In the newly renovated Green Theater of Shanghai's Chenshan Botanical Garden, an international-level open-air concert was held, presenting the over-6000 audience with authentic Italian opera.
From 2pm to 5pm, students from East China Normal University dressed in costumes toured the garden once an hour. This was a warm-up for the official performance.
At 6pm, the concert began with the "William Tell Overture". This sonorous composition, together with the flower-fragrant breeze, created a comfortable and romantic atmosphere in the humid air. After the opening, arias of distinguished Italian composers like Bellini, Rossini, Donizetti, Puccini, and Verdi were performed on the stage. Many of the works were familiar tunes to the audience – for instance, "Casta Diva" from Norma and "Nessun Dorma" from Turandot. These added to the appeal of the concert.
The organizer made special alterations to the Green Theater and had been very careful in selecting performers, who were chosen for their character portrayals, voice, articulation, and image.
After the concert, the audience was reluctant to leave. Many suggested making the grassland concert into an annual event, so that local residents could have more chances to appreciate this elegant art form.
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| Chenshan Grassland Concert |
