview.