Soprano solos

Beijing-based soprano Zhang Liping has teamed up with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and British conductor Graeme Jenkins to release her new album, Sempre Libera, which features nine arias by Giuseppe Verdi, including Surta e la notte from the opera Ernani; Canzone del salice e Ave Maria from Otello and Caro nome from Rigoletto.

Zhang, who was born in Wuhan, Hubei province, received vocal training at the Wuhan Conservatory of Music and graduated from the vocal opera department of the Central Conservatory of Music, where she now teaches. As a student, she performed with Spanish tenor, Placido Domingo, and the break inspired her to pursue opera with Canadian soprano, Phyllis Mailing, at the Vancouver Academy of Music. Alongside her role as Cio-Cio-San in Madame Butterfly, Zhang has won acclaim for her roles as Mimi in La Boheme and Gilda in Rigoletto.